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Eva Mattes
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Eva Mattes (German: [ˈeː.fa ˈma.təs] ⓘ; born 14 December 1954) is a German-Austrian actress. She has appeared in four films directed by director Rainer Werner Fassbinder (The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, Jail Bait, Effi Briest and In a Year of 13 Moons). In A Man Like E.V.A. (1984), she played a bearded film director, based on the recently deceased Fassbinder.
Key Information
She has also appeared in two films of Werner Herzog, with whom she was in a relationship. Mattes also appeared in Germany, Pale Mother, and in Enemy at the Gates as the mother of Sasha Filippov. On television, she has played Klara Blum in the police procedural series Tatort.
Mattes lives in Berlin with Austrian artist Wolfgang Georgsdorf and two children.
Awards
[edit]- 1981 Bavarian Film Awards, Best Actress[1]
- 1979 Cannes Film Festival, Jury's Special Grand Prix[2]
Selected filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | o.k. | Phan Ti Mao | Michael Verhoeven | |
| Mathias Kneissl | Katharina Kneissl | Reinhard Hauff | ||
| 1972 | The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant | Gabriele von Kant | Rainer Werner Fassbinder | |
| 1972 | Jail Bait | Hanni | Rainer Werner Fassbinder | TV film |
| Desaster | Rosi | Reinhard Hauff | TV film | |
| 1974 | Supermarket | Monika | Roland Klick | |
| Effi Briest | Hulda | Rainer Werner Fassbinder | ||
| 1976 | Naked Massacre | Catherine | Denis Héroux | |
| 1977 | Stroszek | Eva | Werner Herzog | |
| 1978 | In a Year of 13 Moons | Marie-Ann Weishaupt | Rainer Werner Fassbinder | |
| 1979 | David | Toni | Peter Lilienthal | |
| Union der festen Hand | Paula Griguszies | Claus Peter Witt | TV film | |
| Woyzeck | Marie | Werner Herzog | ||
| 1980 | Germany, Pale Mother | Lene | Helma Sanders-Brahms | |
| Céleste | Céleste Albaret | Percy Adlon | ||
| 1984 | A Man Like E.V.A. | E.V.A. (based on Rainer Werner Fassbinder) | Radu Gabrea | |
| 1986 | Now or Never | Mo | Christel Buschmann | |
| 1988 | Felix | Eva | Margarethe von Trotta | Anthology film. Segment "Eva" |
| 1993 | The Movie Teller | Marga Fritsche | Bernhard Sinkel | |
| 1997 | The Cry of Love | Simone Behrend | Matti Geschonneck | TV film |
| 1998 | Widows – Erst die Ehe, dann das Vergnügen | Molly Dollinger | Sherry Hormann | |
| 2001 | Enemy at the Gates | Mother Filippova | Jean-Jacques Annaud | |
| Goebbels und Geduldig | Magda Goebbels | Kai Wessel | TV film | |
| 2002–15 | Tatort | Hauptkommissarin Klara Blum | TV series (28 episodes) | |
| 2014 | Fever | Franziska | Elfi Mikesch |
References
[edit]- ^ "Bayerischer Filmpreis - "Pierrot"" (PDF). Bayerische Staatsregierung. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
- ^ "Awards 1979". Festival de Cannes. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
External links
[edit]Eva Mattes
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family background
Eva Mattes was born on 14 December 1954 in Tegernsee, Bavaria, West Germany (now Germany).[8][3] She is the daughter of Austrian composer and conductor Willy Mattes (1916–2002) and Hungarian-born actress and dancer Margit Symo (1913–1992).[9][10][11] Mattes grew up in a creative household shaped by her parents' professions in music and the performing arts, which immersed her in the world of entertainment from an early age. Her parents divorced during her childhood, an event she later reflected on without expressing regret over the separation from her father.[12][8]Entry into acting
Eva Mattes began her acting career without any formal training, relying instead on practical experience and her family's artistic influences. Growing up in Munich as the daughter of actress Margit Symo and composer Willy Mattes, she developed an early interest in performance, starting with dubbing work for children's television series in the mid-1960s, including voicing the lead in the German version of Lassie. At age 12, in 1966, she made her stage debut, joining local theater productions in Munich where she honed her skills through hands-on involvement in various groups.[1][13][8] By her mid-teens, Mattes transitioned to on-screen roles, appearing uncredited in the 1965 film Dr. med. Hiob Prätorius at age 10. Her early professional contacts included the controversial role of Phan Ti Mao in Michael Verhoeven's o.k. (1970), which premiered at the Berlinale and sparked uproar for its depiction of war atrocities.[14][8] Though she continued dubbing work, including for Pippi Longstocking (1969) where she also performed the theme song, her on-screen breakthrough came later with theater and film projects. In the late 1960s, she established initial professional contacts through experimental theater and film projects in Munich's burgeoning cultural scene, learning the craft amid informal ensembles rather than structured education. Her lack of formal drama school attendance allowed for a raw, intuitive approach that characterized her early work.[12][15][8] Around 1970, at age 16, Mattes immersed herself in Munich's avant-garde circles, joining Rainer Werner Fassbinder's antiteater collective, which exposed her to innovative stage and film experiments. This period marked her shift from child performer to emerging professional, as she collaborated on boundary-pushing productions that blended theater and cinema.[16][8]Career
