Grounded in Greatness: Kerstin Schulze’s Journey as Sola in The Righteous Gemstones

Kerstin Schulze is an unstoppable force—she’s not just an actor but also an elite fitness coach and the founder of a wellness company that emphasizes performance. Her method of movement is both deliberate and impactful. Schulze is widely recognized for her portrayal of Sola, the enigmatic German nanny who surprises everyone with her kung fu skills in HBO’s comedy The Righteous Gemstones. Whatever role she plays—whether as “Workout Tina” Fey for Booking.com or a chilling clown on American Horror Story: Roanoke—she infuses each character with physical discipline and a grounded presence.

In our discussion, we delve into how mindfulness weaves through her training, acting, and daily life, examining what it takes to maintain balance in high-pressure environments both on and off the screen.

Angela Stubbs: You portray Sola, a German nanny and martial artist in the latest season of The Righteous Gemstones. Could you share what initially attracted you to Sola, which traits are similar to yours, and how your everyday personality differs from hers?

Kerstin Schulze: When I saw the script and audition details for Sola, the character description mentioned a tall German or Scandinavian woman skilled in kung fu who was very grounded. Instantly, I felt this is me. I had an immediate connection to Sola; I didn’t need to imagine her emotions because, in many ways, I’ve lived through similar experiences. I’ve always been nurturing and caring. Physically, I am strong, and having spent over three decades assisting people in feeling better about themselves, I understood Sola’s mission profoundly. She’s dedicated to helping others, which completely resonates with my values.

What I found appealing about Sola is her balance of being steadfast and caring, yet fiercely tough. When I created her background, I pictured her as coming from a wealthy European family where she felt emotionally overlooked, despite having everything. This drove her to work with families, not for money, but to help children find stability and mend broken homes. That purpose influenced how I portrayed her.

I understood Sola’s mission on a deep level. She’s all about helping others—and that resonated with me completely.

I also envisioned her physical appearance very specifically. I took inspiration from Mrs. Bower in Frankenstein—very German, strict, and always impeccably put together. The show actually adopted that look in the final cut, which I adored.

The variety in her character made this role particularly special—from the intense fight sequences to her heartfelt connection with Baby Billy in the final moments. The scene where she tells him, “They need you,” was truly impactful. Additionally, her relationship with Tiffany, a sweet and innocent character, was deeply meaningful. Tiffany’s purity brought out Sola’s protective instincts, and I genuinely connected with the sincerity and significance of that bond.

Sola appears to be a very grounded and self-aware character. It seems like to portray someone like her authentically, an actor must bring genuine depth and awareness. This kind of presence often comes from life experiences, mindfulness, or physical disciplines like kung fu, which is so integral to Sola’s character.

This leads me to wonder about the balancing act of preparing for the physical demands of kung fu while also nurturing the inner awareness and emotional depth necessary to embody Sola, especially amidst the busy environment of filming.

Before I even got the part, I was already immersed in martial arts and mindfulness practices, like meditation. Meditating every day is an essential part of my routine. It helps ground me, and I strongly believe in the effectiveness of positive affirmations. When negative thoughts creep in, I consciously redirect them. This practice of mindfulness has helped me remain centered not just in life, but especially on set, where chaos often reigns.

When filming, there are countless people around—directors, crew, cameras—so having these tools was invaluable. They enabled me to concentrate, block out distractions, and immerse myself in Sola’s world. It allowed me to connect authentically with her character, especially in scenes involving Baby Billy. The stability you observe in Sola on screen is a reflection of the groundedness I’ve worked diligently to cultivate within myself.

That daily practice of mindfulness helped me stay centered not just in life, but especially on set, where there’s so much chaos happening around you.

However, I didn’t always have this mindset. It all began after my divorce at 40, which was a pivotal moment in my life. I sought therapy, committed to meditation, and engaged in a lot of inner work to gain clarity about myself. I confronted tough questions regarding why I had entered a harmful relationship. This journey toward self-discovery transformed everything for me. Now, a decade later, I feel the universe has guided me to this role because it mirrors my current life. Sola is grounded, purposeful, and strong—and I find that I embody those traits as well.

Kerstin Schulze on Fitness and Being a Kung-Fu Nanny

Your mindfulness and martial arts background seem to have helped you approach Sola with tremendous presence, both physically and emotionally. You noted that this role demanded significant focus—not just in the fight scenes but also in maintaining balance amidst the hectic filming environment. This reminds me of The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, which discusses how our bodies retain experiences and highlights the mind-body connection’s significance for healing and awareness.

I’m curious: do you think your ability to remain grounded on set and fully embody Sola stems from the prolonged mind-body work you’ve done? How has that awareness influenced your overall acting approach?

Our cells retain everything—our thoughts, emotions—they encapsulate our experiences. I’ve always been a resilient person. Survival has required me to be tough. Thus, Sola’s toughness was a natural aspect for me. What I had to focus on more deeply was her vulnerability—her quiet strength. As women, we continue to learn how to balance being both gentle and strong.

Sola may not have spoken often, but her presence conveyed much. Her body language communicated her emotions. I think that’s true for everyone—we can enter a room and express so much without uttering a word. It’s all about how grounded, mindful, and self-aware we are. When you understand who you are, you can present yourself authentically—you can genuinely listen without being preoccupied with your next reply.

The concept of the kung-fu nanny originates from Danny McBride, which is delightful! But let’s focus on the kung fu aspect. Many may not realize you’ve been an athlete your entire life, dating back to your childhood. Do you feel that this athletic background made it easier for you to take on Sola’s physicality, particularly the kung fu elements? Or did you encounter new challenges when learning and embodying this specific discipline?

