Monika Gruber
{{short description|German cabaret artist and actress}}
{{About|the Bavarian cabaret artist|the Austrian actress and dubbing actress|Monica Gruber}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Monika Gruber
| image = File:2015 Monika Gruber by 2eight DSC0920.jpg
| caption = Gruber in 2015
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|6|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = Wartenberg, district Erding, West Germany
| death_date =
| death_place =
| other_names =
| occupation = Cabaret artist and actress
| nationality = German
| years_active =
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| website = https://www.monika-gruber.de/
}}
Monika Gruber (born 29 June 1971 in Wartenberg, district Erding) is a German cabaret artist and actress.
Life and career
= Youth and education =
Monika Gruber was raised with her two younger brothers on their parental farm in Tittenkofen, Upper Bavaria. After completing her A-levels, she worked for several years as a foreign language secretary. At the age of 27, she had completed a two-and-a-half-year program at the Ruth von Zerboni drama school. Her first theater engagement was from 2000 to 2005, as an ensemble member of Iberl-Bühne, directed by Georg Maier in Munich-Solln.{{cite web|title=Vita|publisher=monika-gruber.de|url=http://www.monika-gruber.de/vita.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208041243/http://www.monika-gruber.de/vita.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-12-08|accessdate=2015-03-07|language=German}}
= TV career =
In 2002, Gruber gained her first experience as a cabaret artist in the comedy series Kanal fatal {{in lang|de}}, in which she portrayed Kellnerin Monique, a typical Bavarian waitress who, in broad vernacular speech, talks about her adventures in gastronomy. At the same time, she also performed in Günter Grünwald's Freitagscomedy{{in lang|de}}. From 2003 to 2009, she was a member of the Bavarian Television sketch series Die Komiker. She reported from Oktoberfest in Munich for Bayerischer Rundfunk or BR ('Bavarian Broadcasting') in 2004, and in 2006 she was a celebrity gossip commentator for Grünwald Freitagscomedy. In 2009, Gruber and Grünwald shot a four-part sketch show called Normal is des ned. That collaboration with Grünwald and BR ended in September 2009.{{cite web|title=Bei fast all ihren BR-Sendungen: Quotenqueen Monika Gruber schmeißt hin!|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=tz|url=http://www.tz.de/stars/meta-monika-gruber-schmeisst-hin-457019.html|accessdate=2015-03-07|last=|date=2009-09-01|language=German|pages=|quote=}}
In 2012, the German broadcaster ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen) gave Gruber her own TV series, Leute, Leute!, a boulevard satire. Contrary to the wishes of ZDF, Gruber didn't extend her contract for Leute, Leute! at the end of 2012, in order to gain more time for live performance.{{cite web|title=Leute, Leute!: Monika Gruber gibt ZDF-Sendung auf|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=Süddeutsche Zeitung|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/leute-leute-monika-gruber-gibt-zdf-sendung-auf-1.1552111|format=|accessdate=2015-03-07|last=|date=2012-12-16|language=German|pages=|quote=}} In the same year, she won a Bavarian TV award in the category of comedian for Die Große Quatsch Variety Show (Pro7), Monika Gruber live 2011 (BR), and Grünwald Freitagscomedy (BR).{{cite web|title=Ministerpräsident Seehofer verleiht Bayerischen Fernsehpreis 2012|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=Bayerische Staatskanzlei|url=http://www.bayern.de/ministerpraesident-seehofer-verleiht-bayerischen-fernsehpreis-2012-ehrenpreis-fuer-miroslav-nemec-und-udo-wachtveitl-seehofer-nemec-und-wachtveitl-verkoerpern-als-bayerisches-kult-tatort-duo-mit/|format=|accessdate=2015-03-07|last=|date=2012-05-04|language=German|pages=|quote=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102133738/http://www.bayern.de/ministerpraesident-seehofer-verleiht-bayerischen-fernsehpreis-2012-ehrenpreis-fuer-miroslav-nemec-und-udo-wachtveitl-seehofer-nemec-und-wachtveitl-verkoerpern-als-bayerisches-kult-tatort-duo-mit/|archive-date=2018-01-02|url-status=dead}}
