# Veronica Ferres

Veronica Maria Cäcilia Ferres (German pronunciation: ; born 10 June 1965) is a German actress. Her 2007 portrayal of Sara Bender in Die Frau vom Checkpoint Charlie, based on the true story of Jutta Fleck, earned her the award for Best Actress at the Deutscher Fernsehpreis (German Television Awards).

## Early life

Ferres was born in Solingen. She grew up as the youngest child and only daughter of Peter Ferres, a coal and potato merchant, and his wife Katharina.
She completed her Abitur at the Gymnasium Schwertstraße in Solingen, and then completed a German, theatre studies and psychology degree at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.

## Career

In Germany, Ferres's breakthrough came with the title role in the 1996 comedy film The Superwife, followed by starring roles in films such as the Schtonk!, Rossini [de], Klimt (alongside John Malkovich) and Saviors in the Night, making her a household name in Germany. Her TV productions include The Manns, Destined to Witness [de], The Woman from Checkpoint Charlie [simple], The Miracle of Berlin [de], Marco W. – 247 Days in a Turkish Prison [de], and She Deserved It [de], among others.
Her awards include the Grimme-Preis, the German Television Award, the Bavarian TV Award, the Golden Camera Award, and the Bambi Award. She played the female lead in Jedermann (Everyman), the traditional opening play of the Salzburg Festival, considered the highest honor in German stagecraft.
In 2013, Ferres shot the international feature Hector and the Search for Happiness with Simon Pegg and Jean Reno, and played the main role in the feature film Casanova Variations, again with John Malkovich. Her 13th international production, The Devil's Violinist, was released theatrically in late 2013. In 2015, she starred opposite Nicolas Cage in the thriller Pay the Ghost, directed by Uli Edel. In 2016, she had the leading role in Werner Herzog's film Salt and Fire, co-starring Michael Shannon and Gael García Bernal. Ferres also co-starred in The Comedian, her 17th English feature film, along with Robert De Niro, Leslie Mann, and Danny DeVito. She was able to display her comedic talent in the cinema comedies “DER NANNY” written and starring by Matthias Schweighöfer, “UNTER DEUTSCHEN BETTEN” and an episode of the hit series “JERKS”, among others.
The ARD feature film “MEISTER DES TODES” by Daniel Harrich even gathered political attention. The film, based on Harrich’s journalistic research into illegal arms exports, prompted several investigations against arms manufacturers in Germany. The second part “MEISTER DES TODES 2” followed in 2020. The short film “MALOU” by director Adi Wojaczek and producer Patrick Mölleken, premiered at the 23rd L.A. Shorts International Film Festival in Los Angeles. At the 22nd Manhattan Short Film Festival, it was on the Academy Award shortlist for 2020. In 2019 her filmography included “CRISIS” with Gary Oldman and Luke Evans, the mystery thriller “THE DARKER THE LAKE” directed by Lok Kwan Woo and the romantic comedy “LOVE, WEDDINGS AND OTHER DISASTER” starring Diane Keaton and Jeremy Irons. Furthermore, she appeared in “BEST SELLERS” with Michael Caine and in “EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE” with Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, and Sam Claflin. In 2020, she starred in the thriller “ZERO CONTACT” alongside Anthony Hopkins. In 2021, she shot “PARADIES HIGHWAY” with Juliette Binoche and Morgan Freeman, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival.
In 2022 she starred in the action thriller “THE BRICKLAYER” alongside Aaron Eckhart and Nina Dobrev. Furthermore, Veronica played a leading role in the popular German television series “TATORT” in the episode “Königinnen” directed by Rudi Gaul.
The same year, she played in the new film adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s original Marvel comic “RED SONJA”, directed by M.J. Bassett the mother of Red Sonja as well as the Goddess Ashera alongside Mathila Lutz, Wallis Day and Robert Sheehan. Just recently she finished the english language streaming series “EL TURCO” in Budapest.
In 2023, Veronica Ferres is filming the American feature film “UNHOLY TRINITY” directed by Richard Gray in Montana. She plays the female lead alongside Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson.
She is also starring in the ZDFneo horror series “HAMELN”, which is based on the legend of the Pied Piper of Hameln, and the ZDF comedy series “ANDERE ELTERN”, directed by Lutz Heineking, jr.
Ferres founded her own production-company, Construction Film GmbH, in 2013.

