Barbara Sukowa
{{Short description|German actress and singer}}
{{use dmy dates |date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Barbara Sukowa Berlinale 2010 cropped.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Sukowa in 2010
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1950|2|2|df=y}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/barbara_sukowa|title=Barbara Sukowa - Rotten Tomatoes|website=www.rottentomatoes.com}}
| birth_place = Bremen, West Germany
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Actress, singer
| spouse = Hans-Michael Rehberg
{{marriage|Robert Longo|1993}}
| partner = Daniel Olbrychski
| children = 3
| years_active = 1971-present
| website = {{URL|http://www.barbarasukowa.com/}}
}}
Barbara Sukowa ({{IPA|de|ˈbaʁ.ba.ʁa ˈzu.kɔ.va|lang|De-Barbara Sukowa.ogg}}; 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.
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/festival/artist/barbara-sukowa|title=Barbara SUKOWA|website=Festival de Cannes 2022}}
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 Lumière Award for Best Actress and César Award for Best Actress nomination.
Life and career
Sukowa was born in Bremen, Germany, in 1950.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/oct/30/when-i-travelled-i-hid-my-passport-fassbinder-muse-barbara-sukowa-on-hitlers-legacy-and-hidden-love|title='When I travelled, I hid my passport': Fassbinder muse Barbara Sukowa on Hitler's legacy and hidden love|date=October 30, 2020|website=the Guardian}} She speaks German, English, and French. 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.barbarasukowa.com/about|title=BIO|website=Barbara Sukowa}} The following year, her performance of the title role in Fassbinder's drama film Lola earned her a German Film Award for Best Actress. 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. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/1637.html|title=Festival de Cannes: Barbara SUKOWA|access-date=28 May 2016|work=festival-cannes.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121104205040/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/1637.html|archive-date=4 November 2012}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/barbara-sukowa-international-film-acting-career-advice-73010/ |title=How Barbara Sukowa Built a Lasting—and Legendary—International Acting Career |website=Backstage |date=12 April 2021 |first= Benjamin |last=Lindsay |access-date=3 March 2024}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/zentropa|title=Europa|via=www.rottentomatoes.com}} 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. In 1993, she starred in M. Butterfly directed by David Cronenberg.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/m_butterfly|title=M. Butterfly|via=www.rottentomatoes.com}} In 1995, she appeared in Johnny Mnemonic directed by Robert Longo. In 1997, she returned in Germany for starring in {{Ill|In the Name of Innocence|de|Im Namen der Unschuld}}, for which she received Bavarian Film Award for Best Actress{{cite web |url=http://www.bayern.de/Anlage19170/PreistraegerdesBayerischenFilmpreises-Pierrot.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819211539/http://www.bayern.de/Anlage19170/PreistraegerdesBayerischenFilmpreises-Pierrot.pdf |archive-date=19 August 2008 |title=Bayerischer Filmpreis - "Pierrot"}} 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 Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire, first with the Schoenberg Ensemble under Reinbert de Leeuw, and later with ensembles in Paris, London,{{cite news|last=Ashley|first=Tim|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/critic/review/0,,1729535,00.html|title="Pierrot Lunaire"|work=The Guardian|date=13 March 2006|access-date=13 November 2010}} Berlin, St. Petersburg, Madrid, Rome, Tokyo, Salzburg, Los Angeles, and New York City.{{cite news|last=Tommasini|first=Anthony|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/06/arts/music-review-two-unkindred-souls-nevertheless-in-accord.html|title=Two Unkindred Souls Nevertheless in Accord|work=New York Times|date=6 May 2003 |access-date=13 November 2010}} She has performed the Speaker's role in Schoenberg'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. 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).[http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9C03E6DC133FF93AA35757C0A9669C8B63 Alvin Klein, "Casting Keeps Chekhov Relevant: Jane Alexander in 'Cherry Orchard'"], nytimes.com, 9 April 2000. 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.Sarah Bryan Miller, Review of Cassandre. Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, 1 April 2006.Bernard Holland,[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/03/arts/music/03loui.html?ex=1168837200&en=61775440c7b5855b&ei=5070 "Works That Boldly Position Words at the Center of Power", St. Louis Symphony Performs Choral Works], nytimes.com, 3 April 2006. At the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, she received Grammy Award nomination for Im wunderschönen Monat Mai.{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/barbara-sukowa/16101 |title=Barbara Sukowa |website=Grammy Awards |access-date=3 March 2024}} Sukowa is also the front singer of the Band the X-Patsys, which she founded with visual artists Jon Kessler and Robert Longo.