From January 2011 to the end of 2013, Gruber, along with Bruno Jonas and Rick Kavanian, was a core member of Die Klugscheißer, a monthly satirical TV series of Bavarian Television. The show was discontinued when she withdrew to focus on her stage programs.{{cite web|title=ARD-Satire-Sendung wird eingestellt: Aus für Die Klugscheisser|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=tz|url=http://www.tz.de/tv/ard-satire-sendung-die-klugscheisser-3536918.html|accessdate=2015-03-07|last=Stefanie Thyssen|date=2014-05-07|language=German|pages=|quote=}}
In April 2014, Gruber was again a regular guest on Grünwald Freitagscomedy, and she continued to perform with Günter Grünwald on a more regular basis in autumn 2014. For this reason, the title of the series was to be changed to Grünwald & Gruber Freitagscomedy.{{cite web|title=Nach Aus bei "Die Klugscheißer": Monika Gruber steigt bei Grünwalds Freitagscomedy ein|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=tz|url=http://www.tz.de/tv/monika-gruber-steigt-guenter-gruenwald-freitagscomedy-3538698.html|accessdate=2015-03-07|last=Stefanie Thyssen|date=2014-05-08|language=German|pages=|quote=}} At the end of the year, however, Gruber and Bavarian Television announced that these plans would not be realized because of scheduling and conceptual difficulties.{{cite web|title=Wende: "Freitagscomedy" doch ohne Gruber|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=tz|url=http://www.tz.de/tv/gruenwald-kuenftig-harry-g-aber-doch-ohne-gruber-4544200.html|accessdate=2015-03-07|last=Stefanie Thyssen|date=2014-12-17|language=German|pages=|quote=}}
In addition to her cabaret and comedy performances, Gruber acted in various TV productions. From 2008 to 2011, she played the leading role of Hannelore Herbst in the Bavarian Television series Der Kaiser von Schexing.{{cite web|title=Dreh "Der Kaiser von Schexing": Zurück im Provinzrathaus|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=Süddeutsche Zeitung|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/ebersberg/dreh-der-kaiser-von-schexing-zurueck-im-provinzrathaus-1.994541|format=|accessdate=2015-03-07|last=Rita Baedeker|date=2011-03-14|language=German|pages=|quote=}} From 2011 to 2013, she played reporter Barbara Hansen in the first 30 episodes of the ARD series Hubert & Staller.{{cite web|title=Prime Time für Wolfratshausen|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=Süddeutsche Zeitung|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/wolfratshausen/fernsehen-prime-time-fuer-wolfratshausen-1.1720664|format=|accessdate=2015-03-07|last=Benjamin Engel|date=2013-07-12|language=German|pages=|quote=}}{{cite web|title=Monika Gruber ist Lokalreporterin Barbara Hansen|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=DasErste.de|url=http://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/serie/heiter-bis-toedlich-hubert-und-staller/darsteller/monika-gruber-barbara-hansen-100.html|accessdate=2015-03-07|last=|date=2013-07-12|language=German|pages=|quote=}} At the same time, she also played Moni Riemerschmidt in the new Heiter bis tödlich episodes of the Bavarian police series München 7 along with Florian Karlheim, Andreas Giebel, and Christine Neubauer.{{cite web|title=Die Wilde vom Viktualienmarkt|publisher=news.de|url=http://www.news.de/tv/855275634/monika-gruber-kabarettistin-steht-fuer-muenchen-7-vor-der-kamera/1/|url-status=dead|accessdate=2015-03-07|last=Ines Weißbach|date=2012-03-07|language=German|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104611/http://www.news.de/tv/855275634/monika-gruber-kabarettistin-steht-fuer-muenchen-7-vor-der-kamera/1/|archivedate=2015-04-02}}{{cite web|title=Doppelinterview mit Christine Neubauer und Monika Gruber|publisher=DasErste.de|url=http://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/serie/heiter-bis-toedlich-muenchen-7/doppelinterview-christine-neubauer-monika-gruber100.html|url-status=|accessdate=2015-03-07|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122202128/http://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/serie/heiter-bis-toedlich-muenchen-7/doppelinterview-christine-neubauer-monika-gruber100.html|archivedate=2013-01-22|date=2014-05-07|language=German}}
= Cabaret stage program =
Gruber toured through the south of Germany and Austria in 2004 with her first solo program, Kellnerin Monique, schmeckt's ned? In 2005, her solo program Hauptsach' g'sund debuted. Her third stage program Zu wahr, um schön zu sein, celebrated its premier on 13 September 2008 in Munich, and was performed at the 17th Arosa Humor-Festival. From April 6, 2011, Gruber toured with her program Wenn ned jetzt, wann dann!.