## Personal life

Ferres was in a relationship with Helmut Dietl from 1990 to 1999. They collaborated on movies like Schtonk! (1991), Rossini [de] (1997), Late Show [de] (1999) and many others. In February 2000, they announced their separation. She has one daughter, Lilly Krug, with her ex-husband Martin Krug. The marriage lasted from 2001 until their divorce in 2010. In 2014, Ferres married Carsten Maschmeyer.

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1983–1984 | Büro, Büro | Kantinenwirtin Vroni | TV series |
| 1985 | Tatort: Schicki-Micki [de] | Party guest (uncredited) | |
| 1989 | Tatort: Blutspur [de] | Helma (uncredited) | |
| 1989 | Pyjama für Drei | | TV series |
| 1990 | So wie wir sind | | |
| 1991 | Der Castillo Coup | Debby | |
| 1992 | Die zweite Heimat (Leaving Home) | Dorli | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Der Bergdoktor: Der Fiedel-Joscha | Annemarie | |
| 1993-1996 | Unser Lehrer Doktor Specht | Anita Kufalt | 29 episodes |
| 1993 | Ein Bayer auf Rügen | Anni | 13 episodes |
| 1993 | Tatort: Alles Palermo [de] | Maria Zell | |
| 1993 | Das Sahara-Projekt [de] | Julia Dahlhaus | TV miniseries |
| 1994 | Peter und Paul | Dr. Ida Hundhammer | 5 episodes |
| 1994 | Die skandalösen Frauen | | |
| 1994 | Inspector Rex: Ein perfekter Mord | Gerda Felsner | |
| 1994 | Dr. Schwarz und Dr. Martin: Rosenkavaliere | Elisabeth | TV series Ärzte [de] |
| 1994 | Tatort: … und die Musi spielt dazu [de] | Nele Hinrichs | |
| 1995 | Fatale Mutterliebe | Ingrid | |
| 1995 | Tonino und Toinette | | |
| 1996 | Der Bulle von Tölz: Unter Freunden | Elfriede Seidl | |
| 1996 | Catherine the Great | Vorontsova | |
| 1997 | Kowalsky | Veronika Jansen | 5 episodes |
| 1997 | Die Chaos-Queen | Luise Schumann | |
| 1997 | Doktor Knock | Dr. Kai Richardi | Based on Knock |
| 1998 | Eine ungehorsame Frau | Marlene | |
| 1999 | Jack's Baby | Jacqueline | |
| 2000 | Les Misérables | Madame Thénardier | TV miniseries |
| 2000 | Sans famille [fr] | Johanna von Strauberg | |
| 2001 | Die Manns – Ein Jahrhundertroman | Nelly Mann | TV miniseries |
| 2002 | Bobby [de] | Rosi Huber | |
| 2003 | Für immer verloren | Sabine Winter | |
| 2003 | Annas Heimkehr [de] | Anna Schweighofer | |
| 2004 | Stärker als der Tod | Lena Koch | |
| 2004 | Die Rückkehr des Tanzlehrers [de] | Veronica Molin | Based on The Return of the Dancing Master |
| 2004 | Sterne leuchten auch am Tag | Iris Hermann | |
| 2005 | Under the Dark Sun of Africa [fr] | Catherine Coburn | |
| 2006 | Destined to Witness [de] | Bertha Baetz | Based on Destined to Witness |
| 2007 | Mein alter Freund Fritz [de] | Lydia Seidel | |
| 2007 | End of the Ice Age | Lena Jörning | |
| 2007 | Die Frau vom Checkpoint Charlie [simple] | Sara Bender | |
| 2008 | The Miracle of Berlin [de] | Hanna Kaiser | |
