Meret Becker (; born 15 January 1969) is a German actress and singer.

Life and career

Meret Becker was born in

Bremen Bremen ( Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (german: Stadtgemeinde Bremen, ), is the capital of the German state Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (''Freie Hansestadt Bremen''), a two-city-state cons ...

, the daughter of the actors Monika Hansen and Rolf Becker but she was raised in Berlin by her mother with her stepfather

Otto Sander Otto Sander (; 30 June 1941 – 12 September 2013) was a German film, theater, and voice actor. Life Education and early career Sander grew up in Kassel, where he graduated in 1961 from the Friedrichgymnasium. After leaving school he s ...

along with her brother

Ben Becker Ben Becker (born 19 December 1964) is a German film, theatre and voice actor. Biography Becker was born in Bremen, the son of actress Monika Hansen and actor Rolf Becker. He is the brother of actress Meret Becker and the stepson of Otto Sander ...

. She is the granddaughter of the comedian Claire Schlichting and the niece of the acrobat and comedian Jonny Buchardt. In 1996, she married

Alexander Hacke Alexander Hacke (also known as Alexander von Borsig, Alex Hacke, Hacke, born 11 October 1965) is a guitarist, bass guitarist, singer, musician, record producer, writer and filmmaker from Germany. He is primarily known as a longtime member of the ...

(a member of the band

Einstürzende Neubauten (, 'Collapsing New Buildings') is a German experimental music group, formed in West Berlin in 1980. The group is currently composed of founding members Blixa Bargeld (lead vocals; guitar; keyboard) and N.U. Unruh (custom-made instruments; pe ...

), who contributed songs to Becker's albums, including ''Noctambule''. They separated in 2000 and divorced two years later. Becker was a guest musician on Einstürzende Neubauten's album ''

Ende Neu ''Ende Neu'' is the seventh full-length studio album released by Einstürzende Neubauten in 1996. The title means "ending new"; it is a wordplay (reflected in the cover artwork) involving the band's name: Einstürz''ende Neu''bauten. This was the ...

'', singing "Stella Maris" - in a duet with

Blixa Bargeld Blixa Bargeld (born Christian Emmerich, 12 January 1959) is a German musician who has been the lead singer of the band Einstürzende Neubauten since its formation in 1980. Bargeld was also a founding member of the Australian rock band Nick Cave ...

. She played the character Ernal Eggstein in the 1997 German film ''

Comedian Harmonists The Comedian Harmonists were an internationally famous, all-male German close harmony ensemble that performed between 1928 and 1934 as one of the most successful musical groups in Europe before World War II. The group consisted of Harry Fromm ...

'', as well as Katya, a prostitute, in '' Painted Angels''. A year later, in 1998, she gave several performances along with

Nina Hagen Catharina "Nina" Hagen (; born 11 March 1955) is a German singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her theatrical vocals and rose to prominence during the punk and new wave movements in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She is known as ...

. The short but sold-out tour was titled "Wir heißen beide Anna" in which both Becker and Hagen sang several songs by Bertold Brecht, set to music by Paul Dessau and

Kurt Weill Kurt Julian Weill (March 2, 1900April 3, 1950) was a German-born American composer active from the 1920s in his native country, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for his fru ...

'. Becker appeared in

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 ...

's film ''

The Einstein of Sex ''The Einstein of Sex'' (also known as: ''The Einstein of Sex - Life and Work of Dr. M. Hirschfeld'', German title: ''Der Einstein des Sex'') is a 1999 German film directed by Rosa von Praunheim. The film was shown at the Berlin International Film ...

'' (1999). Meret has since recorded two studio albums, ''Nachtmahr'', which featured Robert Rutman playing his giant

sheetmetal Sheet metal is metal formed into thin, flat pieces, usually by an industrial process. Sheet metal is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and it can be cut and bent into a variety of shapes. Thicknesses can vary significantly; e ...

instruments on several tracks, and ''Fragiles''. Just like the first album, both of them contain songs, poetry and short stories, played with unusual instruments and avant-garde arrangements. In 1993, she appeared as the female singer in the U2 video for "

Stay (Faraway, So Close!) "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" is a song by rock band U2. It is the fifth track on their 1993 album, '' Zooropa'', and was released as the album's third single on 22 November 1993. The song reached number one in Ireland and reached the top 10 in ...

