1. Overview
Friederike Becht is a prominent German actress known for her extensive work across theater, film, and television. Born in Bad Bergzabern on 14 October 1986, she received her acting training at the esteemed Berlin University of the Arts. Becht gained early recognition for her compelling stage performances, notably her portrayal of Thekla in Peter Stein's renowned production of Wallenstein, which earned her a nomination for "Best Newcomer Actress" from the German theater magazine Theater heute. Her diverse career includes being a permanent ensemble member at the Schauspielhaus Bochum and appearing in notable films such as The Reader, Hannah Arendt, and Labyrinth of Lies. She has also featured in significant television productions like the ARD biopic Käthe Kruse and the biographical film Brecht. For her contributions to acting, she has been honored with awards including the Bochumer Theaterpreis and the Ulrich Wildgruber Prize. Becht resides in Bochum with her two children.
2. Early Life and Education
Friederike Becht was born on 14 October 1986, in Bad Bergzabern, a town located in Germany. She developed an early interest in acting and pursued formal training at the prestigious Berlin University of the Arts, where she honed her craft. Her career began with significant theatrical engagements that quickly brought her to critical attention. In 2007, Becht achieved an early major success with her performance as Thekla in director Peter Stein's celebrated production of Wallenstein, staged at the renowned Berliner Ensemble. Her impactful portrayal garnered her a nomination for "Best Newcomer Actress" from Theater heute, a leading German magazine dedicated to theater.
3. Career
Friederike Becht's professional acting career is characterized by her profound involvement in both stage and screen productions, demonstrating her versatility and depth as a performer.
3.1. Theater Work
Becht has established an extensive career in theater, performing with several prominent ensembles and at various notable stages throughout Germany and Switzerland. Her theatrical engagements have included work as an actor at the Ernst Deutsches Theater Hamburg, the Schauspielhaus Zürich, the Berliner Ensemble, and the Stadttheater Freiburg.
During the 2009-2010 season, she was a dedicated member of the ensemble at Schauspiel Essen. In this period, she undertook several significant roles, including Solveig in a production of Peer Gynt, the titular character in The Little Witch, and the lead role of Tanja in the premiere of Lutz Hübner's play, Night History. In the subsequent theater season, Becht moved to the Schauspielhaus Bochum alongside director Anselm Weber, where she became a permanent ensemble member. At Schauspielhaus Bochum, she continued to take on challenging and diverse roles, such as Lyudmila (Wassa's daughter) in Wassa Schelesnowa, Cecily Cardew in Bunbury, Maria in What you want, the lead role of Vera Herbst in House by the lake, and Maria in Yerma.
3.2. Film and Television Work
In addition to her substantial contributions to theater, Friederike Becht has also built a compelling presence in both cinema and television productions, marking her as a versatile performer across different mediums. Her early screen work included a supporting role as Angela Berg in The Reader, a German-American co-production released in 2008, which went on to receive international acclaim. The following year, in 2009, she appeared as Gerda Reich in the television biography Mein Leben - Marcel Reich-RanickiThe Author of Himself: The Life of Marcel Reich-RanickiGerman, a program that explored the life of the influential literary critic.
In 2011, Becht starred in the feature film Westwind. Her 2012 role in Hannah Arendt involved her sharing the portrayal of the titular character, the renowned political theorist, with veteran actress Barbara Sukowa. Becht also featured in the 2014 German historical drama Labyrinth of Lies, a film that delves into the events surrounding the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials. In 2015, she appeared in two distinct films: the ARD biopic Käthe Kruse (film)A Doll to TreasureGerman, which tells the story of the famous German doll maker Käthe Kruse, and Summer Downstairs. In 2017, she took on a role in the thriller Four Hands. More recently, in 2019, she was seen in the television film Brecht, a biographical drama about the influential playwright Bertolt Brecht.
4. Filmography
Friederike Becht's notable appearances in film and television include:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Reader | Angela Berg | Feature film |
| 2009 | Mein Leben - Marcel Reich-RanickiThe Author of Himself: The Life of Marcel Reich-RanickiGerman | Gerda Reich | Television biography |
| 2011 | Westwind | Feature film | |
| 2012 | Hannah Arendt | Feature film, shared role | |
| 2014 | Labyrinth of Lies | Feature film | |
| 2015 | Käthe Kruse | Television biopic | |
| 2015 | Summer Downstairs | Feature film | |
| 2017 | Four Hands | Feature film | |
| 2019 | Brecht | Television film |
5. Awards
Friederike Becht has received several prestigious awards in recognition of her significant contributions to acting:
- Bochumer Theaterpreis (2014)
- Ulrich Wildgruber Prize (2015)
6. Personal Life
Friederike Becht is in a relationship with Sebastian Rabsahl, a German poetry slammer. They have two children, a son and a daughter, together. The family currently resides in Bochum, a city in Germany where Becht has also played a significant role in its theatrical landscape.
7. External links
- [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2337337/ Friederike Becht at IMDb]
- [https://www.instagram.com/friederike.becht/ Friederike Becht on Instagram]