Stories, risks, and the joy of taking the lead

My professional journey

I first dreamed of becoming an actress and toured half of Germany auditioning — until the University of the Arts Berlin finally said yes. Worth the wait: I graduated with honors, won a solo prize, and landed roles on stage and screen.

But I often felt like a guest in someone else’s vision. Especially in the roles reserved for sweet, blonde girls. I was rarely cast as Pippi Longstocking or a dangerous butcher’s assistant.

Picture ©Marius von Mayenburg

Messy, magical and deeply political

So I picked up a camera, called some friends, and took back control. We shot wild, poetic short films on mini-DV and 16mm, used the first HD camera in Germany, and even adapted The Sorcerer’s Apprentice for ZDF — winning the audience award at the Berlin Poetry Film Festival.

Die Bürgschaft turned Schiller’s ballad into a refugee drama. A diverse team, a shelter as location, a social media campaign in solidarity with refugees — it was messy, magical, and deeply political. That project changed me.

Picture ©Arata Mori

As a screenwriter, I’ve done almost everything: from high-end feminist sex-work dramas to medical soaps. I wrote hundreds of episodes, learned the rules, broke a few, and worked in nearly every stage of the process — from storylining in Writers’ Rooms to creating original series. I wrote bibles and pilots for streamers and developed a handful of stories that haven’t made it to the screen — yet.

Writing gave me back my voice.

I published four novels and cherished the quiet. But then I missed the team.

When I was asked to head-write the ZDF primetime mini series Fritzie – Der Himmel muss warten, I felt like I’d reached heaven — even though it’s about a teacher diagnosed with breast cancer. Both are familiar to me. I gathered a dream team (Katja Grübel & Christiane Bubner) and we went all in: funny, raw, poetic, political.

Time to take risks. Again.

Alongside writing and filming, I’ve always taught. I’ve coached actors, produced showreels, mentored young writers, and taught film acting in Cologne and Munich. I joined the board of the German Screenwriters Guild and was an early member of Kontrakt18, advocating for better working conditions in our industry. Today, I lead the cinema division at DDV.

And I’m still learning. Vulnerability and leadership aren’t opposites — they belong together. That’s why I joined the European Showrunner Training.