". In 2005, she was a supporting actress in the film ''

Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and ...

'', directed by

Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Sp ...

Solo discography

* ''Noctambule'' (1996) * ''Nachtmahr'' (1998) * ''Fragiles'' (2001) * ''Pipermint - Das Leben, möglicherweise OST'' (2005) * ''Deins & Done'' (2014)

Collaborations

* ''1993-'95'' (live album with Ars Vitalis) (1995) * Interviewed by

Clive James Clive James (born Vivian Leopold James; 7 October 1939 – 24 November 2019) was an Australian critic, journalist, broadcaster, writer and lyricist who lived and worked in the United Kingdom from 1962 until his death in 2019.BBC special, ''Clive James's Postcard From Berlin'' (1995) * ''Stella Maris'' (duet with

) (1996) * Performed on

Dorothy Carter Dorothy Carter (born New York City, 1935, died June 7, 2003 in New Orleans) was an American musician.Billboard - 1998 8 8 " ... in Berlin in 1996. While there, she hooked up with MEDIAEVAL BAEBES Dorothy Carter, an older woman ..." Carter performed ...

's album ''Lonesome Dove'' (2000)

Selected filmography

* ''Kaltgestellt'' (1980) as Anna * ''

Werner – Beinhart! Werner – Beinhart! (English title: ''Werner and the Wizard of Booze'') is the first German comedy-comic- film adaption based upon the successful German comic Werner by "Brösel". Production Shooting took place in Kiel, Flensburg and Ber ...

'' (1990) as Rumpelstilzchen * ' (1991) as Leah * ' (1992) as Hanna Hecht * ' (1992) as Bride * ''

Little Sharks ''Little Sharks'' (german: Kleine Haie) is a 1992 German comedy film directed by Sönke Wortmann Sönke Wortmann (; 25 August 1959 in Marl, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a German film director and producer. Biography Wortmann's father was a min ...

'' (1992) as Herta * ''Geteilte Nacht'' (1993) as Katrin * ' (1993) * ''Music Video for

by U2'' (1993, Video short) as Band's Lead Singer * '' The Innocent'' (1993) as Ulrike * ''

The Blue One ''The Blue One'' (german: Der Blaue) is a 1994 German drama film written and directed by Lienhard Wawrzyn. It was entered into the 44th Berlin International Film Festival The 44th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 10 t ...

'' (1994) as Isabelle Skrodt * ' (1994) as Sunny Schaefer * '' The Promise'' (1994) as Sophie I * ''

Killer Condom ''Killer Condom'' (original title ''Kondom des Grauens'' (English: Condom of Horror)) is a 1996 German horror comedy directed by Martin Walz. It is based on the comic books ''Kondom des Grauens'' and ''Bis auf die Knochen'' ("Down to the Bones") by ...

'' (1996) as Phyllis Higgins * ' (1997) as Zille Watussnik * ' (1997, TV film) as Charlie * '' Life is All You Get'' (1997) as Moni * ''

'' (1997) as Erna Eggstein * '' Painted Angels'' (1998) as Katya * ''Hundert Jahre Brecht'' (1998) as Jenny * ''Das Gelbe vom Ei'' (1999, TV film) as Fanny Freese * ''

Annaluise & Anton ''Annaluise & Anton'' (german: Pünktchen und Anton) is a 1999 German family film based on the eponymous children's book by Erich Kästner. A previous version ''Anna Louise and Anton'' was made in 1953. Cast * - Annaluise * - Anton * Juliane ...

'' (1999) as Elli Gast * '' The Volcano'' (1999) as Tilly von Kammer * ''

Der Einstein des Sex ''The Einstein of Sex'' (also known as: ''The Einstein of Sex - Life and Work of Dr. M. Hirschfeld'', German title: ''Der Einstein des Sex'') is a 1999 German film directed by Rosa von Praunheim. The film was shown at the Berlin International Film ...

'' (1999) as a worker * ''Fernes Land Pa-Isch'' (2000) as Bibi * ' (2000) as Lulu * ''Planet Alex'' (2001) as Frau * ''Heinrich der Säger'' (2001) as Teresa Grantke * ''Null Uhr 12'' (2001) as Kathrin * ''Nogo'' (2002) as Maria * ''Mutti – Der Film'' (2003) as Dr. Loch * ''Poem – Ich setzte den Fuß in die Luft und sie trug'' (2003) * ''Hamlet_X'' (2003) as Hamlet * ' (2004) as Sanja * ''3° kälter'' (2005) as Jenny * '' The Call of the Toad'' (2005) as Sophia * ' (2005) as Maria Pinn * ' (2005) as Sophie Paulsen * ''

'' (2005) as Yvonne * ' (2006) as Mathilda Berger * ''

My Führer – The Really Truest Truth about Adolf Hitler ''My Führer – The Really Truest Truth about Adolf Hitler'' (german: Mein Führer – Die wirklich wahrste Wahrheit über Adolf Hitler) is a 2007 German comedy-drama film directed by Dani Levy. The setting is World War II, around New Year's o ...

'' (2007) as Sekretärin * ''

Messy Christmas ''Messy Christmas'' (german: Meine schöne Bescherung) is a 2007 German comedy film directed by Vanessa Jopp.https://www.programmkino.de/content/links.php?link=586 Cast and characters * Martina Gedeck as Sara Meinhold * Heino Ferch as Jan Mein ...

'' (2007) as Pauline * ''Die Glücklichen'' (2008) as Helene * ''Friedliche Zeiten'' (2008) as Musiklehrerin * ''Record 12'' (2009) as Alena * '' Boxhagener Platz'' (2010) as Renate * ''Gurbet – Fremde Heimat'' (2010) as Irina * ' (2010) as Helena Seliger * ''

Kokowääh ''Kokowääh'' is a 2011 German film directed by Til Schweiger. It was released in German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, South Tyrol and Switzerland) on 3 February 2011. The film stars Til Schweiger, his daughter Emma Schweiger, Jasmin Ger ...

'' (2011) as Charlotte * ''Fliegende Fische müssen ins Meer'' (2011) as Roberta Meiringer * ''

Sources of Life ''Sources of Life'' (german: link=no, Quellen des Lebens) is a 2013 German film directed by Oskar Roehler. Cast * Jürgen Vogel as Erich Freytag * Moritz Bleibtreu as Klaus Freytag * Kostja Ullmann as Young Klaus Freitag * Meret Becker as Eli ...

'' (2013) as Elisabeth Freytag * ''

Wetlands A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The p ...

'' (2013) as Helen's mother * ' (2013) as Harriet * ''Lügen und andere Wahrheiten'' (2014) as Coco * ''Mann im Spagat: Pace, Cowboy, Pace'' (2016) as Lenker Gaby * ''A Change in the Weather'' (2017) as Kalle * ''Wer hat eigentlich die Liebe erfunden?'' (2018) as Alex * ''Liliane Susewind – Ein tierisches Abenteuer'' (2018) as Oberst Essig * ''Ostwind: Aris Ankunft'' (2019) as Britta

Awards

* 1995

Bavarian Film Awards The Bavarian Film Awards (german: Bayerischer Filmpreis) have been awarded annually since 1979 by the state government of Bavaria in Germany for “exceptional achievement in German filmmaking.” Along with the German Film Awards, these are th ...

, Best Actress for ''Das Versprechen'' * 1998

German Film Awards 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 ...

, Outstanding Individual Achievement: Supporting Actress in ''Comedian Harmonists'' * 2005 Max Ophüls Festival, Film Score Award for ''Pipermint - Das Leben, möglicherweise'' OST

References

External links

Official website
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Becker, Meret 1969 births Living people Actors from Bremen German film actresses German television actresses 20th-century German actresses 21st-century German actresses German women singers Musicians from Bremen