Barbara Auer

Barbara Auer, born on February 1, 1959, in Konstanz, is a renowned German actress with a strong presence in film, television, and theater. She studied acting at the Hamburg University of Music and Performing Arts and began her career at the Stadttheater in Mainz. She became known primarily in the 1990s through strong roles in feature films. In the film JONATHAN (2016) by director Piotr J. Lewandowski, Barbara Auer played the role of Martha, Jonathan's older sister. The film tells the story of a young man who cares for his terminally ill father and uncovers a long-kept family secret in impressive images. Auer's performance received much praise for its emotional depth and restrained strength. In the satirical road movie PROBEFAHRT INS PARADIES (1992), directed by Douglas Wolfsperger, Barbara Auer plays Theresa, a heavily pregnant woman who secretly joins a pilgrimage to Lourdes. The film is a mixture of absurd situations, religious caricature, and black humor—Auer plays with sketchy but precise comedic timing. Her other major roles include the GDR drama Nikolaikirche (1995), in which she played the lead role of Astrid Protter, and the award-winning ZDF crime series Nachtschicht (2006–2019), in which she played Inspector Lisa Brenner. For her performance in Das Ende einer Nacht (2012), Auer received the Grimme Prize and the German Television Award together with Ina Weisse. Barbara Auer impresses with her versatility: she embodies down-to-earth and complex characters with equal authenticity, and is particularly appreciated for her credible presence in emotional and socio-political themes.