Breakthrough in New German Cinema
Eva Mattes emerged as a key figure in the New German Cinema movement of the 1970s, a cinematic wave led by innovative directors who critiqued post-war German society through auteur-driven narratives influenced by international art cinema.[17] Her rapid ascent began without formal training, positioning her as a versatile performer in films that explored themes of alienation, gender dynamics, and social marginalization. Collaborations with Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Werner Herzog in particular highlighted her ability to embody complex, often vulnerable characters, establishing her as a muse for these provocative filmmakers.[2] Mattes' breakthrough came at age 17 with her debut collaboration with Fassbinder in The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972), where she portrayed Gabriele von Kant, the detached daughter of the protagonist in this intimate drama of obsession and power imbalances among women.[18] She continued working with Fassbinder in three more films that decade, including Jail Bait (1973), in which she played Hanni, a rebellious underage girl entangled in a taboo relationship that underscores generational conflict and societal hypocrisy.[16] Her roles extended to the period adaptation Effi Briest (1974), a meticulous reimagining of Theodor Fontane's novel about a woman's stifled existence in 19th-century Prussia, and In a Year with 13 Moons (1978), where she contributed to the film's raw examination of identity and loss following the protagonist's gender transition.[16] Mattes also partnered with Herzog, embodying resilient yet tragic figures in his visceral portrayals of human desperation. In Stroszek (1977), she played Eva, a beleaguered prostitute escaping abuse in Berlin alongside the protagonist's ill-fated American dream, capturing the quiet despair of displacement.[19] Her performance as Marie in Woyzeck (1979), the unfaithful wife in Herzog's stark adaptation of Georg Büchner's play, drew critical acclaim for its emotional depth amid the soldier's descent into madness and violence.[20] Earlier in the decade, Mattes appeared in other defining New German Cinema works, such as Michael Verhoeven's controversial O.K. (1970), where she took on the harrowing role of a Vietnamese girl victimized in a transposed Vietnam War allegory set in Bavaria, sparking debate on war's atrocities.[21] She followed this with Mathias Kneissl (1971), directed by Reinhard Hauff, portraying Katharina Kneissl in a folkloric tale of a Bavarian outlaw resisting authority, further cementing her presence among the movement's emerging talents.[22] Through these roles, Mattes became synonymous with the era's bold experimentation, serving as a vital interpreter of its introspective and politically charged visions.[23]Television roles
Eva Mattes made her early television appearances in the 1980s through several German TV productions, including the documentary-style TV movie Eva Mattes: Fragen an die Mutter (1980), where she appeared as herself discussing her career and family.[24] She also portrayed Franziska von Hohenheim in the historical TV series Schubart und Franziska von Hohenheim (1982) and played a character named Eva, a actress, in the TV film Liebe Melanie (1983).[25] These roles built on her reputation from 1970s films in New German Cinema, allowing her to transition into broadcast television.[1] Mattes achieved widespread recognition on German television with her lead role as the no-nonsense forensic pathologist and chief inspector Klara Blum in the long-running crime series Tatort, specifically the Konstanz/Bodensee team episodes.[16] She portrayed Blum from 2002 to 2016 across 31 episodes, often partnering with Sebastian Bezzel as her colleague Kai Perlmann, investigating complex murders around Lake Constance with a focus on psychological depth and regional authenticity.[26] The character's departure was announced in 2014, with the final episode airing in December 2016, marking the end of the Konstanz team after over 14 years.[27] In addition to Tatort, Mattes starred in other notable TV projects, including the family drama series Lena Lorenz (2015–), where she played Eva Lorenz, the supportive mother of the titular midwife navigating rural Bavarian life and personal challenges, with episodes continuing into 2025.[28] Her portrayal of Klara Blum significantly impacted German TV culture, introducing a strong, unconventional female investigator that resonated with audiences and elevated Tatort's Bodensee episodes to cult status, reaching millions weekly and solidifying Mattes as a household name in serialized drama.[1] The role's popularity stemmed from Blum's blend of professional rigor and personal vulnerability, influencing perceptions of women in law enforcement on screen.[16]Theater performances
