Carmen-Maja Antoni (born 23 August 1945, in

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 ...

) is a German

actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek ...

Life

Carmen-Maja Antoni was born into the chaos that followed the Second World War. Her father, Pedro Antoni, was an artist who left the family scene soon after she was born, leaving the baby with her mother, Ursula Antoni-Orendt, an "all-round artist" who later became a production director with the DFF, East Germany's national broadcasting corporation. Carmen-Maja made her camera debut at the age of eleven, as one of the three "Blue Streaks" in a Young Pioneer Cabaret programme on national television. By the time of the successful completion of her final school exams she had already negotiated her way through the admissions process for the Konrad Wolf Film University of Babelsberg in the

Babelsberg Babelsberg () is the largest quarter (''Stadtteil'') of Potsdam, the capital city of the German state of Brandenburg. The affluent neighbourhood named after a small hill on the Havel river is famous for Babelsberg Palace and Park, part of the Palac ...

quarter of

Potsdam Potsdam () is the capital and, with around 183,000 inhabitants, largest city of the German state of Brandenburg. It is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. Potsdam sits on the River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, downstream of B ...

. On joining, she became the academy's youngest student. As soon as she had completed her studies she was hired by

's Hans Otto Theatre. Still aged only 18, it was here that in 1964 she appeared as an exceptionally young "Grusche", the heroine in "

The Caucasian Chalk Circle ''The Caucasian Chalk Circle'' (german: Der kaukasische Kreidekreis) is a play by the German modernist playwright Bertolt Brecht. An example of Brecht's epic theatre, the play is a parable about a peasant girl who rescues a baby and becomes a b ...

" by

Bertolt Brecht Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht (10 February 1898 – 14 August 1956), known professionally as Bertolt Brecht, was a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. Coming of age during the Weimar Republic, he had his first successes as a pl ...

. Her performance drew praise from Brecht's widow and from Brecht's old friend, the composer

Paul Dessau Paul Dessau (19 December 189428 June 1979) was a German composer and conductor. He collaborated with Bertolt Brecht and composed incidental music for his plays, and several operas based on them. Biography Dessau was born in Hamburg into a ...

. She later took the part of "Minna" in Lessings's "

Minna von Barnhelm ''Minna von Barnhelm or the Soldiers' Happiness'' (german: Minna von Barnhelm oder das Soldatenglück, ) is a ''lustspiel'' or comedy by the German author Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. It has five acts, was begun in 1763 and completed in 1767 – ...

". By 1970 Carmen-Maja Antoni had moved on to the People's Theatre in the centre of

. She has been a member of the Berliner Ensemble Theatre Company since 1976, and has recently (2005) appeared there as the lead protagonist in "

Mother Courage and Her Children ''Mother Courage and Her Children'' (german: Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder, links=no) is a play written in 1939 by the German dramatist and poet Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956), with significant contributions from Margarete Steffin. Four theatrical ...

". Over the years she has played in a very large number of stage plays and films, and her unmistakable voice has also been heard in various radio plays. In addition, she teaches at the Konrad Wolf Film and Television Academy in Babelsberg. Antoni built her career in the

German Democratic Republic German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

during the decades of German division, but following

reunification A political union is a type of political entity which is composed of, or created from, smaller polities, or the process which achieves this. These smaller polities are usually called federated states and federal territories in a federal governm ...

hers has become a well-known television presence across German-speaking central Europe thanks in part to her appearances in the long-running (1994–2013)

ZDF ZDF (, short for Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen; ; "Second German Television") is a German public-service television broadcaster based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. It is run as an independent nonprofit institution, which was founded by all fe ...

crime drama series

Rosa Roth ''Rosa Roth'' is a German television series. It consisted of 31 television films between 1994 and 2013. See also *List of German television series The following is a list of television series produced in Germany: Current Drama * ''4 Bloc ...

in which she played Karin von Lomanski, a close colleague of Police Commissioner Rosa Roth.

Filmography

* 1959: ''Diebe im Warenhaus'' (TV film) * 1965: '' Der Reserveheld'' * 1965: ''

The Rabbit Is Me ''The Rabbit Is Me'' (german: Das Kaninchen bin ich) is an East German dramatic film directed by Kurt Maetzig. It was filmed in 1965, and based on the novel by . Plot Nineteen-year-old Maria Morzeck dreams of studying Slavistics, but her hopes ...