In 2004, Sukowa was a member of the jury at the 26th Moscow International Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=2004|title=26th Moscow International Film Festival (2004)|access-date=6 April 2013|work=MIFF|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403123603/http://moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=2004|archive-date=3 April 2013}} In 2012, she was on the jury for the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_11861.html|title=Berlinale 2012: International Jury|access-date=21 December 2011|work=berlinale.de|archive-date=18 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118192826/http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_11861.html|url-status=dead}}
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-Luxembourgish-French biographical film Hannah Arendt directed by Margarethe von Trotta. The film and her performance received positive reviews from critics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hannah_arendt|title=Hannah Arendt|via=www.rottentomatoes.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/29/movies/hannah-arendt-with-barbara-sukowa-and-janet-mcteer.html|title=How It Looks to Think: Watch Her|first=A. O.|last=Scott|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 28, 2013}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/231730/|title=Winners of the Bavarian Film Awards|website=Cineuropa - the best of european cinema|date=22 January 2013 }} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/84110/watch-opening-9-minutes-syfys-12-monkeys|title=Watch the Opening 9 Minutes of Syfy's 12 Monkeys|access-date=21 December 2011|work=Debi Moore}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/frank-schatzing-the-swarm-cast-1234967942/|title=Diverse International Cast for Big-Budget Euro Series 'The Swarm' (Exclusive)|first1=Scott|last1=Roxborough|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 16, 2021}}
In 2019, Sukowa starred in French romance drama film Two of Us, for which she received Lumière Award for Best Actress and César Award for Best Actress nomination.{{Cite web|url=https://www.academie-cinema.org/evenements/autour-des-nominations-2021/|title=Autour des Nominations 2021|website=Académie des César}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/cesar-awards-2021-nominations-two-of-us-summer-of-85-full-list-1234691023/|title=César Awards: 'Love Affair(s),' 'Adieu Les Cons,' 'Summer Of 85' Lead Nominations; 'Two Of Us' Scores Four Nods|first1=Nancy|last1=Tartaglione|date=February 10, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://theplaylist.net/barbara-sukowa-interview-two-of-us-20210303/|title=Barbara Sukowa on Two Of Us: Life Doesn't Stop When The Beauty Is Gone|website=theplaylist.net}}
In 2022, Sukowa starred opposite Ben Kingsley in the biographical film Dalíland about Salvador Dalí, playing Gala Dalí.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/ezra-miller-ben-kingsley-daliland-first-look-salvador-dali-1234749506/|title='Dalíland': First Look At Ben Kingsley As Salvador Dalí In Mary Harron Drama; Ezra Miller, Barbara Sukowa & Andreja Pejić Among Co-Stars|first1=Andreas|last1=Wiseman|date=May 4, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/ben-kingsley-mary-harron-iconic-artist-salvador-dali-daliland-cannes-1234781495/|title=How Ben Kingsley & Mary Harron Brought Iconic Artist Salvador Dali To Life In 'Daliland' – Cannes Market|first1=Tom|last1=Grater|date=June 25, 2021}} It premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/daliland-ben-kingsley-ezra-miller-barbara-sukowa-mary-harron-art-world-biopic-1235222595/|title='Dalíland' Review: Ben Kingsley and Ezra Miller Get Surreal in Mary Harron's Eye-Opening Art-World Portrait|first1=John|last1=DeFore|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=September 18, 2022}}
Personal life
She was married to the artist and director Robert Longo, with whom she has performed as a singer.{{cite news|url=http://www.nysun.com/article/66605|title=Sukowa Plays the Role of Singer|work=New York Sun|author=Steve Dollar|date=16 November 2007|access-date=13 January 2008}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/welt_print/article1094897/Zur_Person.html|title=Zur Person (Barbara Sukowa)|work=Die Welt|author=Manuel Brug|access-date=13 January 2008}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 1981
