Brigitte Mira (, 20 April 1910 – 8 March 2005) was a German actress. She worked in both theater and film, later in her career with

Rainer Werner Fassbinder Rainer Werner Fassbinder (; 31 May 1945 – 10 June 1982), sometimes credited as R. W. Fassbinder, was a German filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the major figures and catalysts of the New German Cinema movement. Fassbinder's main ...

on many occasions. Believed to have been born in

Hamburg (male), (female) en, Hamburger(s), Hamburgian(s) , timezone1 = Central (CET) , utc_offset1 = +1 , timezone1_DST = Central (CEST) , utc_offset1_DST = +2 , postal ...

, she moved early on to

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

. Brigitte Mira's mother was German while her father was Russian Jewish. During the Nazi era, Mira took part in the propaganda series ''Liese und Miese''. She played Miese (germ. ''bad one'') – the bad role model according to Nazi ideology—who listened to enemy radio stations and stockpiled rationed food. But her acting skills turned the "bad" character she portrayed into a likeable one. The series was soon cancelled for being counter productive. The propaganda directors did not know that Mira was half-Jewish, for she had false papers. Even though she insisted on her naivete as a young woman and the fact she had to conceal her origins, she was criticized later by some for taking part in these ads at all. Notable performances include Emmi Kurowski in ''

Fear Eats the Soul ''Ali: Fear Eats the Soul'' (german: Angst essen Seele auf) is a 1974 West German drama film written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, starring Brigitte Mira and El Hedi ben Salem. The film won the International Federation of Film Critic ...

'' (1974), a role for which she won a

German Film Award The German Film Award (), also known as Lola after its prize statuette, is the national film award of Germany. It is presented at an annual ceremony honouring cinematic achievements in the German film industry. Besides being the most important ...

. In the 1980s Mira achieved another big success with the television series ''

Drei Damen vom Grill ''Drei Damen vom Grill'' was a German television series aired from 1978 to 1992 in Germany's public television ARD. The series revolved around the Färber family (Margarete, Magda and Margot Färber) running a snack bar in West Berlin. The sh ...

''. She appeared in the 1991

stage production of

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March 22, 1930November 26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. One of the most important figures in twentieth-century musical theater, Sondheim is credited for having "reinvented the American musical" with sho ...

's ''

Follies ''Follies'' is a Musical theater, musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. The plot takes place in a crumbling Broadway theater, now scheduled for demolition, previously home to a musical revue (based on t ...

''.

Partial filmography

* '' The Berliner'' (1948) .... Dirne (uncredited) * ' (1958) .... Frau Mertens * '' Münchhausen in Afrika'' (1958) .... Karla Mai (voice, uncredited) * ''

When She Starts, Look Out ''When She Starts, Look Out'' (german: Wehe wenn sie losgelassen) is a 1926 German silent comedy film directed by Carl Froelich and starring Henny Porten, Bruno Kastner, and Curt Bois. It was shot at the EFA Studios in Berlin. The film's sets w ...

'' (1958) .... Frau Knax * ''

The Star of Santa Clara ''The Star of Santa Clara'' (german: Der Stern von Santa Clara) is a 1958 West German musical comedy film directed by Werner Jacobs and starring Vico Torriani, Gerlinde Locker and Ruth Stephan.Koepnick p. 66 It was shot at the Spandau Studios i ...

'' (1958) .... Tante Theresa * ''

So ein Millionär hat's schwer ''So ein Millionär hat's schwer'' is a 1958 Austrian film directed by Géza von Cziffra. Cast * Peter Alexander as Edward Collin * Germaine Damar as Ninette * Heinz Erhardt as Alfons Rappert *Loni Heuser as Madame Sorel *Elga Andersen as Ali ...

'' (1958) .... Madame Pillard * ''Schlag auf Schlag'' (1959) .... Sophie Hinze * ''Melodie und Rhythmus'' (1959) .... Pensionsleiterin (uncredited) * ''Du bist wunderbar'' (1959) .... Madame Dupont * ''Im Namen einer Mutter'' (1960) .... Mutter Reitner, Strafgefangene * ''Geschminkte Jugend'' (1960) * ''Ich kann nicht länger schweigen'' (1962) .... Frau Ohl * ''So toll wie anno dazumal'' (1962) .... Frau Sommer * ''

Jack and Jenny ''Jack and Jenny'' (german: Jack und Jenny) is a 1963 West German comedy film directed by Victor Vicas and starring Brett Halsey, Senta Berger and Michael Hinz.Bock & Bergfelder p.38 The film's sets were designed by the art director Ernst H. Al ...

