Here are 13 famous actresses from Germany were born in 1940:
Elke Sommer (November 5, 1940 Berlin-) also known as Elke Schletz, Baroness Elke von Schletz, Else Schletz-Ho, E. Schwartz, Elke von Schletz, Baroness von Schletz or Elke Baronesse von Schletz is a German singer, actor, model, painter and entertainer.
She began her career as a model and won the title of Miss Viareggio in 1959. Sommer then moved to the United States to pursue acting and made her Hollywood debut in the film "The Prize" (1963) alongside Paul Newman. She went on to star in numerous films throughout the 1960s, including "A Shot in the Dark" (1964) and "The Art of Love" (1965).
In addition to her successful acting career, Sommer also recorded several albums and had hits with songs such as "Ich Liebe Dich" and "Only You". She also made appearances on popular TV shows such as "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island".
Sommer has also had a successful career as a painter and her artwork has been exhibited in galleries around the world.
Throughout her career, Sommer has been recognized for her contributions to the arts and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011.
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Helma Sanders-Brahms (November 20, 1940 Emden-May 27, 2014 Berlin) also known as Helma Sanders or Sanders-Brahms was a German film director, screenwriter, film producer, actor, voice actor, television director and television producer. She had one child, Anna Sanders.
Sanders-Brahms was known for her socially and politically conscious films which often dealt with aspects of contemporary history, particularly the Second World War and the Holocaust. She was considered a leading figure in the New German Cinema movement of the 1970s, alongside fellow directors like Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Werner Herzog.
Her most famous films include "Germany, Pale Mother" (1980) which was a semi-autobiographical exploration of her parents' experiences during the Second World War, and "No Mercy, No Future" (1981) which examined the societal pressures and marginalization faced by young people.
Sanders-Brahms received multiple awards and nominations throughout her career, including the Berlinale Camera at the Berlin International Film Festival, the Otto Dibelius Prize, and the Konrad Wolf Prize. She was also a member of the Academy of Arts Berlin and the German Film Academy.
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Marie-Luise Marjan (August 9, 1940 Essen-) also known as Mutter Beimer or Marie Luise Marjan is a German actor.
Marie-Luise Marjan is best known for her iconic role as Helga Beimer, also known as Mutter Beimer, in the long-running German television series "Lindenstraße." She played the beloved character for over three decades and became one of the most recognizable actresses in Germany. Beyond her work on the show, Marjan has had a successful career in theater, film, and television, appearing in a variety of productions over the years. She has been honored with numerous awards for her contributions to German culture and entertainment, including the Federal Cross of Merit and the Bambi Award. Marjan continues to be a respected figure in the German media industry and is highly regarded by fans and colleagues alike.
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Marion Michael (October 17, 1940 Königsberg-October 13, 2007 Gartz) also known as Marion Ilonka Michaela Delonge was a German singer and actor.
She began her career as a singer in the early 1960s and quickly rose to fame with hit songs like "Chico Chico Charlie" and "Ich möcht' heut ausgehn". Marion also starred in several films and television shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including "Kriminaltango" and "Wir hau'n die Pauker in die Pfanne". In addition to her successful entertainment career, Marion was also known for her philanthropic work, particularly in support of animal rights. She was a dedicated advocate for animal welfare and conservation throughout her life. Marion passed away in 2007 at the age of 66.
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Margit Carstensen (February 29, 1940 Kiel-) is a German actor.
She studied acting in Berlin and began her career in theater in the late 1960s. Carstensen gained international recognition for her collaborations with director Rainer Werner Fassbinder and appeared in several of his films such as "The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant" and "Fear Eats the Soul". She also worked with other notable directors such as Werner Herzog and Volker Schlöndorff. In addition to film, Carstensen has also acted in television and on stage, including performances at the prestigious Berliner Ensemble. She has received numerous awards for her work, including a Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival.
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Edith Clever (December 13, 1940 Wuppertal-) is a German actor and theatre director.
Clever's acting career began in 1962 when she appeared in the film "Adventures of a Dentist." She went on to star in numerous other films and TV shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including "The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum" and "The Tin Drum," for which she received critical acclaim.
In addition to her film work, Clever has also been heavily involved in theater, directing productions of classics such as "Antigone" and "Medea." She also served as the artistic director of the Schaubühne theater in Berlin from 1980 to 1984.
Clever is a recipient of the Order of Merit of Berlin and the Bavarian Order of Merit for her contributions to the arts in Germany. In 2013, she was awarded the Honorary Award of the Berlin Senate. Clever has been praised for her powerful performances and her commitment to bringing new life to classic works both on stage and on screen.
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Karin Baal (September 19, 1940 Berlin-) also known as Karin Blauermel is a German actor. She has two children, Thomas Gaffkus and Therese Lohner.
Karin Baal began her acting career in the late 1950s and appeared in various films and television shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s. She became known for her roles in films such as "The Devil Strikes at Night" (1957), "Murderers Among Us" (1961), and "Barras heute" (1963).
In addition to her acting career, Baal was also a singer and released several singles in the 1960s. She also appeared in a number of stage productions in Germany and Switzerland.
