She became known internationally for playing the idealistic socialist mother Christiane Kerner in the 2003 tragicomedy Good Bye, Lenin!

She was born in Schwerin, in the former East Germany, which is now the capital of the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

She made her film debut at age 23 in the 1979 film Bis daß der Tod euch scheidet [de; fr], where she portrayed a disillusioned young wife.

She won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 32nd Berlin International Film Festival for her role in the 1981 film Bürgschaft für ein Jahr.

This article about a German film actor is a stub.