As a child, Thomalla wanted to be a musician, but instead attended the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst Ernst Busch acting-school in Berlin.

She won the Goldene Kamera together with Rudi Assauer for her Veltins commercial.

She played detective Eva Saalfeld in the German TV series Tatort, as well as other roles.

Playboy Germany published photos of Thomalla in their February 2010 edition.

She gave birth to her daughter Sophia Thomalla during the East German revolution of 1989.