'' * 1965: '' Denk bloß nicht, ich heule'' * 1965: ''Das Glück der Maria H.'' (TV film) * 1966: ' (unfinished) * 1967: ''Das Mädchen an der Orga Privat'' (TV film) * 1967: ''Kleiner Mann – was nun?'' (TV film) * 1968: ' * 1968: ''

Hauptmann Florian von der Mühle ''Hauptmann Florian von der Mühle'' is an East German film. It was released in 1968. Cast * Manfred Krug: Florian * Regina Beyer: Duchess Guastalla * Rolf Herricht: Amadeus * Gisela Bestehorn: Baroness Colloredo * Jutta Klöppel: Fanny Schaue ...

'' * 1968: '' Ways across the Country'' (TV miniseries) * 1969: ''Zeit zu leben * 1970: ' (TV film) * 1970: ' * 1970: ''Unsere Klasse, große Klasse'' (TV film) * 1970: ''

Zeit der Störche ''Zeit der Störche'' is a 1971 East German East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution ...

'' * 1970: ''Zwei Briefe an Pospischiel'' (TV film) * 1970: ''

Der Staatsanwalt hat das Wort ''Der Staatsanwalt hat das Wort'' ("The state prosecutor has the floor") was an East German television series. See also * List of German television series The following is a list of television series produced in Germany: Current Drama * ...

: Außenseiter'' (TV series) * 1971: '' Rottenknechte'' (TV miniseries) * 1971: ''Pygmalion XII.'' (TV film) * 1972: ' * 1972: ''

Eolomea ''Eolomea'' is a 1972 science fiction film directed by Herrmann Zschoche, based on the book of the same name by Angel Wagenstein. The film was an East German/Soviet/Bulgarian coproduction. Story Eight spaceships disappear and radio contact to ...

'' (Robot voice) * 1973: ''Wenn die Tauben steigen'' (TV film) * 1973: ''Der kaukasische Kreidekreis'' (TV film) * 1973: ' * 1974: ''

Johannes Kepler Johannes Kepler (; ; 27 December 1571 – 15 November 1630) was a German astronomer, mathematician, astrologer, natural philosopher and writer on music. He is a key figure in the 17th-century Scientific Revolution, best known for his laws ...

'' * 1974: ''Nachtasyl'' (TV film) * 1974: ''

: Schwester Martina'' * 1975: ' * 1975: ''Heute ist Freitag'' (TV film) * 1975: ''

: Geschiedene Leute * 1975: ' * 1977: ''Auftrag: Überleben'' (TV film) * 1978: '' Zwerg Nase'' (TV film) * 1979: ' * 1979: ''Herr Puntila und sein Knecht Matti'' (TV film) * 1980: ' * 1980: ' * 1980: ''Meines Vaters Straßenbahn'' (TV film) * 1981: ' * 1981: ' * 1981: ''Jegor Bulytschow und die anderen'' (TV film) * 1982: '' Der Hase und der Igel'' (TV film) * 1983: ''Es geht einer vor die Hunde'' (TV film) * 1983: ''Der kaukasische Kreidekreis'' (TV film) * 1984: ''Eine schöne Bescherung'' (TV film) * 1985: '' Die Gänse von Bützow'' * 1985: ''Schauspielereien, episode: Balancen'' (TV series) * 1986: ''Der junge Herr Siegmund'' (TV film) * 1986: ''Jungfer Miras Mirakel'' (TV film) * 1986: ''Plumps'' (Segment of

TV Series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed betw ...

, voice only, animated by

Gerhard Behrendt Gerhardt Behrendt (3 April 1929, Potsdam – 26 September 2006, Berlin) was a German director, Puppet designer, and author of the ''Sandmännchen'' character for the ''Deutscher Fernsehfunk'' Berlin. Life and work Behrendt started his car ...

) * 1987: ' * 1987: '' Kindheit'' * 1988: ''

Polizeiruf 110 ''Polizeiruf 110'' ("Police call 110") is a long-running German-language detective television series likened to Poirot. The name links to the emergency telephone number of the ''Volkspolizei''. The first episode was broadcast 27 June 1971 in the ...

: Eifersucht'' (TV series) * 1988: ''Jeder träumt von einem Pferd'' (TV film) * 1988: ''Gabriel, komm zurück'' (TV film) * 1989: ' * 1989: ''

: Der Wahrheit verpflichtet * 1990: '' Heimsuchung'' (TV film) * 1991: '' Der kleine Herr Friedemann'' (TV film) * 1991: ' * 1991: ''Ein kleiner Knall am Nachmittag'' (TV film) * 1993: '': Die Narbe des Himmels'' (TV series) * 1993: ''

: Tod im Kraftwerk * 1994: ''

: Arme Schweine * 1994: ''Hate in the Head'' (TV film) * 1994: ''

: In Liebe und Tod'' (TV series) * 1995: ' (TV film) * 1995: ''Mein heißgeliebter Führer. Liebesbriefe an Adolf Hitler'' (TV film) * 1995: ''

: Lügen * 1996: ''Rosa Roth: Verlorenes Leben * 1996: ''Unter die Haut'' (TV film) * 1996: ''Katrin und Wladimir'' (TV film) * 1996: ''Rosa Roth: Nirgendwohin * 1996: ''Rosa Roth: Montag, 26. November * 1996: ''Das Leben ist eine Baustelle * 1997: ''Rosa Roth: Die Stimme * 1997: ''Rosa Roth: Berlin * 1997: ''

Tatort ''Tatort'' ("Crime scene") is a German language police procedural television series that has been running continuously since 1970 with some 30 feature-length episodes per year, which makes it the longest-running German TV drama. Developed by ...

: Der Tod spielt mit'' (TV series) * 1998: ''Move on up'' (TV) * 1998: ' (TV film) * 1999: ''Wohin mit den Witwen * 1999: '' Nightshapes'' * 1999: ''

In aller Freundschaft (''In all friendship'') is a German television soap opera that began airing in 1998 every Tuesday. The series follows the staff of the fictional Sachsenklinik hospital in the city of Leipzig. The series is produced by Degeto (a subsidiary of ...

'' (TV series, episode: ''Die Geister, die ich rief'') * 1999: ''

Medicopter 117 – Jedes Leben zählt "''Medicopter 117 – Jedes Leben zählt“ (English: Medicopter 117 – Every life counts)'' is a German language television series that RTL and ORF broadcast. ''Medicopter 117'' has seven seasons in 81 episodes and a pilot movie. ''Medicop ...

'' (TV series, episode: ''Die falsche Maßnahme)'' * 1999: ''

Klemperer – Ein Leben in Deutschland ''Klemperer – Ein Leben in Deutschland'' is a German television series based on the diary of Victor Klemperer. See also *List of German television series The following is a list of television series produced in Germany: Current Drama ...

'' (TV series, episode: ''Küss mich in der Kurve'') * 1999: ''Die Hochzeitskuh * 2001: ''

Berlin is in Germany ''Berlin is in Germany'' is a 2001 German drama film directed by Hannes Stöhr. Hannes Stöhr Hannes Stöhr (born 1970) is a German film director and screenwriter. He studied scriptwriting and directing at the Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakade ...

'' * 2001: ' * 2001: ''Inas Geburtstag * 2001: ' * 2002: ' * 2002: ''Brüder'' (TV film) * 2003: ''Ein Schiff wird kommen * 2003: ''

: Das leise Sterben des Kolibri * 2004: ''Land’s End'' (TV film) * 2004: ''Rosa Roth: Freundeskreis * 2005: ''Die Boxerin * 2005: ''Rosa Roth: Flucht nach vorn * 2005: ''Rosa Roth: Im Namen des Vaters * 2006: ''Rosa Roth: In guten Händen * 2007: ''

: Der Tag wird kommen * 2007: '' Krauses Fest'' (TV film) * 2008: ''

The Reader ''The Reader'' (german: Der Vorleser) is a novel by German law professor and judge Bernhard Schlink, published in Germany in 1995 and in the United States in 1997. The story is a parable, dealing with the difficulties post-war German generations ...

'' * 2009: ''

The White Ribbon ''The White Ribbon'' (german: Das weiße Band) is a 2009 German-language drama film, written and directed by Michael Haneke. Released in black-and-white, the film offers a dark depiction of society and family in a northern German village just be ...

