Starting in 1951, she performed at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin, where she played a variety of roles.

[1] In 1962, May moved to Bertolt Brecht's theatre group, the Berliner Ensemble, and stayed for 30 years.

While there she played a variety of roles, including Madame Cabet in The Days of the Commune, Mrs Peachum in The Threepenny Opera, Mrs Kopecka in Schweik in the Second World War, and Mother Courage in Mother Courage and Her Children.

in Berlin, and later she starred in the television series Addelheid and her Murderers.

[2] She also performed solo concerto concerts internationally, including at New York's Carnegie Hall and the Milan Scala.