Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen stars in the new World War II thriller Desperate Journey, which premiered on November 28, 2025.
At the film’s premiere on November 18, the actor spoke with GB News and other outlets about stepping into the role, reflecting on how the real-life story of Freddie Knoller influenced his performance.
Desperate Journey is a 2025 WWII romantic thriller inspired by the life of Knoller, a young Jewish man who escaped Vienna following the Nazi occupation.
In the film, he finds both work and romance within the glamorous yet perilous burlesque scene of 1940s Paris, becoming caught up in events that dramatically alter the trajectory of his life.
After fleeing Vienna, Freddie Knoller finds work at a Parisian burlesque club frequented by high-ranking Nazi officials.
There, he falls for the club’s lead showgirl, played by Clara Rugaard, and becomes entangled in a dangerous chain of events.
The film is directed by Emmy winner Annabel Jankel and written by two-time Oscar nominee Michael Radford.
Speaking on the red carpet, Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen told GB News and other outlets that portraying Knoller had an unexpectedly emotional impact on him.
“It’s incredibly difficult because… I’m just a kid from Copenhagen in Denmark. Who am I to portray a man who endured horrors like this? It took me a long time to accept that — to accept that this is an important story and someone has to tell it,” he said.
He added, “Eventually, I became confident in the fact that, okay, I’m going to do my best to bring this story to life.”
Lynggaard Tønnesen, best known for his role as Rasmus Andersen in Netflix’s The Rain, also encouraged audiences not to shy away from such a harrowing but vital story.
“Because it’s such an important story, and given the world we live in today, we need this,” he said.
“We shouldn’t be afraid to confront it. That’s crucial… For many people, especially those who haven’t experienced losing their home or family, it can be hard to grasp. We need to keep reminding people that these stories matter. For me, being able to play a part in that is really meaningful.”
“Bringing a story like this to life means a lot to me, and I’m incredibly proud of it,” he added.
Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen also spoke about the importance of having a strong support system to protect his mental well-being while filming the more intense scenes.
“For me, it was luckily easy to step out of that mindset,” he explained. “I was fortunate to be surrounded by fantastic, supportive people throughout the project. From the start, Freddie Knoller’s family were incredibly encouraging about me taking on this role, which gave me a lot of peace.”
He continued, “I tried to stay calm and accepting of the situation and of what I was putting myself through. So, for me, it was never particularly difficult to leave that world behind after filming.”
He went on: “I think I always kept a bit of distance… just enough so it wouldn’t drain me too much. Because some days, it really could, and very quickly.”
Still, one moment from filming left a lasting impression on him.
“I remember shooting a scene with Anna Mawn, who plays Aiva, the girl Freddy meets while fleeing Vienna toward Paris. We were in this transport car, talking about hope and the future for our characters.
“And then… a little… what’s the opposite of a butterfly? Oh, a moth, yes! A tiny moth landed on my hand during the scene, and it just stayed there. Its wing was broken, and through every take, it stayed with me.
“That, I think, was really special. I remember it vividly… it made that moment feel truly unique.”