Later in her career, Baal focused more on television and appeared in popular German TV shows such as "Tatort" and "Der Alte". She also had a recurring role in the soap opera "Verbotene Liebe" from 2002 to 2004.
Despite retiring from acting in 2010, Karin Baal remains a notable figure in German film and television and is regarded as one of the most talented actors of her generation.
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Vera Tschechowa (July 22, 1940 Berlin-) otherwise known as Vera Tschechova, Vera Cecova, Vera Rust or Vera Chekhova is a German actor, film producer, film director, screenwriter, television producer and television director. She has one child, Nikolaus Glowna.
Vera Tschechowa began her acting career in the 1950s and appeared in over 60 films throughout her career. She became known for her roles in the films "The Punch Bowl" (1959), "Rosen für den Staatsanwalt" (1959) and "Das Halstuch" (1962).
In addition to her acting work, Tschechowa also worked behind the scenes in film and television production, directing and writing screenplays. She produced the films "The House That Screamed" (1969) and "Dog's Heart" (1976), which was directed by her son, Nikolaus Glowna.
Tschechowa was a popular television personality in Germany, where she hosted several talk shows and served as a judge on the reality talent competition "Star Search". She was also a regular on the popular game show "Wetten, dass..?" in the 1980s and 1990s.
Throughout her career, Tschechowa has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the film and television industry in Germany. She continues to be active in the entertainment industry and is considered a trailblazer for women in film and television.
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Pina Bausch (July 27, 1940 Solingen-June 30, 2009 Wuppertal) also known as Josephine Bausch, Philippine Bausch, Philippina "Pina" Bausch or Philippina Bausch was a German choreographer, dancer, theatre director, actor, film director and screenwriter. She had one child, Salomon Bausch.
Pina Bausch is widely known for revolutionizing modern dance and is considered one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century. She founded the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, a dance theater company, in 1973 and remained its artistic director until her death in 2009.
Known for her unique style of expressionistic, visually stunning, and emotionally charged performances, Pina Bausch received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including the Kyoto Prize for Arts and Philosophy in 2007, and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2007 Venice Biennale.
Her work has been featured in films such as Wim Wenders' "Pina," which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2012, and in numerous international dance festivals.
Pina Bausch's legacy lives on through the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, which continues to perform her works around the world, and through the countless dancers and choreographers who have been inspired by her groundbreaking contributions to the world of dance.
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Jutta Wachowiak (December 13, 1940 Berlin-) is a German actor. She has two children, Therese Ackermann and Anna Ackermann.
Jutta Wachowiak has had a prolific career in theater, film and television. She began performing as a child in her hometown of Berlin and went on to become a star of the East German state theater. She was a member of the renowned Deutsches Theater from 1962 to 1974, where she worked with some of the greatest directors of the time.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Wachowiak also became a familiar face on East German television, starring in popular series like "Polizeiruf 110" and "Das unsichtbare Visier." She was known for her talent as a character actor, and her ability to convey complex emotional states with subtle gestures and expressions.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Wachowiak continued to work as an actor in reunified Germany. She has appeared in numerous films and television series, including "Bella Block," "Tatort" and "Küstenwache." In recognition of her contribution to German culture, she was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 2001.
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Carolin Reiber (November 2, 1940 Munich-) otherwise known as Caroline Reiber is a German actor. She has two children, Marcus Luitpold and Maximilian Luitpold.
In addition to her acting career, Carolin Reiber is also a renowned television presenter and host in Germany. She rose to prominence as the presenter of the popular musical program "Musik aus Studio B" in the 1970s and went on to host several other popular shows such as "Lustige Musikanten" and "Immer wieder Sonntags". Reiber has won numerous awards for her contributions to German television, including the Bavarian TV Award and the Bambi Award. In 2005, she was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for her cultural and charitable work. Reiber is also an accomplished author, having published several books on cooking and rural life in Bavaria.
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Rosel Zech (July 7, 1940 Berlin-August 31, 2011 Berlin) also known as Rosalie Helga Lina Zech or Roselie Helga Lina Zech was a German actor.
She began her acting career in the 1960s and became well-known for her portrayal of Irmgard Bock in the 1981 film "Veronika Voss," directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Zech appeared in several other Fassbinder films, including "Berlin Alexanderplatz" and "Lola." She also worked with other notable directors such as Volker Schlöndorff and Werner Herzog. Zech was praised for her emotional intensity and ability to transform into her characters, and she won several awards for her performances throughout her career. In addition to her work in film, Zech also appeared in theater productions in Germany and Austria. She died in 2011 at the age of 71.
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Christine Wodetzky (January 5, 1940 Leipzig-December 6, 2004 Berlin) was a German actor.
She began her career on stage in East Berlin, performing in productions at the Berliner Ensemble and Deutsches Theater. In the late 1970s, she transitioned to film and television and became well-known for her versatile performances in a wide range of roles. Some of her most notable film appearances include "Solo Sunny," "The House on the River," and "The Lie." In addition to acting, Wodetzky was also an accomplished director, writer, and translator. She received several awards throughout her career for her contributions to German culture and the arts. Despite struggling with health issues in her later years, she continued to act and serve as a mentor for young actors until her death in 2004.
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