Christiane Hörbiger (13 October 1938 – 30 November 2022) was an Austrian stage, film, and television actress. Her first major film role was Mary Vetsera in '' Kronprinz Rudolfs letzte Liebe'' in 1955. She appeared on the stage of the

Burgtheater The Burgtheater (; literally: "Castle Theater" but alternatively translated as "(Imperial) Court Theater", originally known as '' K.K. Theater an der Burg'', then until 1918 as the ''K.K. Hofburgtheater'', is the national theater of Austria in ...

as Recha in Lessing's '' Nathan der Weise'' in 1959, became a member of Theater Heidelberg and later

Schauspielhaus Zürich The Schauspielhaus Zürich () is one of the most prominent and important theatres in the history of German-speaking theater. It is also known as "Pfauenbühne" (Peacock Stage). The large theatre has 750 seats. The also operates three stages ...

. From 1969 to 1972, she portrayed Die Buhlschaft in Hofmannsthal's '' Jedermann'' at the

Salzburg Festival The Salzburg Festival () is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer, for five weeks starting in late July, in Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart's operas are a focus of ...

. She is remembered for roles of strong, self-conscious women who defy adverse circumstances, as television series began to present from the mid-1980s, including Countess Christine von Guldenburg in the series '' Das Erbe der Guldenburgs'' from 1987 to 1990, and the title role of the Austrian television series '' Julia – Eine ungewöhnliche Frau'' from 1999 to 2004. She became a favourite with audiences and received international awards.

Life and career

Born in Vienna on 13 October 1938, Hörbiger was the second of the three actress daughters of Austrian actors Attila Hörbiger (1896–1987) and Paula Wessely (1907–2000). Her sisters were and . She was the aunt of German actor Christian Tramitz. As her mother wished, she first trained to be a pastry maker (''Zuckerbäcker''), and her parents bought her a

Konditorei A is a business that typically offers a wide variety of Pastry, pastries and typically also serves as a café#In Europe, café. (plural) are found in many countries including but not limited to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Denmar ...

. She decided in 1955 to pursue an acting career, and attended the Max Reinhardt Seminar, but dropped out the same year to play Mary Vetsera in the film '' Kronprinz Rudolfs letzte Liebe''. She first appeared at the

in Vienna as Recha in Lessing's '' Nathan der Weise'' in 1959, but reviews were scathing. She moved to the Theater Heidelberg for two years. She played at the

, together with her mother for the first time, as Lottchen in Raimund's ' in 1961. When she returned to the Burgtheater, again as Recha, she was successful. From 1967 to 1985, Hörbiger was a member of the

. She appeared there in classical roles such as Elisabeth in Schiller's '' Maria Stuart'' and roles by

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

and Chechov, also roles in the Vienna tradition such as Nestroy, Schnitzler and Hofmannsthal, and contemporary theatre. From 1969 to 1972, she portrayed Die Buhlschaft in Hofmannsthal's '' Jedermann'' at the

, with Ernst Schröder in the title role. Hörbiger played roles in various German and Austrian television films and series, beginning in the mid-1980s playing the lead role of Countess Christine von Guldenburgin in the series ''Das Erbe der Guldenburgs'', alongside Brigitte Horney, Ruth Maria Kubitschek, and

Stewart Granger Stewart Granger (born James Lablache Stewart; 6 May 1913 – 16 August 1993) was a British film actor, mainly associated with heroic and romantic leading roles. He was a popular leading man from the 1940s to the early 1960s, rising to fame thr ...

. From 1999 to 2004 she played the title character in the Austrian series '' Julia – Eine ungewöhnliche Frau'' (''Julia – An Extraordinary Woman''). In film, she was successful as Freya von Hepp in Helmut Dietl's 1992 satire '' Schtonk!'' about forged Hitler diaries, as well as in ', ' (1997) and '. She portrayed the revengeful Claire Zachanassian in 's 2008 television film based on Dürrenmatt's '' Der Besuch der alten Dame''. Her son, , directed the drama film ' in 2011, where she appeared alongside her sister Maresa for the first time. He also directed one of her last works, the 2018 detective film '. In 1995 she was a member of the jury at the 45th Berlin International Film Festival. Hörbiger's only foray into voice acting was the role of Mrs Calloway (the dairy cow) in the German-language version of Disney's '' Home on the Range''.

Personal life

Hörbiger was married to director Wolfgang Glück. Her second husband was the Swiss journalist Rolf R. Bigler; they had a son, Sascha. After Bigler's death in 1978, Gerhard Tötschinger, a director and author, became her partner; he died in 2016. Hörbiger lived mainly in Vienna. She was a UNICEF ambassador, and was committed to cancer aid. Hörbiger died in Vienna on 30 November 2022 at age 84.

Selected filmography

Films with Hörbiger have included: * ''

The Major and the Bulls ''The Major and the Bulls'' (German: ''Der Major und die Stiere'') is a 1955 West German comedy film directed by Eduard von Borsody and starring Fritz Tillmann, Christiane Hörbiger and Attila Hörbiger. It is based on the 1953 novel of the same ...

'' (''Der Major und die Stiere'', 1955), as Marie * ' (1961), as Lottchen, on stage of the Salzburg Festival with her mother * '' Don't Get Angry'' (''Mensch ärgere dich nicht'', 1972), as Frl. Glöckner * ' (1984, TV film), as Judith Lichtenberg * '' Das Erbe der Guldenburgs'' (1987–1990, TV series, 41 episodes), as Countess Christine von Guldenburg * ' (1961), as Frau Held * '' Schtonk!'' (1992), as Freya von Hepp * '' Back to Square One'' (''Alles auf Anfang'', 1993), as Lore Kuballa * ''I Desire You'' (''Ich begehre dich'', 1995, TV film), as Alexandra Meyberg * ' (1996, TV film), as Marianne Mühlhuber — (Remake of '' Der Hofrat Geiger'' and '' Mariandl'') * ' (1997, TV film), as Mona * '' Julia – Eine ungewöhnliche Frau'' (1999–2004, TV series, 65 episodes), as Judge Julia Laubach * ' (2001), as Trixi Jancik * '' Home on the Range'' (2004), as Mrs. Calloway * ' (2008, TV film), as Claire Zachanassian — (based on Dürrenmatt's play) * ' (2011), as Katharina * ' (2012, TV film), as Henriette Dietrichstein * ' (2012, TV film), as Margarete Kämmerer — (based on a novel by Pavel Kohout) * ' (2012, TV film), as The Countess — (based on ''

Little Lord Fauntleroy ''Little Lord Fauntleroy'' is a children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was published as a serial in ''St. Nicholas Magazine'' from November 1885 to October 1886, then as a book by Charles Scribner's Sons, Scribner's (the publisher of ...

'') * ' (2013), as Henriette Dietrichstein * ' (2018), as Madeleine Montana

Awards

Hörbiger received numerous awards for her acting, including: * 1985: Bayerischer Filmpreis, Best Actress * 1988:

Goldene Kamera The Goldene Kamera ("Golden Camera") is an annual German film and television award, awarded by the Funke Mediengruppe. The award show was usually held in early February in Hamburg, but also took place in Berlin on occasion. It has been paused ...

* 1992: Romy as the most popular actress * 1992:

Bambi ''Bambi'' is a 1942 American Animated film, animated Coming of age, coming-of-age drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Loosely based on Felix Salten's 1923 novel ''Bambi, a Life in the Woods'', the ...

* 1994: German Film Awards * 1998:

Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class The Austrian Decoration for Science and Art () is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria and forms part of the Austrian national honours system. History The "Austrian Decoration for Science and Art" was established by the National C ...

* 1999: Golden Medal of Honour for Services to the City of Vienna * 2001: Adolf Grimme Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in ''Julia – eine außergewöhnliche Frau'' * 2001: Merit Cross of the Federal Republic of Germany * 2002: Karl Valentin Order * 2002: Ernst-Lubitsch-Preis * 2004: ' * 2008: Deutscher Vorlesepreis with the "Reading Tools" award for her merits as an

audiobook An audiobook (or a talking book) is a recording of a book or other work being read out loud. A reading of the complete text is described as "unabridged", while readings of shorter versions are abridgements. Spoken audio has been available in sch ...

spokeswoman * 2009: Platinum Romy * 2009: Bavarian Television Award – Special Award * 2009: Gold Medal of the capital Vienna

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Horbiger, Christiane 1938 births 2022 deaths Austrian television actresses Austrian voice actresses 20th-century Austrian actresses 21st-century Austrian actresses Actresses from Vienna Best Actress German Film Award winners Recipients of the Romy (TV award) Recipients of the Bambi (prize) Recipients of the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany