Barbara Sukowa

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Barbara Sukowa
Sukowa in 2010
Born (1950-02-02) 2 February 1950 (age 74)[1]
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1971—present
Spouse(s)Hans-Michael Rehberg
(m. 1993)
PartnerDaniel Olbrychski
Children3
Websitewww.barbarasukowa.com

Barbara Sukowa (German: [ˈbaʁ.ba.ʁa ˈzu.kɔ.va] ; born 2 February 1950) is a German actress of screen and stage and singer. She has received three German Film Awards for Best Actress, three Bavarian Film Awards, Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress, Venice Film Festival Award, as well as nominations for European Film Awards, César Awards and Grammy Awards.[2]

Sukowa is best known for her work with directors Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Margarethe von Trotta. She rose to prominence after starring in the West German miniseries Berlin Alexanderplatz directed by Fassbinder, and the following year went to star in his drama film Lola, for which she received her first German Film Award for Best Actress. Also in 1981, Sukowa starred in Marianne and Juliane directed by Margarethe von Trotta. They would go on to work on six more films together. For her performance, she also received German Film Award and Venice Film Festival Award for Best Actress. In 1986, she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for performance in the drama film Rosa Luxemburg.[3]

In 1990s, Sukowa starred in a number of international films, most notable, Europa (1991) directed by Lars von Trier, Voyager (1991) by Volker Schlöndorff, M. Butterfly by David Cronenberg, and Johnny Mnemonic (1995) by Robert Longo. In later career, she played Hildegard of Bingen in 2009 drama film Vision, and Hannah Arendt in the biographical film Hannah Arendt (2012). She starred in the American television series 12 Monkeys (2015–2018), a remake of the 1995 film of the same name. In 2019, she starred in French drama film Two of Us, for which she received Lumières Award for Best Actress and César Award for Best Actress nomination.

Life and career[edit]

Sukowa was born in Bremen, Germany, in 1950.[4] She speaks German, English and French.[5] After studying acting at the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna, Sukowa's stage debut was in Berlin in 1971, in a production of Peter Handke's Der Ritt über den Bodensee. The same year, Günter Beelitz invited her to join the ensemble of the Darmstädter National Theatre. She also worked in Frankfurt am Main and Hamburg, in collaboration with directors such as Luc Bondy, playing Marion in Büchner's Danton's Death and Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Other Shakespeare roles in Europe were Rosalind in As You Like It and Desdemona in Othello. She performed in Ibsen's The Master Builder.

In addition to her stage work, Sukowa is associated with the New German Cinema. Her performance as Mieze in Rainer Werner Fassbinder's miniseries Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) earned her the German Best Young Actress Award.[6] The following year, her performance of the title role in Fassbinder's drama film Lola earned her a German Film Award for Best Actress.[2] Also that year, she starred in Marianne and Juliane directed by Margarethe von Trotta. For this performance she also received German Film Award for Best Actress and Venice Film Festival Golden Phoenix Award for Best Actress.[2] She starred in Die Jäger (1982) directed by Károly Makk, Un dimanche de flic (1983) by Michel Vianey, and Équateur by Serge Gainsbourg. In 1985, Sukowa made her American television debut starring in the CBS miniseries Space, based on James A. Michener's novel.

In 1986, Sukowa played Polish socialist Rosa Luxemburg in the biographical drama film Rosa Luxemburg directed by Margarethe von Trotta. She received Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her performance, and well as another German Film Award for Best Actress.[7][2] In 1987, she starred in Days to Remember directed by Jeanine Meerapfel, receiving nomination for a German Film Award for Best Actress, and appeared in American action film The Sicilian opposite Christopher Lambert. In 1990, she starred in The African Woman directed by Margarethe von Trotta.

Sukowa moved to Brooklyn, New York City in 1991.[5] In 1991, she starred opposite Sam Shepard in Voyager directed by Volker Schlöndorff, and Europa by Lars von Trier. Both films received positive reviews from critics.[8] Sukowa was nominated for European Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for Voyager, and European Film Award for Best European Actress of the Year for Europa.[2] In 1993, she starred in M. Butterfly directed by David Cronenberg.[9] In 1995, she appeared in Johnny Mnemonic directed by Robert Longo. In 1997, she returned in Germany for starring in In the Name of Innocence [de], for which she received Bavarian Film Award for Best Actress[10] In 1999, she appeared in Tim Robbins's Cradle Will Rock, and The Third Miracle directed by Agnieszka Holland. Sukowa also starred in a made-for-television films Lost Souls (1998) and The Lady in Question (1999).