In the turn of the year 2012–13, Gruber performed with Michael Niavarani in their "patchwork program" called Best of Beide, in a repeatedly sold-out town hall in Vienna. The program focused on 40-year-old singles, folks with "menstruation background", bad-tempered people from Vienna, and everyday lies. The stage performances in Bavaria in February 2013 were also well-attended.{{cite web|title=Erding: Menschen mit Menstruationshintergrund|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=Süddeutsche Zeitung|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/erding/erding-menschen-mit-menstruationshintergrund-1.1606893|format=|accessdate=2015-03-07|last=Hannah Hilligardt|date=2013-02-22|language=German|pages=|quote=}}
In January 2014, Guber performed a fifth solo program, Irgendwas is' immer.
= Social commitment =
Gruber has been involved{{when|date=July 2023}} in the cabaret artist {{ill|Christian Springer (cabaret artist)|lt=Christian Springer|de|Christian Springer (Kabarettist)}}'s association Orienthelfer e.V.{{cite web|title=Orienthelfer e.V.|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=orienthelfer.de|url=http://www.orienthelfer.de/|format=|accessdate=2016-02-20|last=|date=|year=|language=German|pages=|quote=}}{{failed verification|date=July 2023}} and locally supports Lebanese refugees.{{cite web|title=Sendung 18.08.2015 • WDR • ARD-alpha • Flüchtlingshilfe - Ein Kabarettist macht Ernst - Sendungen - Planet Wissen|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=Westdeutscher Rundfunk|url=http://www.planet-wissen.de/sendungen/fluechtlingshilfe-sendung-100.html|accessdate=2016-02-20|last=|date=|year=|language=German|pages=|quote=}} in der TV-Sendung sprach Gruber mit Flüchtlingsfrauen in einem libanesischen Lager{{failed verification|date=July 2023}}
On June 10, 2023 Gruber spoke on a demonstration against the climate policy of the German government, in particular against the planned update of a law regulating heating of buildings (Gebäudeenergiegesetz),{{Cite news |last=Angerer |first=Tina |date=2023-06-14 |title=Monika Gruber - von der Kabarettistin zur Aktivistin: Gruberin gegen Grüne |language=de |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/kabarettistin-monika-gruber-gruberin-gegen-gruene-a-ecc14e59-c06a-4445-9e9a-2d27d627889c |access-date=2023-07-21 |issn=2195-1349}} mobilizing 13,000 opponents.{{Cite news |last=Seidl |first=Claudius |date=2023-07-21 |title=Die Kabarettistin Monika Gruber als Aktivistin |language=de |work=FAZ.NET |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/debatten/die-kabarettistin-monika-gruber-als-aktivistin-19047010.html |access-date=2023-07-21 |issn=0174-4909}}
= Personal life =
Gruber suffered from anorexia nervosa for several years during her adolescence.{{cite web|title=Ich wollte tot sein|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=Süddeutsche Zeitung|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/monika-gruber-im-gespraech-ich-wollte-tot-sein-1.1059452|format=|accessdate=2015-03-07|last=Michael Ruhland|date=2011-04-27|language=German|pages=|quote=}}
From September 2011 to September 2012, she was in a relationship with the managing director of the Paulaner brewery, Andreas Steinfatt.{{cite web|title=Monika Gruber und Steinfatt: Liebes-Aus|trans-title=|periodical=|publisher=merkur-online.de|url=http://www.merkur-online.de/nachrichten/stars/gruber-steinfatt-liebes-aus-2522408.html|accessdate=2015-03-07|last=|date=2012-09-28|language=German|pages=|quote=}}
Cabaret programs (selection)
- 2004: Kellnerin Monique: Schmeckt's ned?