|Lola | Lola |German Film Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role |
| 1981
| Marianne |German Film Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role |
| 1982
|Die Jäger |Daniela Mathiesen | |
| 1983
|Un dimanche de flic | Patricia | |
| 1983
| Adele | |
| 1986
|Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress |
| 1987
| Katharina |Nominated - German Film Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role |
| 1987
|Camilla, Duchess of Crotone | |
| 1990
| Martha | |
| 1991
| 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
| Jeanne Gallimard | |
| 1995
| Anna Kalmann | |
| 1997
| Virginia Wingate | |
| 1997
|{{Ill|In the Name of Innocence|de|Im Namen der Unschuld}} | Anna Loeser |
| 1999
| Sophie Silvano | |
| 1999
| Helen | |
| 1999
|Star! Star! | Marianne | |
| 2000
| Clara - The Married Woman | |
| 2001
|Thirteen Conversations About One Thing | Helen |
| 2003
|Rosemarie |
| 2005
| Gracie | |
| 2008
|{{ill|The Invention of Curried Sausage (film)|de|3=Die Entdeckung der Currywurst (Film)|lt=The Invention of Curried Sausage}} | Lena Brücker |
| 2009
|Mrs. Deklava | |
| 2009 |
| 2012
|Bavarian Film 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
| Coroner | |
| 2018
| Melinda | |
| 2019
| Peggy | |
| 2019
|Rocca verändert die Welt |Dodo | |
| 2019
|Nina Dorn |Lumière Award for Best Actress |
| 2020
|{{Ill|Granny Nanny (film)|de|3=Enkel für Anfänger|lt=Granny Nanny}} | Philippa | |
| 2022
| Sister Hermann Marie | |
| 2022
| |
| 2023
|Air | |
| 2023
|Enkel für Fortgeschrittene |Philippa | |
| TBA
| Mathilda | |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 1974
|Unter Ausschluß der Öffentlichkeit |Viktoria Herbst |Episode: "Der Abstieg" |
| 1977
|Women in New York | Crystal Allen | Television film |
| 1978
|{{ill|Heinrich Heine (1978 film)|de|3=Heinrich Heine (Film)|lt=Heinrich Heine}} |Amalie Friedländer |Television film |
| 1980
| Emilie "Mieze" Karsunke | Miniseries |
| 1980
| Babsi Meyer | Episode: "Der gelbe Unterrock" |
| 1980
|St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken | |Episode: "Immer lustig" |
| 1984
|Baumeister Solness |Hilde Wangel |Television film |
| 1985
| Leisel Kolff | Miniseries |
| 1993
|Colpo di coda | Regina |Television film |
| 1995
|Sister Maria Pulaski |Episode: "The Eyes of God" |
| 1998
|Cousal General |Episode: "Pipeline" |
| 1998
| Sheila Robinson |Television film |
| 1999
| Rachel Singer |Television film |
| 2002–2003
|Liebe, Lügen, Leidenschaften |Barbara Landau | Miniseries |
| 2004
| The Other Woman | Vera Glaubitz |Television film |
| 2011
|{{ill|Night Without Morning|de|Nacht ohne Morgen}} |Katharina Dänert |Television film |
| 2015–2018
|Katarina Jones |Series regular, 45 episodes |
| 2020
| Tilda Sauer | Episode: "At Night, All Birds Are Black" |
| 2021–2022
| Aunt Josephine | Recurring role |
| 2023
| Dr. Katherina Lehmann | Series regular, 8 episodes |
| 2024
|Irena Lysenko |Limited series{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Dhruv |title=Constellation Cast & Character Guide |url=https://screenrant.com/constellation-cast-character-guide/ |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=Screen Rant |date=20 February 2024}} |
| 2025
|Jacqueline Laurent |Episode: "A Good Agent" |
General source for Awards and nomination - AllMovie{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/barbara-sukowa-p68966/awards|title=Barbara Sukowa | Movie and Film Awards | AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|837784}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20190814211940/http://www.fassbinderfoundation.de/ Fassbinder Foundation]
{{Prix d'interprétation féminine 1980–1999}}
{{Lumière Award for Best Actress}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sukowa, Barbara}}
Category:German film actresses
Category:Actresses from Bremen (city)
Category:Best Actress German Film Award winners
Category:Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress winners
Category:Best Actress Lumières Award winners
Category:German stage actresses
Category:20th-century German actresses