Eva Mattes began her stage career in 1966 at the age of twelve with her debut in the thriller Warte bis es dunkel ist by Frederick Knott at the Tribüne in Munich, where she portrayed Gloria under director Goldbaum.[29] That same year, she appeared as Jacky in Dr. med. Hiob Prätorius at the Kleine Komödie in Munich, directed by K.H. Schroth.[29] These early performances marked her entry into experimental theater scenes in Munich during the late 1960s, influenced by the avant-garde movements of the era, and she later extended this work to Berlin in the 1970s, including a role as Frau Elvstedt in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler at the Freie Volksbühne in 1973, directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.[30][1] Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Mattes established herself at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus in Hamburg, collaborating with prominent directors such as Peter Zadek and Wilfried Minks on both classical and contemporary productions.[31] Notable roles included Maria Stuart in Schiller's Maria Stuart (1989, directed by Michael Bogdanov), Rosalind in Shakespeare's As You Like It (1986, directed by Zadek), and the title character in Kleist's Penthesilea (1986, directed by Gerhard Kaminsky), showcasing her command of dramatic intensity in historical and tragic works.[31] She also took on contemporary pieces, such as the teacher in Andi (1987, directed by Zadek) and Joanne in Verlorene Zeit (1987, directed by Zadek), blending innovative interpretations with established repertoire at venues like the Burgtheater in Vienna, where she played Portia in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice from 1988 to 1995.[31] Mattes demonstrated versatility across genres, performing in musicals and operettas as well as straight dramas; for instance, she embodied Lola Lola and Wirtin Guste in the musical adaptation of The Blue Angel (1992) at the Theater des Westens in Berlin, directed by Zadek and Jerome Savary, and appeared as Cousine in Offenbach's La Périchole (1976) at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus, directed by Savary.[32][30] Following a period focused on television after 2002, she returned to the stage post-2016, notably in Hamburg productions.[1] In 2020, she performed in Anton Chekhov's Ivanov at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus, directed by Karin Beier in an adaptation by Beier and Rita Thiele, contributing to the ensemble in this exploration of existential crisis.[33][34] Over her career since 1966, Mattes has amassed approximately 200 stage appearances, spanning experimental beginnings to acclaimed interpretations of diverse theatrical forms.[3]Recent projects
Following her departure from the long-running role of Klara Blum in Tatort in 2016, Eva Mattes has maintained a diverse portfolio of screen and stage work, emphasizing character-driven dramas and occasional forays into animation and music.[35] In 2020, Mattes portrayed Brigitte Mira, the veteran actress known for her collaborations with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, in Oskar Roehler's biographical drama Enfant Terrible. The film chronicles Fassbinder's tumultuous rise and personal excesses in 1970s West Germany, with Mattes' performance evoking Mira's real-life poise amid the director's chaotic world, thereby linking back to Mattes' own early career ties to Fassbinder's New German Cinema.[36][37] Mattes returned to television in supporting capacities during the early 2020s, including a guest appearance as the steadfast family matriarch Liesl Mooshammer in the 2023 crime comedy Rehragout-Rendezvous, the ninth installment in the Eberhofer series directed by Ed Herzog. In this lighthearted Bavarian whodunit, her character navigates domestic upheaval and village intrigue, providing comic relief amid a murder investigation.[38] She continued with a key supporting role as Petra, a family member grappling with long-buried secrets, in the 2024 TV drama Ungeschminkt (also known as Josefa's Return), directed by Dirk Kummer. The story follows a woman's return to her rural Austrian roots after decades away, exploring themes of identity, reconciliation, and generational trauma through intimate ensemble dynamics.[39][40] Mattes has also lent her distinctive voice to animation, notably as a narrator in the 2016 Netflix adaptation Revolting Rhymes, a stylized retelling of Roald Dahl's twisted fairy tales directed by Philip Hunt and Jakob Schuh, where she contributed to the film's wry, adult-oriented tone alongside international talent like Gemma Arterton and Dominic West. While specific additional animation projects in the 2020s remain limited in her credits, her vocal work underscores her versatility in multimedia storytelling.[41] On the musical front, Mattes released her debut album Language of Love in 2006, a collection of English-language standards that showcased her cabaret-style delivery and marked her pivot toward chanson performance. This singing endeavor has extended into the 2020s through integrated theater pieces, such as collaborative literary-musical events blending readings with song.[42][43] As of November 2025, Mattes sustains her presence in Berlin-centric productions, including the 2024 documentary film Krieg oder Frieden and stage engagements. Notable recent work includes the November 2025 performance of Hommage an Elena Ferrante at Vienna's Theater Akzent, a musical-literary adaptation co-performed with singer Etta Scollo, reflecting her continued exploration of narrative and melody in intimate venues.[35][44]Personal life
Relationships