Sukowa has developed a parallel career as a classical music narrator and speaker. She has performed the Speaker's role in Arnold Schönberg's Pierrot lunaire, first with the Schoenberg Ensemble under Reinbert de Leeuw, and later with ensembles in Paris, London,[11] Berlin, St. Petersburg, Madrid, Rome, Tokyo, Salzburg, Los Angeles, and New York City.[12] She has performed the Speaker's role in Schönberg's Gurrelieder with the Berlin Philharmonic under Claudio Abbado, and is featured on the recordings with Abbado and the Vienna Philharmonic, and Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia.[6] She narrated Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf both in concert and on record, as well as on a recording of Mendelssohn's music for A Midsummer Night's Dream. In English, she has worked in a production of The Cherry Orchard (Princeton, New Jersey, 2000).[13] Sukowa has performed in Arthur Honegger's Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher and Kurt Weill's The Threepenny Opera. She performed speaking and singing roles in de Leeuw's Im wunderschönen Monat Mai in 2004. She performed the speaking role in the US premiere of Michael Jarrell's Cassandre in March 2006, and in the New York City premiere that month, with musicians from the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.[14][15] At the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, she received Grammy Award nomination for Im wunderschönen Monat Mai.[16] Sukowa is also the front singer of the Band the X-Patsys, which she founded with visual artists Jon Kessler and Robert Longo.[6]

In 2004, Sukowa was a member of the jury at the 26th Moscow International Film Festival.[17] In 2012, she was on the jury for the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival.[18]

In 2009, Sukowa played the role of Hildegard of Bingen in 2009 drama film Vision directed by Margarethe von Trotta, receiving another Bavarian Film Award for Best Actress. In 2012, Sukowa starred as German-Jewish philosopher and political theorist Hannah Arendt in the German-Luxembourgian-French biographical film Hannah Arendt directed by Margarethe von Trotta. The film and her performance received positive reviews from critics.[19][20] Sukowa received another Bavarian Film Award for Best Actress and German Film Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, and well as European Film Award for Best Actress nomination.[21][2] In 2016, she appeared on Maria Schrader' drama film Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe, and later had supporting roles in Atomic Blonde (2017), Gloria Bell (2018) and Native Son (2019).

From 2015 to 2018, Sukowa starred as Katarina Jones in the American television series 12 Monkeys.[22] She continued appearing on American television guest-starring on Hunters starring Al Pacino, and had a recurring role on the Apple TV+ series Servant. In 2022, she was cast in the thriller The Swarm based on the Frank Schätzing best-seller.[23]

In 2019, Sukowa starred in French romance drama film Two of Us, for which she received Lumières Award for Best Actress and César Award for Best Actress nomination.[24][25][26]

In 2022, Sukowa starred opposite Ben Kingsley in the biographical film Dalíland about Salvador Dalí, playing Gala Dalí.[27][28] It premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.[29]

Personal life[edit]

She is married to the artist and director Robert Longo, with whom she has performed as a singer.[30] She has three sons, one from her earlier marriage to Hans-Michael Rehberg, one from her relationship with Daniel Olbrychski, and one with Longo.She and Longo separated in 2018.[31]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1981 Lola Lola German Film Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Munich International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
1981 Marianne and Juliane Marianne German Film Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Venice Film Festival Golden Phoenix Award for Best Actress
1982 Die Jäger Daniela Mathiesen
1983 Un dimanche de flic Patricia
1983 Équateur Adele
1986 Rosa Luxemburg Rosa Luxemburg Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress
German Film Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
1987 Days to Remember Katharina Nominated — German Film Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
1987 The Sicilian Camilla, Duchess of Crotone
1990 The African Woman Martha
1991 Voyager Hannah Nominated — European Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
1991 Europa Katharina Hartmann Nominated — European Film Award for Best European Actress of the Year
1993 M. Butterfly Jeanne Gallimard
1995 Johnny Mnemonic Anna Kalmann
1997 Office Killer Virginia Wingate
1997 In the Name of Innocence [de] Anna Loeser Bavarian Film Award for Best Actress
1999 Cradle Will Rock Sophie Silvano
1999 The Third Miracle Helen
1999 Star! Star! Marianne
2000 Urbania Clara - The Married Woman
2001 Thirteen Conversations About One Thing Helen Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast
2003 Hierankl Rosemarie Adolf Grimme Award in Gold
2005 Romance & Cigarettes Gracie
2008 The Invention of Curried Sausage [de] Lena Brücker Montreal World Film Festival Award for Best Actress
2009 Veronika Decides to Die Mrs. Deklava
2009 Vision Hildegard of Bingen Bavarian Film Award for Best Actress
2012 Hannah Arendt Hannah Arendt Bavarian Film Award for Best Actress
German Film Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Nominated — European Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Actress
Nominated — German Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated — Romy Gala, Austria Award for Best Actress
Nominated — Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
2013 El cielo es azul Marquez
2015 Die abhandene Welt Caterina Fabiani / Evelyn Kromberger
2016 Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe Friderike Zweig Nominated — German Film Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
2016 My Art
2017 Atomic Blonde Coroner
2018 Gloria Bell Melinda
2019 Native Son Peggy
2019 Rocca verändert die Welt Dodo
2019 Two of Us Nina Dorn Lumières Award for Best Actress
Dublin Film Critics Award for Best Actress
Nominated — César Award for Best Actress
Nominated — International Cinephile Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated — Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screen Couple
2020 Granny Nanny [de] Philippa
2022 White Noise Sister Hermann Marie
2022 Dalíland Gala Dalí
2023 Air Kathy Dassler
2023 Enkel für Fortgeschrittene Philippa
TBA Klandestin WT Mathilda

