ELIJAH KNIGHT – From army ranger to “Miss Fallaci”

Elijah Knight is a Swiss actor whose groundbreaking roles are capturing audiences worldwide. He starred in Miss Fallaci, making history as the first Swiss actor in an Italian Paramount+ series, and Unbreak My Heart, the largest co-production in Philippine cinema. Fans may also recognise him from Battles of the Fords of Isen, the Swiss homage to The Lord of the Rings.

Elijah’s path to acting is as diverse as his skill set. He’s known for his ability to perform accent-free in English, French, and German, and for his physical versatility, which reflects his background as both a junior hockey player in Utah and a Special Forces soldier in the Swiss Armed Forces. His career began in sketch comedy and theatre, and he’s since trained extensively, with time at renowned institutions like the Giles Foreman Centre for Acting in London and The Groundlings in Los Angeles. To further broaden his range, Elijah even spent time in China to study martial arts.

In this conversation, Elijah shares insights on his journey, the challenges and rewards of working across cultures and genres, and his vision for the future.

Elijah, can you tell us about your journey into acting? What initially sparked your passion for this career?

Serving in the Swiss Army Ranger Corps was very challenging, so my comrades and I often needed comic relief to lighten the mood. That’s when I started impersonating our officers—it became a way to keep everyone laughing in between the tough exercises (which we secretly enjoyed!). By the end of my service, I even performed a solo comedy show for my entire platoon, and everyone encouraged me to pursue acting or comedy.

After my service, I went on to college to study business as planned, but the advice from my platoon stayed with me. So, I joined the student theatre in St. Gallen and used every free minute outside of my studies to develop my craft. After countless acting courses, performances, and auditions, one thing led to another, and acting, having started as a passion, became a career. Now, a decade later, I’ve been fortunate enough to "turn pro"—about five years ago.

What's been the most challenging role you've played so far, and what did you learn from it?

That’s a tough question to answer. Without delving too deep, I’d say the hardest roles for me were those portraying twisted, perverted characters who harmed defenceless people. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what I learned, but these roles reminded me how deeply human and sensitive I am. After scenes as those characters, I felt a sort of heaviness in my chest—a “rotten” presence that left me feeling spiritually off-balance. This reaction surprised me and, in a strange way, reassured me. It made me realize that I might be a better person than I thought I was.

I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on the nature of human evil, wondering, “Could I, Elijah, ever end up a convicted criminal? If I’d grown up in the wrong environment, with distorted values, could I have become that kind of monster?” Thankfully, the discomfort I felt after playing those roles has shown me that there’s a limit to the darkness I could reach, no matter the circumstances. I came out of these roles with a stronger sense of who I am—hopefully, as a better person for it.

How do you prepare for a new character? Do you have any routines or specific techniques?

It absolutely depends on the character. If the character feels close to my own persona, I try to bring as much of myself into the role as possible. But—and this is a big but—the challenge is not to become complacent or just “wing it.” Early in my career, I would lean heavily on my own personality for any character, but eventually, I got bored with that approach and realized, this must be about something bigger than myself.

Since then, I’ve made it a priority to explore the world of the character before diving into the character itself. I ask myself questions like: What is this project about? What’s the message? Why do I want to be part of it? When it comes to technique, I enjoy experimenting and keeping it simple with Stanislavsky’s core questions, and I especially love body work.

In the end, it all comes down to serving the script. If the writing is strong, sometimes the best thing you can do is simply get out of the way.

Is there a particular actor, director, or film that has inspired you throughout your career?

There are quite a few, but Tom Cruise is my biggest inspiration right now. He fully embodies his life philosophy of moving forward—no matter the trauma or setbacks—and, in my opinion, that’s one of life’s most powerful approaches. He’s one of the last true men in the industry and arguably the last real movie star.

Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio are also major influences. Growing up, I subconsciously tried to emulate Leo, since his work was such a big part of my early exposure to film. And, of course, there’s Denzel Washington—another legend whose presence and skill inspire me deeply. Last but not least, I believe Chris Pratt is one of the best humans in the industry right now.

On the film side, James Bond was the original spark that made me want to get into movies. We didn’t have a TV, so Bond films at my grandma’s were a special treat. And my favourite movie of all time has to be Gladiator—a simple story, executed flawlessly.

What's been the most surprising thing you've discovered about yourself through acting?

My weaknesses are my biggest strengths, and my strengths are my biggest weaknesses.

How do you approach emotional scenes? Are there any personal techniques you use to tap into those emotions?

A magician never reveals his tricks! That said, it is tricky (pun intended). The most blissful moments—and, I think, the ultimate goal—are when I’m not actively trying to do anything, and the emotions just surprise me. There are techniques, and there are tricks, but nothing is more satisfying than having a scene partner who’s so good that simply focusing on them brings out whatever’s meant to surface.

When you're not working, how do you like to spend your time? Do you have any hobbies that help you unwind?

Sports have been essential for me. Hockey has always been a rock in my life, and since starting CrossFit, I’ve become even more resilient to the ups and downs of this lifestyle.

If you could play any role, real or fictional, who would it be and why?

A career in acting sometimes feels like it requires the resilience of a U.S. Navy SEAL. Staying in the business long-term demands that kind of mental toughness. Of course, acting is often the opposite game—where SEALs control their emotions, actors have to be vulnerable. But at the end of the day, both crafts come down to persistence.

Plus, I love playing heroes who would die for their beliefs. There’s an honour in that—a kind of currency that feels rare in today’s Insta-TikTok-reality-TV world.

How do you handle the pressure and expectations that come with a high-profile acting career?

You don’t. It handles you—at least until you decide enough is enough and realise that this profession isn’t worth sacrificing your self-worth. At the end of the day, it’s acting, not brain surgery. Get out, live a little, and keep some perspective.

In Miss Fallaci, which recently premiered at the 19th Rome Film Festival, you play a unique role. Could you share some insights about your character and what initially drew you to take on this part?

As I mentioned earlier, I enjoy playing heroes and this character had all the right ingredients I look for in a role. Neil is a U.S. soldier in World War II, fighting for democracy after escaping a prisoner of war camp. Despite his trauma, he keeps moving forward—not for himself, but for his comrade Richard Price and because it’s the right thing to do. Those two weeks of shooting in Rome were some of the best of my life.

What kind of research or preparation did you do to bring authenticity to your character?

I worked with an acting coach, Jesse Tischler, from the Tischler Studio in Zürich (Acting Branch). It was all about rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal. For research, I dove into a lot of material on the U.S. campaign in WWII and focused on learning as much as I could about POW camps.

Miss Fallaci focuses on a fascinating figure. How did you approach working on a project connected to someone with such a strong historical and cultural impact?

It was a true honor. She was a pioneer, a visionary, and more importantly, a hero—having also been a Partigiano. She was on the right side of history, but unlike many, she wasn’t just writing pungent articles from the sidelines; she was actually on the battlefield.

I made sure to research as much as I could about her and the era she lived in. It was a lot of fun, with plenty of daydreaming involved—thinking about LA back then, WWII, America, the American Dream... And here I am, doing it again!

What do you hope audiences take away from Miss Fallaci, and what do you think makes this story resonate with today's viewers?

You don’t have to be perfect to be a hero. In fact, it’s the presence of both good and bad within you, and the ability to make the right choice, that defines a truly great person.

I also hope the series serves as a reminder of the importance of freedom of the press, courage, and democracy. It's about being on the right side of history—once again.

How does this role compare to others you've played? Was there anything new or different that you experienced as an actor on this project?

It felt like I'd been preparing for 9 years, because that’s how long it took for me to get the call for an established streaming network. What made it different, though, was that I had envisioned this moment countless times in my head. When I was finally on set, I thought to myself, "It's happening—no one can take this away from me, and I’m going to enjoy it to the fullest."

Are there any upcoming roles or projects that you're particularly looking forward to? What can you share with us about them?

If I tell you, I’ll have to... well, you know how it goes! I do have an upcoming project for an institution I can’t talk about just yet, but I can assure you, it's something morally good.

Cover: Elijah Knight
Images courtesy of Incandenza