Even after 26 years in Hollywood, Daniel Bernhardt is still amazed at the admiration his work attracts from other men. He recalls a banker inquiring about his roles at a recent party. “So you were in ‘John Wick’?” he asked, incredulously. “Yes, and you own a bank!” replied Bernhardt. “Yeah, but you were in ‘John Wick’!” insisted the banker with obvious approval, as if owning a bank were entirely trivial compared to engaging in a rowdy punch-up with actor Keanu Reeves in front of the camera. Bernhardt explains that combat sports have always been a great passion ever since he learnt the first moves as a 15-year-old. “It was something cobbled together out of kung fu and kickboxing. It went well with my body. I used to train every free minute I got outside my apprenticeship!” When the 1.90-metre Bernese youngster with the high cheekbones and athletic body started receiving offers of modelling jobs he accepted immediately and headed off to Paris: “It was the era of the megasupermodels, male and female. Most of the jobs went to a small group of about 25 of us. I wasn’t in the top four or five, but I was in with the remaining twenty.”

One day, taking part in an improvised combat video filmed by star fashion photographer Bruce Weber with Jean-Claude Van Damme for Versace Jeans, Daniel Bernhardt’s next move came to him in a flash: “Modelling was still going well, but I knew it wouldn’t last, so I’d put a bit of money aside. Doing the video had been more fun than pretty much anything I’d done in recent years. Perhaps I could make a career as a martial artist in the movies?” So Bernhardt struck out for Hollywood in 1993, full of curiosity, but under no illusions. He took acting lessons and did hours of physical training every day. Two years later he was given a major role in “Bloodsports 2”, which brought him his first small whiff of fame. Even today, “Bloodsports” remains a legendary series amongst action fans. Bernhardt says living in Los Angeles was like being “a kid in a sand pit”. Towards the end of the 1990s, the market in low-budget action fi lms collapsed. Cable TV was the big frontrunner. Bernhardt was lucky, and fell on his feet with 24 episodes of “Mortal Kombat” after the video game of the same name, then a role in “Matrix Reloaded”, which attracted applications from “everyone in the city over 1.80 metres tall who dabbled in martial arts.” says Bernhardt. 

Lisa Stothard, his partner of many years and now his wife, gave birth to their daughter, Bella, the day after the much-acclaimed premiere. “That was just so much more important than anything else!” There’s been film after fi lm since those early days. He’s never felt intimidated by big names such as Brad Pitt or Jason Statham. “Perhaps it’s because there’s so much physical contact. I’ve always found them to be very normal, highly disciplined people.” So, can any actor become an action hero? Bernhardt laughs. “I could make you look good in two weeks by zooming up close to you from the front. Then we get a camera to shoot from behind and a stunt double to do the jumps for you. But the folks sitting out there in the audience are pretty smart these days – they know all the tricks! That’s why some stars insist on doing as many stunts as possible themselves." Bernhardt won a Taurus award in 2018 for his fight scene with Charlize Theron in “Atomic Blonde” – the equivalent of an Oscar in the stunt industry. After a role in 2019 in the series "Escape Plan" with Sylvester Stallone, Daniel Bernhardt unusually appeared to viewers looking wild and unkempt in this year’s HBO hit "Barry", playing a plump and ageing tae kwon do fighter who is moderately successful in making a stand against an intruder.

The hilariously funny follow-up won an Emmy. His most recent film was “Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw” starring Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson and Helen Mirren in the leading roles. Released in July 2019, the film has grossed 760 million dollars worldwide so far. Does he ever think of coming back to Switzerland? “I don’t see how I could get to my engagements from there", says Daniel Bernhardt, “and since the action heroes in the movies are growing older by the day, but still need enemies, it looks like I’ll be in work for some time yet!” He admits he misses his family and his friends back home and flies over whenever he can. “I’m very grateful to have grown up there,” he says. “I’ve seen so many people on my work lose their grip. Switzerland has kept me grounded.”