'' (1963) .... Thea * ' (1968) .... Frau Bütow * ''

Hotel by the Hour ''Hotel by the Hour'' (German title: ') is a 1970 West German crime film directed by Rolf Olsen and starring Curd Jürgens, Andrea Rau, and Corny Collins. It is set in the red-light district of St. Pauli in Hamburg. A ''Stundenhotel'' is a mo ...

'' (1970) .... Rose Schuh * ''

Twenty Girls and the Teachers ''Twenty Girls and the Teachers'' (german: Zwanzig Mädchen und die Pauker: Heute steht die Penne kopf) is a 1971 West German comedy film directed by Werner Jacobs and starring Mascha Gonska, Heidi Kabel, Rudolf Schündler and Fritz Tillmann.Mahle ...

'' (1971) .... Wirtin * ''Wir hau'n den Hauswirt in die Pfanne'' (1971) .... Mutti Bauer * ''

Eight Hours Don't Make a Day ''Eight Hours Don't Make a Day'' (german: Acht Stunden sind kein Tag) (also translated as ''(Eight Hours Are Not a Day)'' is a West German television miniseries written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Commissioned by Westdeutscher Ru ...

'' (1973, TV series, directed by

) .... Marions Mutter, Frau Andreas * '' The Tenderness of Wolves'' (1973, directed by

Ulli Lommel Ulli Lommel (21 December 1944 – 2 December 2017) was a German actor and director, noted for his many collaborations with Rainer Werner Fassbinder and his association with the New German Cinema movement. Lommel spent time at The Factory and was ...

) .... Louise Engel * ''1 Berlin-Harlem'' (1974) * '' Ali: Fear Eats the Soul'' (1974, directed by

) .... Emmi * ''

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser ''The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser'' (german: Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle; lit. ''Every Man for Himself and God Against All'') is a 1974 West German drama film written and directed by Werner Herzog and starring Bruno Schleinstein (credited as ...

'' (1974, directed by

Werner Herzog Werner Herzog (; born 5 September 1942) is a German film director, screenwriter, author, actor, and opera director, regarded as a pioneer of New German Cinema. His films often feature ambitious protagonists with impossible dreams, people with un ...

) .... Kathe, Servant * ''

Fox and His Friends ''Fox and His Friends'' (german: Faustrecht der Freiheit, lit=Freedom's Law of the Jungle; also known as ''Fist-Right of Freedom'') is a 1975 West German drama film written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, starring Fassbinder, Peter Cha ...

'' (1975, directed by

) .... Shopkeeper #2 * ''

Mother Küsters Goes to Heaven ] A mother is the female parent of a child. A woman may be considered a mother by virtue of having given birth, by raising a child who may or may not be her biological offspring, or by supplying her ovum for fertilisation in the case of gestati ...

'' (1975, directed by

) .... Emma Küsters * ' (1975, TV film, directed by

) .... Mutter * ''

The Secret Carrier ''The Secret Carrier'' (German: ''Der Geheimnisträger'') is a 1975 West German comedy film directed by Franz Josef Gottlieb and starring Willy Millowitsch, Brigitte Mira and Sybil Danning.Bock & Bergfelder p.291 Location shooting took place in Rh ...

'' (1975) * ''

Everyone Dies Alone ''Everyone Dies Alone'' / ''Alone in Berlin'' (Original title: ''Jeder stirbt für sich allein'') is a 1976 West German drama film adapted from the Hans Fallada novel '' Every Man Dies Alone''. The book was based on the story of two ordinary Germ ...

'' (1976) .... Frau Häberle * ' (1976) .... Oma Wuttke * ''

Satan's Brew ''Satan's Brew'' (german: Satansbraten) is a 1976 German film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Plot The poet Walter Kranz and his practical wife Luise live with Walter's mentally disabled brother Ernst. They have money problems, as the for ...

'' (1976, directed by

) .... Mutter Kranz * ''

Chinese Roulette '' Chinese Roulette '' (german: Chinesisches Roulette) is a 1976 West German film written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. It stars Margit Carstensen, Ulli Lommel, and Anna Karina. The film, a bleak psychological drama, climaxes with a t ...

'' (1976, directed by

) .... Kast * ''Adolf & Marlene'' (1977) * ''Liebe das Leben, lebe das Lieben'' (1977) .... Hauswartfrau * ''

'' (1977–1992, TV series, 140 episodes) .... Margarete Färber * ' (1978) .... Simons Mutter * ''

Iron Gustav ''Iron Gustav'' (German: ''Der eiserne Gustav'') is a 1958 West German comedy film directed by George Hurdalek and starring Heinz Rühmann, Lucie Mannheim and Karin Baal.Bock & Bergfelder, p. 308. It is based on the real story of cab driver Gusta ...

'' (1979, TV miniseries) .... Frau Pauli * ''

Derrick A derrick is a lifting device composed at minimum of one guyed mast, as in a gin pole, which may be articulated over a load by adjusting its guys. Most derricks have at least two components, either a guyed mast or self-supporting tower, and a ...

'' (1979, Season 6, Episode 12: "Ein Todesengel") .... Frau Tobbe * ''Primel macht ihr Haus verrückt'' (1980) .... Frau Kulicke * '' Fabian'' (1980) .... Frau Hohlfeld * ''

Berlin Alexanderplatz ''Berlin Alexanderplatz'' () is a 1929 novel by Alfred Döblin. It is considered one of the most important and innovative works of the Weimar Republic. In a 2002 poll of 100 noted writers the book was named among the top 100 books of all time. ...

'' (1980,

TV miniseries A miniseries or mini-series is a television series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. "Limited series" is another more recent US term which is sometimes used interchangeably. , the popularity of miniseries format h ...

) .... Frau Bast / Wirtin Bast * ''

Lili Marleen "Lili Marleen" (also spelled "Lili Marlen'", "Lilli Marlene", "Lily Marlene", "Lili Marlène" among others; ) is a German love song that became popular during World War II throughout Europe and the Mediterranean among both Axis and Allied troop ...

'' (1981, directed of

) .... Nachbarin * ' (1981) .... Denunziantin * '' Kamikaze 1989'' (1982) .... Personaldirektorin * ''

The Roaring Fifties ''The Roaring Fifties'' (german: Die wilden Fünfziger ) is a 1983 West German comedy film directed by Peter Zadek and starring Juraj Kukura, Boy Gobert and Peter Kern. It is based on the novel ''Hurra, wir leben noch'' by Johannes Mario Simmel. ...

'' (1983) .... Frau Willmsen * ' (1984) .... Frau Niendorf * ' (1985) .... Toilettenfrau * ''Schwarzer Lohn und weiße Weste'' (1985) .... Gemüsefrau * ''

Spreepiraten ''Spreepiraten'' is a German television series. See also *List of German television series The following is a list of television series produced in Germany: Current Drama * '' 4 Blocks'' ( TNT Serie, 2017–2019) * '' Alarm für Cobra 11 ...

'' (1989–1990, TV series, 21 episodes) .... Gundula Brachvogel * ''

Fassbinder's Women '' Fassbinder's Women'' (German language, German: ''Für mich gab's nur noch Fassbinder'') is a 2000 German documentary film directed by Rosa von Praunheim. For example, the film was shown at the Locarno Festival in 2000 and at the Outfest in Los ...

'' (2000, documentary by

Rosa von Praunheim Holger Bernhard Bruno Mischwitzky (born Holger Radtke; 25 November 1942), known professionally as Rosa von Praunheim, is a German film director, author, painter and one of the most famous gay rights activists in the German-speaking world. In ov ...

) .... Herself

Dubbing roles

*Widow Tweed - Disney's ''

The Fox and the Hound ''The Fox and the Hound'' is a 1981 American animated buddy drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions and loosely based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix. The 24th Disney animated feature film, the film tells the st ...

'' (1981)

External links

*
Brigitte Mira: Character actor who epitomised the spirit of old Berlin
– The Guardian, 2005-03-25. Retrieved on 2010-04-21. {{DEFAULTSORT:Mira, Brigitte 1910 births 2005 deaths Actresses from Berlin Best Actress German Film Award winners Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Recipients of the Order of Merit of Berlin German stage actresses German people of Russian-Jewish descent German film actresses German television actresses 20th-century German actresses