The Tattooist of Auschwitz's Jonas Nay Reflects on How Deeply Disturbing It Was to Research Role

It seems as though nearly every streaming service is trying its hand at adapting novels based on the horrors of the Holocaust, including Peacock which is set to premiere The Tattooist of Auschwitz on May 2. The series stars Jonah Hauer-King and Anna Próchniak as lovers who meet amid the soul-crushing terror and uncertainty of Auschwitz, and Jonas Nay as one of the cruel Nazis at the concentration camp. Ahead of the premiere, I had the opportunity to chat with Nay about working on the series, in addition to his castmates and the series' creative team. Based on Heather Morris' critically acclaimed novel by the same name, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on true events relayed to Morris by the late Lale Sokolov (played by Jonah Hauer-King), who survived Auschwitz alongside a fellow prisoner who would eventually become his wife. In addition to the budding romance between Lale and Gita (Anna Próchniak), the Peacock series also showcases the deeply uncomfortable "friendship" Lale formed with a volatile Nazi officer by the name of Stefan Baretzki (Nay) whose cat-and-mouse torment is his only gateway to spending time with Gita. During our short but riveting conversation, Nay spoke about how chilling it was to listen to the real-life recordings of Stefan Baretzki, how his character projects onto Lale, and his desire to reunite with Hauer-King for a musical, since they both played a lot of music on the set of The Tattooist of Auschwitz. You can watch the full interview in the player below or scroll on to read the full transcript of our conversation. #TheTattooistofAuschwitz #JonasNay #JonahHauerKing For interviews, movie reviews, and more visit https://collider.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL   / collider     / collider     / collider  

Lale Sokolov The Tattooist of Auschwitz
▶︎

Lale Sokolov The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Tattooist of Auschwitz's Jonas Nay on playing a 'deeply disturbing' character | Yahoo Australia
▶︎

Tattooist of Auschwitz's Jonas Nay on playing a 'deeply disturbing' character | Yahoo Australia

Author Rob Loughran in studio
▶︎

Author Rob Loughran in studio

Kaspar Hauser: The Mystery of the Boy with No Past
▶︎

Kaspar Hauser: The Mystery of the Boy with No Past

Q&A with Jonah Hauer-King, Melanie Lynskey and the cast and crew of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
▶︎

Q&A with Jonah Hauer-King, Melanie Lynskey and the cast and crew of The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Holocaust Survivor Kitty Hart Revisits Auschwitz 40 Years Later (Full Documentary) | Our History
▶︎

Holocaust Survivor Kitty Hart Revisits Auschwitz 40 Years Later (Full Documentary) | Our History

Beginner vs Oscar Winning Actress (Same Scene)
▶︎

Beginner vs Oscar Winning Actress (Same Scene)

The Fate of Adolf Eichmann's Children After His Execution
▶︎

The Fate of Adolf Eichmann's Children After His Execution

I Read Hitler's Book in 2025. It scared me for us.
▶︎

I Read Hitler's Book in 2025. It scared me for us.

Trump’s Big Violent 80th Birthday Party at the White House, "Great Deal" with Iran & NY Knicks Win
▶︎

Trump’s Big Violent 80th Birthday Party at the White House, "Great Deal" with Iran & NY Knicks Win

Er fotografierte das Vernichtungslager in Aktion | Terra X
▶︎

Er fotografierte das Vernichtungslager in Aktion | Terra X

Auschwitz Survivor Explains How She Escaped the Gas Chambers
▶︎

Auschwitz Survivor Explains How She Escaped the Gas Chambers

"The Tattooist of Auschwitz" with author Heather Morris
▶︎

"The Tattooist of Auschwitz" with author Heather Morris

What Really Broke Hermann Göring at Nuremberg
▶︎

What Really Broke Hermann Göring at Nuremberg

Jonah Hauer-King talks THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ's "extraordinary" love story | TV Insider
▶︎

Jonah Hauer-King talks THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ's "extraordinary" love story | TV Insider

Harvard Professor Explains The Rules of Writing — Steven Pinker
▶︎

Harvard Professor Explains The Rules of Writing — Steven Pinker

yeah... no wonder he doesn’t use social media
▶︎

yeah... no wonder he doesn’t use social media

Celebrity Kids Saying Things Their Parents Wish They Didn’t
▶︎

Celebrity Kids Saying Things Their Parents Wish They Didn’t

The Jew who survived Auschwitz because a Nazi guard fell in love with her - Helena Citrónová
▶︎

The Jew who survived Auschwitz because a Nazi guard fell in love with her - Helena Citrónová

Jonah Hauer-King for ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ | Conversations at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation
▶︎

Jonah Hauer-King for ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ | Conversations at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation