Corinna Harfouch
Acting
Corinna Harfouch (born 16 October 1954) is a German actress. Widely regarded as one of the most important performers in German film and theatre, she is known for her portrayals of complex, often emotionally layered characters across more than four decades on stage and screen. Among her most beloved and unexpected performances is her turn as Rabia in Bibi Blocksberg, in which her scene-stealing energy has since been embraced by audiences as camp and iconic, earning her a cult following and status as an unlikely queer icon. For this performance, she received the German Film Award (Lola) for Best Supporting Actress in 2003. Trained at the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst “Ernst Busch” in Berlin, Harfouch began her career in theatre before transitioning to film and television, where she has appeared in over 80 productions. Her early breakthrough came with Die Schauspielerin (1988), followed by roles in films such as Knockin' on Heaven's Door (1997), Der Untergang (2004), Das Parfum: Die Geschichte eines Mörders (2006), Finsterworld (2013), and Lara (2019). She has also been part of the long-running crime series Tatort since 2023. Among her numerous accolades, Harfouch has received the Bavarian Film Award, the Adolf Grimme Award, the German Television Award, and the German Film Award. She won Best Actress at the Shanghai International Film Festival for Frei nach Plan (2007) and received the German Film Award for Best Actress in 2024 for Sterben. In addition to her screen work, Harfouch is an acclaimed stage actress, performing at major theatres including the Deutsches Theater Berlin, the Berliner Ensemble, and the Volksbühne. In 1997, she was named Actress of the Year by Theater heute and awarded the Gertrud-Eysoldt-Ring for her performance in Des Teufels General. Born in Suhl, East Germany, Harfouch initially trained as a nurse before studying acting. She has three children, including actor Robert Gwisdek.
Known for
Acting135
movieIn My Mother's Mirror
2026
Ursula Scheuer
movieDying
2024
Lissy Lunies
movieThe Boyfriend
2023
Henriette
movieZwischen uns
2022
Child psychologist
movieBloodsuckers
2022
Tante Erkentrud
tv2 Minuten
2020
Dr. Vogel
movieSchlingensief – A Voice That Shook the Silence
2020
Self (archive footage)
movieLara
2019
Lara
moviePersona
2019
Schwester Alma
movieRight Here Right Now
2018
Innensenatorin
movieCloud Whispers
2018
Charlotte
movieSuck Me Shakespeer 3
2017
Kerstin BIZ
movieEmma nach Mitternacht - Frau Hölle
2016
Katharina Holl
movieJack
2015
Susanne Sönnmann
movieDer Fall Bruckner
2014
Katharina Bruckner
movieFinsterworld
2013
Inga Sandberg
moviePuppe
2013
Geena
movieMoon Man
2012
Conquistadora (voice)
movieMove
2012
Mutter
movieSchmidt & Schwarz
2012
Carolin Schwarz
movieHome for the Weekend
2012
Gitte Heidtmann
movieLooking for Simon
2011
Valerie
movieFaust Sonnengesang
2011
(voice)
movieTod einer Schülerin
2010
Susanne Berger
Hand in Hand
2009
Heike Laurens
movieThis Is Love
2009
Maggie
movieWhiskey with Vodka
2009
Bettina Moll
movieA Year Ago in Winter
2008
Eliane Richter
movieBerlin Calling
2008
Prof. Dr. Petra Paul
tvTeufelsbraten
2008
Wachtel
movieAn die Grenze
2007
Frau Dobbs
movieFree to Leave
2007
Hanni Hudetz
movieRage
2006
Christa Laub
moviePerfume: The Story of a Murderer
2006
Madame Arnulfi
movieHelen, Fred und Ted
2006
Biggie Schwarz
tvHelen, Fred und Ted
2006
Biggie Schwarz
movieThe Elementary Particles
2006
Dr. Schäfer
movieSilberhochzeit
2006
Alexandra
movieThrough This Night
2005
Bozena Nemcová
movieRose
2005
Rose Steher
movieC(r)ook
2004
Maria
movieBibi Blocksberg and the Secret of Blue Owls
2004
Rabia von Katzenstein
movieDownfall
2004
Magda Goebbels
movieDie fremde Frau
2004
Helen Berg
movieHamlet_X
2003
Gertrude
movieVerrückt nach Paris
2002
Frau Hermann
movieThe Bunny Guards vs. the Forces of Evil
2002
Frau Schmächtig
movieGebürtig
2002
Else Sachs
Das Duo
2002
Anna Mundorf
movieDas Monstrum
2001
Helene
tvVera Brühne
2001
Vera Brühne
Stunde des Wolfs
2000
Gisela Grosche
movieThe Green Desert
1999
Krankenschwester
movieThe Devil and Ms. D
1999
Cora Dulz
movieSolo for Clarinet
1998
Anna Weller
tvDer letzte Zeuge
1998
Malia Reh
movieKnockin' on Heaven's Door
1997
Ward B Nurse
Des Teufels General
1997
Fliegergeneral Harras
movieGefährliche Freundin
1996
Bibi Bratseth
movieGates of Fire
1996
Stromberg
movieIrren ist männlich
1996
Bettina
movieSexy Sadie
1996
Lucy / Sadie
5 Stunden Angst – Geiselnahme im Kindergarten
1996
Viviane Sperling
tvKulturzeit
1995
self
movieThe Promise
1995
Sophie II
movieStockholm Marathon
1994
Monica Lundin
movieCharlie & Louise - Das doppelte Lottchen
1994
Sabine Kröger
tvÄrzte
1994
Vera Haeusler
tvBella Block
1993
Bianca Kling
Goldstaub
1993
Kerstin
movieDie Spur des Bernsteinzimmers
1992
Lisa Mohrbrink
tvUnser Lehrer Doktor Specht
1992
Dr. Lilo von Barnim
movieThea und Nat
1992
Thea Friedberg
movieZwischen Pankow und Zehlendorf
1991
Isolde Wünsche
movieReunion in Travers
1989
Therese Forster
moviePestalozzi's Mountain
1989
Juliette Benoit
movieThe Actress
1988
Maria Rheine
movieFallada: The Last Chapter
1988
Else-Marie Bukonje
movieYasemin
1988
Frau Rathjens
movieWengler & Sons
1987
Jenny Weinhold
movieDer kleine Staatsanwalt
1987
Frau Meffert
movieThe House on the River
1986
Emmi Voß
movieVerlobung in Hullerbusch
1979
Schwester Erika
tvPolizeiruf 110
1971
Sonja
tvScene of the Crime
1970
Dr. Lore Ewers / Anna Cordes / Valerie / Conny Seegmeister / Sabine Korsack / Martha Kandis / Susanne Bonard / Barbara
movieBrennende Themen
Ms. Platek