'' * 2009: ' (TV film) * 2009: '' Krauses Kur'' (TV film) * 2009: ''Baby frei Haus'' (TV film) * 2010: ''Rosa Roth: Das Angebot des Tages * 2010: ' (TV film) * 2011: '' Crime Scene Cleaner'' * 2011: ''Holger sacht nix'' (TV film) * 2011: '' Krauses Braut'' (TV film) * 2011: ''Das Kindermädchen'' (TV film) * 2013: ''Rosa Roth: Der Schuss * 2013: ''

Doc meets Dorf ''Doc meets Dorf'' is a German television series that premiered on 22 August 2013 on RTL Television. Plot Cows, guys and disasters: Inez Bjørg David plays the top surgeon ''Dr. Fritzi Frühling''. As the city dweller loses her job and the boy ...

'' * 2014: ''Die letzte Instanz * 2014: ''

Mord mit Aussicht ''Mord mit Aussicht'' (Murder with a View) is a German satirical crime comedy television series, produced by Pro TV Produktion GmbH and broadcast on Das Erste. In December 2015, a TV film, ''Ein Mord mit Aussicht'' released after the series end ...

'' (TV series, 3rd set) * 2014: ''Krauses Geheimnis'' (TV film)

Radio plays

* 2003:

Dylan Thomas Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer whose works include the poems "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "And death shall have no dominion", as well as the "play for voices" ''Under ...

: ''

Under Milk Wood ''Under Milk Wood'' is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, commissioned by the BBC and later adapted for the stage. A film version, ''Under Milk Wood'' directed by Andrew Sinclair, was released in 1972, and another adaptation of ...

'' (2nd neighbour) – Producer:

Götz Fritsch Götz or Goetz () is a German name, in origin a hypocorism of '' Gottfried''. It remains in use as a short form of ''Gottfried'', but it has also become a surname. Surnames ;Goetz * Alphonse Goetz (1865-1934), French chess master * Arturo Goetz, ...

(Hörspiel – MDR) * 2011: Jenny Reinhardt: ''Lina, König Faunfaun und der Bart des Katers'' – Regie: Klaus-Michael Klingsporn (Kinderhörspiel – DKultur) * 2012: Judith Stadlin/ Michael van Orsouw: ''Buus Halt Waterloo'' - Regie: Regine Ahrem/Judith Stadlin ( RBB) * 2012: Inka Bach/ Ingrun Aran: ''Schönes Wochenende'' (Sie) – Regie: Ingrun Aran (Hörspiel – RBB)

Awards and prizes

* 1974: Critics' Prize of the

Berliner Zeitung The ''Berliner Zeitung'' (, ''Berlin Newspaper'') is a daily newspaper based in Berlin, Germany. Founded in East Germany in 1945, it is the only East German paper to achieve national prominence since reunification. It is published by Berliner ...

: Best Actress of the year for the role of "Eva" in ''Herr Puntila und sein Knecht Matti'' * 1975: Critics' Prize of the

: Best Actress of the year for the role of Herakes in ''Herakes V'' by

Heiner Müller Heiner Müller (; 9 January 1929 – 30 December 1995) was a German (formerly East German) dramatist, poet, writer, essayist and theatre director. His "enigmatic, fragmentary pieces" are a significant contribution to postmodern drama and postdr ...

* 1987: Critics' Prize Best Actress of the year for the role of Grandmother in '' Kindheit'' * 1988: Critics' Prize of the

: Best Actress of the year for the role of the Mother in ''Baal'' * 1988: 5th National Film Festival of the GDR: National film prize for the best lead actress for the film '' Kindheit'' * 1989:

Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic The Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic (German: ''Kunstpreis der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik'') was an East German state award bestowed on individuals for contributions in various fields of art. History The Art Prize was annually a ...

for her complete artistic output * 1990: Helene Weigel Medal For the role of Mother-in-law in ''Der Selbstmörder'' * 2008: German Critics' Prize

References

External links

* *
DEFA-Sternstunden

Biographie auf film-zeit.de

„Wer hat Angst vor der Antoni?“

Die Zeit ''Die Zeit'' (, "The Time") is a German national weekly newspaper published in Hamburg in Germany. The newspaper is generally considered to be among the German newspapers of record and is known for its long and extensive articles. History The ...

, Januar 2000, Nr. 3, Portrait {{DEFAULTSORT:Antoni, Carmen-Maja Actresses from Berlin 20th-century German actresses 21st-century German actresses German stage actresses German film actresses German television actresses German radio actresses 1945 births Living people