Eva Mattes had a romantic relationship with filmmaker Werner Herzog in the 1970s, which lasted approximately three to four years and resulted in the birth of their daughter, Hanna, in 1980. The couple never lived together, and their partnership remained largely private, though it fostered close personal ties that influenced Mattes' early career choices.[45][46] From the mid-1980s until 2024, Mattes was in a long-term partnership with Austrian artist Wolfgang Georgsdorf, spanning over 30 years; they resided together in Berlin after he relocated from Vienna in 1991 following an initial four-year long-distance phase. This relationship, which produced a son, Josef, in 1989, intertwined personal life with creative influences, as Georgsdorf's work in olfactory art occasionally overlapped with Mattes' artistic circles. The partnership ended amicably amid personal challenges, with Mattes later reflecting on the emotional toll of the separation. Following the end of her partnership with Georgsdorf in 2024, Mattes has been single as of 2025.[47][48][46] Throughout her life, Mattes has maintained a deliberate emphasis on privacy regarding her romantic partnerships, rarely sharing details beyond what directly pertains to her family or professional intersections, a stance she shares with former partner Herzog. She has described herself as someone who flirts openly but guards deeper personal matters from public scrutiny.[45][49]Children and legacy
Eva Mattes has two children: a daughter, Hanna Mattes, born in 1980 from her relationship with director Werner Herzog, and a son, Josef Mattes, born in 1989.[50][51] Hanna Mattes has pursued an artistic career as a photographer and performer, with her work featured in exhibitions such as "Take Me To That Landscape" at Printed Matter New York Art Book Fair and a collaborative show "Indien" with her mother at Belmacz gallery in 2025.[52][53] Josef Mattes has followed a path in acting, appearing in films and television series including Die Helden aus der Nachbarschaft (2008) and Krimi.de (2005).[54][55] As of 2025, Mattes resides in Berlin-Kreuzberg and increasingly spends time at her house with a garden in Brandenburg, where she shares the space with her daughter Hanna, maintaining close family ties that support her ongoing professional commitments.[56] As a prominent figure in New German Cinema, Mattes' portrayals of resilient and multifaceted women, notably as Lene in Helma Sanders-Brahms' Germany Pale Mother (1980), have cemented her legacy as an influential actress who advanced representations of female experiences during and after World War II, inspiring later generations of German performers.[23][2]Awards and honors
Film awards
Eva Mattes has garnered significant recognition for her film roles, especially in the New German Cinema era, with awards highlighting her versatile portrayals in works by directors Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Werner Herzog. Her breakthrough supporting performance earned her the inaugural German Film Award (Deutscher Filmpreis, also known as the Filmband in Gold) for Best Performance by a Young Actress in 1971, for her role in Michael Verhoeven's O.K.. This honor marked her as a rising talent in German cinema.[7] In 1973, Mattes won the German Film Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for her depiction of Marlene in Fassbinder's The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, praised for its emotional depth and subtlety in ensemble dynamics. She received a nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role at the 1978 German Film Awards for her portrayal of Eva in Herzog's Stroszek, a tragicomic exploration of displacement and the American Dream. These nominations and wins underscored her ability to anchor intense, character-driven narratives.[57][5] Mattes achieved international acclaim with the Best Actress in a Supporting Role award at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival for her role as Marie in Herzog's Woyzeck, where her nuanced performance as a resilient yet vulnerable partner contributed to the film's nomination for the Palme d'Or. In 1981, she was honored with the Bavarian Film Award for Best Actress for embodying Céleste Albaret in Percy Adlon's Céleste, a biographical drama capturing the quiet devotion of Marcel Proust's housekeeper. Additionally, she received the Best Actress award at the 1983 Munich Film Festival for her leading role as Lene in Helma Sanders-Brahms' Germany, Pale Mother, a poignant examination of a woman's endurance through World War II and its aftermath. These accolades reflect her enduring impact on German and European cinema.[58][59]| Year | Award | Category | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | German Film Award (Filmband in Gold) | Best Performance by a Young Actress | O.K. | Michael Verhoeven |
| 1973 | German Film Award (Filmband in Gold) | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role | The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant | Rainer Werner Fassbinder |
| 1978 | German Film Award (Filmband in Gold) | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (nomination) | Stroszek | Werner Herzog |
| 1979 | Cannes Film Festival | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Woyzeck | Werner Herzog |
| 1981 | Bavarian Film Award | Best Actress | Céleste | Percy Adlon |
| 1983 | Munich Film Festival | Best Actress | Germany, Pale Mother | Helma Sanders-Brahms |