I’ve been involved in athletics for as long as I can remember—I even competed in the Junior Olympics in Berlin at 12—so that experience definitely facilitated my transition into the physical aspects of Sola. However, when I was cast, they wanted Sola to know kata (a formal sequence of movements in karate for practice), which I hadn’t trained in. I had experience in martial arts, kickboxing, and weapon handling, but not with kata specifically. So, I had to learn a kata.

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I practiced daily and refined my skills. Being a visual learner, I closely observed his techniques and repeatedly practiced them until they felt genuine.

Thanks to my athletic background, I grasp new concepts quickly, and I approached this role with seriousness—aware that it would be viewed by millions. I trained in various locations: at the pool, in hotel rooms, and at home. However, on set, they changed the camera angles unexpectedly, forcing me to improvise and adapt. Understanding each kata’s purpose kept me focused and flexible.

I practiced in various places: in the pool, hotel rooms, and at home. When they switched camera angles on set unexpectedly, knowing the intent behind each kata movement helped me adapt.

The fight scenes were demanding—we only saw a small portion of what was filmed. I had to perform actions like lifting and throwing someone, smashing a vase on a person’s head (thankfully made of fiberglass), pulling someone off a pool table, and slamming a head on a piano. It was highly physical. I did around 95% of my own stunts to ensure authenticity. My extensive training in strength and martial arts was crucial.

How many takes did you do for the kung fu scenes?

The kata scene by the water was particularly challenging—it was extremely hot, and I probably practiced my solo shots at least ten times. After that, we filmed from different angles, which took most of the day.

Shooting the fight scenes took an entire day, with multiple repetitions. I collaborated closely with the stunt coordinators. I even had to lift someone and flip them, but I decided to let my stunt double handle the final throw to avoid causing any injuries. I wasn’t confident I could perform that move safely.

You mentioned training every day for this role, yet beyond acting, you also work as a trainer for various clients, including actors and seniors, and you’ve developed a program called Fitness for the Busy Lifestyle. How does body awareness influence your workout design, and what motivated you to create a program for those with limited time or specific physical requirements?

Fitness for the Busy Lifestyle was born from my own experiences—being a single mom and training clients all day while still finding time to stay fit. I designed concise 30-minute workouts (and even 5-10 minute routines) tailored for busy individuals, travelers, and those dealing with injuries or stress. The focus is on efficiency, consistency, and building long-term strength to support your body.

There’s a saying—everyone should meditate for 10 minutes a day, and if you don’t have 10 minutes, you should meditate for an hour. The idea is that the busier or more stressed you are, the more you probably need that time to pause. The same principle applies to movement. Sure, some days it can be challenging due to injuries or time limitations, but that doesn’t mean we should refrain from moving. Even a few minutes of mindful movement—like doing leg lifts in the kitchen or squats at your desk—can be impactful.

The same applies to meditation. People often believe that if they can’t spare 30 minutes, it’s not worth it. Yet even a single minute of focused breathing can alter your state. Just being aware of your breath—how it feels as it enters and exits—anchors you.

How you begin your day is crucial, yet many people overlook it. I consistently encourage my clients to express gratitude before even getting out of bed. Appreciate that you woke up, that you can walk, that you can access your fridge, and that you can step outside. These small moments of mindfulness can fundamentally change your attitude.

Beginning your day with gratitude is grounding. Mediation is essentially returning your focus to the essentials: breathing and being alive.

Beginning your day with gratitude grounds you. That’s what meditation is about—refocusing on what truly matters—breathing and being alive. Everything else—goals, money, stress—are simply distractions. Life is delicate, and we often forget this. We pursue so much, but true serenity arises from connection, presence, and treating our minds and bodies with care.

So why wouldn’t we take a few minutes to speak kindly to ourselves? To move? You don’t need an entire gym. You can do curls seated or work your glutes while doing laundry. It’s all about your perspective.

Choosing Growth Over Fear

Looking at the broader picture, when memorizing lines, do you have any mindfulness techniques or physical habits that help you stay centered? Do you struggle with memorization, or do you have any tips or strategies for running lines, especially under pressure?

I find that the best way for me to memorize lines is through mindful movement—walking or exercising while reciting them. On set, you’re rarely just standing still delivering a line; you’re usually engaged in an activity. So, learning lines while in motion helps them feel more organic in performance.

Additionally, understanding the context of the lines is vital. Even if I don’t recall every word perfectly, if I grasp the message I’m conveying and my character’s objective in the scene, it naturally comes across. It’s about clarity—why am I in this scene, what does my character want to achieve, and how does this progress the narrative? When you have that clarity and the script is strong, the lines tend to flow smoothly.

I also record my lines and play them back repeatedly, like music—even while I sleep. Reading the script repeatedly helps anchor it in my mind. The repetition fosters an authentic feel, making it almost instinctive.

A significant realization for me was that it’s not solely about memorizing lines; it’s about genuinely understanding their meaning—similar to meditation, where slowing down compels you to listen to yourself, which can be intimidating for some.

The fear of being alone with our thoughts is real. Our minds don’t simply quiet down on command, and we cannot shut them off. Instead of becoming attached to every thought or feeling, we can observe them, label them, and let them pass like weather, creating distance from the narratives we tell ourselves.

Indeed, the mind never completely shuts off—absolutely. I often say that 10% is what happens to us, while 90% is how we react. Our minds may remain active, but our awareness—our conscious state—determines our actions. So, if I feel anxious, I ask myself: Why? Perhaps I have too much on my plate. That awareness helps me know when to breathe, talk to someone, or take a break.

When I created Sola and then found myself on set with A-list stars, I definitely experienced moments of impostor syndrome. But I’ve come to realize that those feelings often occur right before meaningful growth.