Ilse Paula Steppat (30 November 1917 – 21 December 1969) was a German actress. Her husband was noted actor and director
Max Nosseck Max Nosseck (19 September 1902 – 29 September 1972) was a German film director, actor and screenwriter.
Biography
Nosseck was born in Nakel, then in Prussia, but now in Poland. Nosseck established himself as a director in the German Film Industr ...
.
Biography
She began her cinematic career at the age of 15 playing
Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc (french: link=yes, Jeanne d'Arc, translit= an daʁk} ; 1412 – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the coronati ...
. Steppat appeared regularly on the German stage, and starred in more than forty movies. In the 1960s, she appeared frequently in
crime movies based on the work of author Edgar Wallace, such as ''Die Gruft mit dem Rätselschloss'', ''Der unheimliche Mönch'' and ''Die blaue Hand'', which brought her great fame in Germany.
In her only English language role, Steppat played Blofeld's assistant and henchwoman ''Irma Bunt'' in the James Bond movie
''On Her Majesty's Secret Service''.
In the first English language conversation between Steppat and the movie's producer,
Albert R. Broccoli
Albert Romolo Broccoli ( ; April 5, 1909 – June 27, 1996), nicknamed "Cubby", was an American film producer who made more than 40 motion pictures throughout his career. Most of the films were made in the United Kingdom and often filmed at Pi ...
, she confused the word ''verlobt'' (engaged) with ''engagiert'' (involved).
Despite this, however, she was awarded the role of Irma Bunt. Steppat was unable to capitalise on her new fame outside Germany, as she died of a heart attack only four days after the movie's international release. She was buried in the
Waldfriedhof Dahlem
The Waldfriedhof Dahlem ( Dahlem forest cemetery) is a cemetery in Berlin, in the district of Steglitz-Zehlendorf on the edge of the Grunewald forest at Hüttenweg 47. Densely planted with conifers and designed between 1931 and 1933 after the ...
in Berlin. Steppat was supposed to reprise her role as Irma Bunt in ''
Diamonds Are Forever''. However her character was withdrawn after the actress's death.
Selected filmography
*1947: ''
Marriage in the Shadows
''Marriage in the Shadows'' (German: ''Ehe im Schatten'') is 1947 German melodrama film directed by Kurt Maetzig and starring Paul Klinger, Ilse Steppat and Alfred Balthoff. It was produced in the Soviet zone in what later became East Germany ...
'' – Elisabeth Maurer
*1949: ''Die Brücke'' – Therese Sander
*1949: ''
The Blue Swords
''The Blue Swords'' (german: Die blauen Schwerter) is a 1949 East German historical drama film directed by Wolfgang Schleif and starring Hans Quest, Ilse Steppat and Alexander Engel. It sold more than 3,299,432 tickets. The film portrays the life ...
'' – Frau von Tschirnhausen
*1950: ''
The Man Who Wanted to Live Twice
''The Man Who Wanted to Live Twice'' (german: Der Mann, der zweimal leben wollte) is a 1950 West German drama film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Rudolf Forster, Olga Tschechowa and Heidemarie Hatheyer.
The future star Marianne Koch ...
'' – Oberschwester Hilde
*1950: ''
The Rabanser Case
''The Rabanser Case'' (german: Der Fall Rabanser) is a 1950 West German crime film directed by Kurt Hoffmann and starring Hans Söhnker, Richard Häussler, and Carola Höhn.Bergfelder p. 148 A journalist comes under suspicion of murder.
The f ...
'' – Baronin Felten
*1951: ''Die Tat des Anderen''
*1951: ''
Veronika the Maid
''Veronika the Maid'' (german: Veronika, die Magd) is a 1951 West German drama film directed by Leopold Hainisch and starring Ilse Exl, Viktor Staal and Ilse Steppat.Wiesen p. 273 It was shot at the Göttingen Studios. The film's sets were designe ...
'' – Alice
*1951: ''
The Guilt of Doctor Homma
''The Guilt of Doctor Homma'' (german: Die Schuld des Dr. Homma) is a 1951 West German crime film directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Werner Hinz, Ilse Steppat and Viktoria von Ballasko.Noack p. 292 It was shot at Göttingen Studios and on lo ...
'' – Dr. Ilse Kersten
*1951: ''
Hanna Amon
''Hanna Amon'' is a 1951 German Agfacolor drama film directed by Veit Harlan and starring Kristina Söderbaum, Lutz Moik and Ilse Steppat. It was shot at the Göttingen Studios and on location in Upper Bavaria. The film's sets were designed by th ...
'' – Vera Colombani
*1952: ''
When the Heath Dreams at Night
''When the Heath Dreams at Night'' (german: Wenn abends die Heide träumt) is a 1952 West German drama film directed by Paul Martin and starring Rudolf Prack, Viktor Staal and Margot Trooger.Spicer p. 460 It was shot in the Göttingen Studios and ...
'' – Brigitte
*1952: ''
Shooting Stars'' – Karena Rodde
*1953: ''
The Chaplain of San Lorenzo'' – Isabella Catani
*1954: ''
Captain Wronski
''Captain Wronski'' (german: Rittmeister Wronski) is a 1954 West German spy film directed by Ulrich Erfurth and starring Willy Birgel, Elisabeth Flickenschildt, and Antje Weisgerber. A Polish officer works undercover in 1930s Berlin to discover ...
'' – Leonore Cronberg
*1954: ''
The Phantom of the Big Tent'' – Dolores, Frau mit dem Löwen
*1955: ''
Doctor Solm
''Doctor Solm'' (german: Oberarzt Dr. Solm) is a 1955 West German drama film directed by Paul May and starring Hans Söhnker, Sybil Werden and Antje Weisgerber.Bock & Bergfelder p.451
The film's sets were designed by the art director Mathias M ...
'' – Claudia Möllenhauer, Tochter
*1955: ''
The Dark Star'' – Frl. Rieger, die Lehrerin
*1955: ''
Die Ratten
' (''The Rats'') is a 1955 West German drama film directed by Robert Siodmak. It is an adaptation of the 1911 play '' The Rats'' by Gerhart Hauptmann, but transferred the story to the early 1950s, shortly after the Second World War.
It tells the ...
'' – Frau Knobbe
*1955: ''
The Captain and His Hero
''The Captain and His Hero'' (german: Der Hauptmann und sein Held) is a 1955 West German drama film directed by Max Nosseck and starring Ernst Schröder, Jo Herbst and Fita Benkhoff.Frodon p. 167 It was shot at the Spandau Studios in West Berlin ...
'' – Yvonne
*1956: ''
Winter in the Woods'' – Frieda Stengel
*1956: ''Weil du arm bist, muβt du früher sterben'' – Ada Schenk
*1957: ' – Coletta Nicolini
*1957: ''
Confessions of Felix Krull'' – Maria Pia Kuckuck
*1958: ''
Night Nurse Ingeborg
''Night Nurse Ingeborg'' (German: ''Nachtschwester Ingeborg'') is a 1958 West German drama film directed by Géza von Cziffra and starring Ewald Balser, Claus Biederstaedt and Immy Schell.Rentschler p.5
The film's sets were designed by the art ...
'' – Frau Burger
*1958: ' – Frau Clavius
*1958: ''Ósmy dzień tygodnia'' – Walicka
*1958: ''Sehnsucht hat mich verführt'' – Brandner-Bäuerin
*1958: ''Romarei, das Mädchen mit den grünen Augen'' – Witwe Prang
*1960: ''
Pension Schöller'' – Amalie Schöller
*1960: ''Im Namen einer Mutter'' – Frau Barlowsky
*1960: ''
You Don't Shoot at Angels
''You Don't Shoot at Angels'' (german: Auf Engel schießt man nicht) is a 1960 West German comedy crime film directed by Rolf Thiele and starring Ruth Leuwerik, Hannes Messemer and Gustav Knuth.
The film's sets were designed by the art directors ...
'' – Bellini
*1962: ''
The Post Has Gone
''The Post Has Gone'' (german: Die Post geht ab) is a 1962 West German musical comedy film directed by Helmuth M. Backhaus and starring Vivi Bach, Adrian Hoven, and Claus Biederstaedt.Bock & Bergfelder p.113
The film's sets were designed by the ...
'' – Elfriede Stolze
*1963: ''
Apartmentzauber
''Apartmentzauber'' is a 1963 West German film directed by Helmuth M. Backhaus.
The film is also known as ''Apartment-Zauber'' (alternative spelling).
Plot
According to his parents' wishes, Karl Fischer should marry the young Almut Behring ...
'' – Sittenkommissarian
*1963: ''Der Unsichtbare'' – Dr. Louise Richards
*1964: ''
The Curse of the Hidden Vault
''The Curse of the Hidden Vault'' (german: Die Gruft mit dem Rätselschloß) is a 1964 black and white West German crime film directed by Franz Josef Gottlieb and starring Harald Leipnitz, Eddi Arent, Siegfried Schürenberg and Klaus Kinski. It ...
'' – Margaret
*1965: ''
Der unheimliche Mönch'' (''The Sinister Monk'') – Lady Patricia
*1966: ''
Living It Up
''Living It Up'' is a 1954 American comedy film starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis which was released by Paramount Pictures.
The film was directed by Norman Taurog and produced by Paul Jones. The screenplay by Jack Rose and Melville Shavelso ...
'' – Carol Stevens
*1967: ''
Creature with the Blue Hand
''Creature with the Blue Hand'' (german: Die blaue Hand) is a West German horror film directed by Alfred Vohrer and starring Harald Leipnitz, Klaus Kinski and Ilse Steppat. It is based on the 1925 novel '' The Blue Hand'' by Edgar Wallace and w ...
'' – Lady Emerson
*1968: ''
Death in the Red Jaguar
''Death in the Red Jaguar'' (german: Der Tod im roten Jaguar) is a 1968 West German thriller film directed by Harald Reinl and starring George Nader, Heinz Weiss, and Daniela Surina. It was part of the Jerry Cotton series of films.
It was shot ...
'' – Mrs. Cunnings
*1969: ''
On Her Majesty's Secret Service'' – Irma Bunt (final film role)
External links
*
German film actresses
1917 births
1969 deaths
Actors from Wuppertal
German stage actresses
20th-century German actresses
German voice actresses
{{Germany-film-actor-stub