- 2005: Hauptsach' g'sund
- 2008: Zu wahr, um schön zu sein
- 2011: Wenn ned jetzt, wann dann!
- 2014: Irgendwas is' immer
Acting (selection)
All performances were in German or in Bavarian vernacular.
= Television =
- 2002: Retro
- 2004: The Old Fox
- 2004: Tatort (Crime scene) – Sechs zum Essen
- 2008–2011: Der Kaiser von Schexing
- 2010: Lotta & die alten Eisen
- 2011–2013, 2017–: Hubert & Staller{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2090883/|title=Hubert und Staller (TV Series 2011–)|publisher=IMDb|access-date=2020-01-23}}
- 2012: {{Ill|The Perjured Farmer (2012 film)|de|3=Der Meineidbauer (2012)|lt=The Perjured Farmer}}
- 2012–: München 7
- 2016–: Moni's Grill
= Movies =
- 2011: {{ill|Hot Line (2011 film)|de|Eine ganz heiße Nummer|lt=Hot Line}}
- 2012: {{ill|Vatertage – Opa über Nacht|de}}
- 2014: Winterkartoffelknödel
- 2014: Die Mamba
- 2017: {{Ill|Teenosaurus Rex|de|Das Pubertier – Der Film}}
= Theatre =
- 2009: Honigmond
= Televised cabaret performances (selection) =
- 2003–2009: Die Komiker
- 2004: Auffahrt Nockherberg
- 2005–2009 and 2014: Grünwalds Freitagscomedy
- 2005: Auf bairisch g'lacht
- 2006: Die Gruber
- 2006: Coconut Kiss
- 2007–2013: Neues aus der Anstalt
- 2009: Normal is des ned
- 2011–2013: Die Klugscheisser
- 2011: Wetten, dass..?
- 2012: Leute, Leute! (ZDF)
- bis 2012: Ottis Schlachthof
- 2013: Was gibts Neues? (ORF eins)
- 2014: Die Anstalt
- 2015: heute-show (ZDF)
Books
- Man muss das Kind im Dorf lassen, Piper, München 2014, {{ISBN|978-3-492-05635-9}}.
Awards
- 2006: Bavarian Cabaret Award{{in lang|de}} in the Senkrechtstarter (high flier) category.
- 2007: Ernst-Hoferichter-Preis
- 2008: Merkur Theatre Prize{{in lang|de}} of the newspaper Münchner Merkur
- 2010: nominated for German Comedy Award in the 'Best Comedian, female' category
- 2012: Bavarian TV Awards in the 'Entertainment, Comedian' category.
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|nm1128640}}
- {{Official website|http://www.monika-gruber.de/}} of Monika Gruber
- {{citation|title=Out of Tittenkofen|url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-55766078.html|author=Reinhard Mohr|work=Der Spiegel|year=2008|issue=7|series=11 February 2008|pages=154}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gruber, Monika}}
Category:German cabaret performers
Category:German women comedians
Category:German film actresses
Category:German stage actresses
Category:People from Erding (district)