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1974 Unter Ausschluß der Öffentlichkeit Viktoria Herbst Episode: "Der Abstieg"
1977 Women in New York Crystal Allen Television film
1978 Heinrich Heine [de] Amalie Friedländer Television film
1980 Berlin Alexanderplatz Emilie "Mieze" Karsunke Miniseries
1980 Tatort Babsi Meyer Episode: "Der gelbe Unterrock"
1980 St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken Episode: "Immer lustig"
1984 Baumeister Solness Hilde Wangel Television film
1985 Space Leisel Kolff Miniseries
1993 Colpo di coda Regina Television film
1995 The Wright Verdicts Sister Maria Pulaski Episode: "The Eyes of God"
1998 New York Undercover Cousal General Episode: "Pipeline"
1998 Lost Souls Sheila Robinson Television film
1999 The Lady in Question Rachel Singer Television film
2002–2003 Liebe, Lügen, Leidenschaften Barbara Landau Miniseries
2004 The Other Woman Vera Glaubitz Television film
2011 Night Without Morning [de] Katharina Dänert Television film
2015–2018 12 Monkeys Katarina Jones Series regular, 45 episodes
2020 Hunters Tilda Sauer Episode: "At Night, All Birds Are Black"
2021–2022 Servant Aunt Josephine Recurring role
2023 The Swarm Dr. Katherina Lehmann Series regular, 8 episodes
2024 Constellation Irena Lysenko Limited series[32]

General source for Awards and nominationAllMovie[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Barbara Sukowa - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Barbara Sukowa | Movie and Film Awards | AllMovie". AllMovie.
  3. ^ "Barbara SUKOWA". Festival de Cannes 2022.
  4. ^ "'When I travelled, I hid my passport': Fassbinder muse Barbara Sukowa on Hitler's legacy and hidden love". the Guardian. 30 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b Lindsay, Benjamin (12 April 2021). "How Barbara Sukowa Built a Lasting—and Legendary—International Acting Career". Backstage. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "BIO". Barbara Sukowa.
  7. ^ "Festival de Cannes: Barbara SUKOWA". festival-cannes.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Europa" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  9. ^ "M. Butterfly" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  10. ^ "Bayerischer Filmpreis - "Pierrot"" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2008.
  11. ^ Ashley, Tim (13 March 2006). ""Pierrot Lunaire"". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  12. ^ Tommasini, Anthony (6 May 2003). "Two Unkindred Souls Nevertheless in Accord". New York Times. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  13. ^ Alvin Klein, "Casting Keeps Chekhov Relevant: Jane Alexander in 'Cherry Orchard'", nytimes.com, 9 April 2000.
  14. ^ Sarah Bryan Miller, Review of Cassandre. Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, 1 April 2006.
  15. ^ Bernard Holland,"Works That Boldly Position Words at the Center of Power", St. Louis Symphony Performs Choral Works, nytimes.com, 3 April 2006.
  16. ^ "Barbara Sukowa". Grammy Awards. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  17. ^ "26th Moscow International Film Festival (2004)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  18. ^ "Berlinale 2012: International Jury". berlinale.de. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  19. ^ "Hannah Arendt" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  20. ^ Scott, A. O. (28 May 2013). "How It Looks to Think: Watch Her". The New York Times.
  21. ^ "Winners of the Bavarian Film Awards". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 22 January 2013.
  22. ^ "Watch the Opening 9 Minutes of Syfy's 12 Monkeys". Debi Moore. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  23. ^ Roxborough, Scott (16 June 2021). "Diverse International Cast for Big-Budget Euro Series 'The Swarm' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  24. ^ "Autour des Nominations 2021". Académie des César.
  25. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (10 February 2021). "César Awards: 'Love Affair(s),' 'Adieu Les Cons,' 'Summer Of 85' Lead Nominations; 'Two Of Us' Scores Four Nods".
  26. ^ "Barbara Sukowa on Two Of Us: Life Doesn't Stop When The Beauty Is Gone". theplaylist.net.
  27. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (4 May 2021). "'Dalíland': First Look At Ben Kingsley As Salvador Dalí In Mary Harron Drama; Ezra Miller, Barbara Sukowa & Andreja Pejić Among Co-Stars".
  28. ^ Grater, Tom (25 June 2021). "How Ben Kingsley & Mary Harron Brought Iconic Artist Salvador Dali To Life In 'Daliland' – Cannes Market".
  29. ^ DeFore, John (18 September 2022). "'Dalíland' Review: Ben Kingsley and Ezra Miller Get Surreal in Mary Harron's Eye-Opening Art-World Portrait". The Hollywood Reporter.
  30. ^ Steve Dollar (16 November 2007). "Sukowa Plays the Role of Singer". New York Sun. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  31. ^ Manuel Brug. "Zur Person (Barbara Sukowa)". Die Welt. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  32. ^ Sharma, Dhruv (20 February 2024). "Constellation Cast & Character Guide". Screen Rant. Retrieved 7 March 2024.

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