| 2008 | Die Patin – Kein Weg zurück [de] | Katharina Almeda | TV miniseries |
| 2010 | Das Geheimnis der Wale | Anna Waldmann | |
| 2010 | She Deserved It [de] | Nora Wagner | |
| 2010 | Rosannas Tochter | Nela | |
| 2010 | Das blaue Licht [de] | Witch | Based on The Blue Light |
| 2011 | Marco W. – 247 Tage im türkischen Gefängnis [de] | Martina Weiss | |
| 2011 | My Own Flesh and Blood [de] | Franziska | |
| 2012 | The Long Wave After the Keel [de] | Sylva Burian | |
| 2012 | Tsunami – Das Leben danach | Billi Cramer | |
| 2012–2016 | Lena Fauch | Lena Fauch | 4 episodes |
| 2012 | Little Lady [de] | Dolores Hobbs | Based on Little Lord Fauntleroy |
| 2013 | Mein Mann, ein Mörder [de] | Minette Frei | |
| 2013 | The Hong Kong Affair | Victoria Philips | |
| 2014 | Das Glück der Anderen | Ellen König | |
| 2014 | Die Staatsaffäre | Chancellor Anna Bremer | |
| 2015 | Master of Death [de] | Sabine Stengele | |
| 2018 | Im Wald – Ein Taunuskrimi [de] | Inka Hansen | TV series Der Taunuskrimi [de] |
| 2018 | Liebe auf den ersten Trick | Annabel | |
| 2018 | Unzertrennlich nach Verona | Ulla Biggemann | |
| 2019 | Berlin Station: Book of the Fallen | Suzanne Berg |
| 2019 | Meister des Todes | Daniel Harrich |
| 2022 | Tatort: Königinnen | Rudi Gaul |
| 2022-2023 | EL TURCO | Uluç Bayraktar |
| 2023 | Hameln | Rainer Matsutani |
| 2023 | Andere Eltern | Lutz Heineking Jr. |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Language | Director | Notes |
| 1985 | Der Unsichtbare | Schaffnerin (uncredited) | German | Ulf Miehe | |
| 1988 | The Vulture Wally [de] | Magd | German | Walter Bockmayer | |
| 1991 | Babylon | Apothekerin | German | Ralf Huettner [de] | |
| 1992 | Schtonk! | Martha | German | Helmut Dietl | |
| 1992 | The Parrot [de] | Helga | German | Ralf Huettner [de] | |
| 1994 | Voll normaaal [de] | Carmen Krause | German | Ralf Huettner [de] | |
| 1996 | The Superwife | Franziska Herr-Gross | German | Sönke Wortmann | |
| 1996 | Honigmond [de] | Barbara | German | Gabriel Barylli | |
| 1997 | Rossini [de] | Schneewittchen | German | Helmut Dietl | |
| 1999 | Late Show [de] | Maria Keller | German | Helmut Dietl | |
| 1999 | Die Braut [de] | Christiane Vulpius | German | Egon Günther | |
| 1999 | Ladies Room | Lauren | English | Gabriella Cristiani | |
| 2006 | Wild Chicks [de] | Sibylle | German | Vivian Naefe | Based on the Wild Chicks books |
| 2006 | Bye Bye Harry! | Sophie | English | Robert Young | |
| 2006 | Klimt | "Midi" (Emilie Flöge) | English | Raúl Ruiz | |
| 2007 | Wild Chicks in Love [de] | Sibylle | German | Vivian Naefe | Based on the Wild Chicks books |
| 2008 | Adam Resurrected | Frau Fogel | English | Paul Schrader | |
| 2009 | The Wild Chicks and Life [de] | Sibylle | German | Vivian Naefe | Based on the Wild Chicks books |
| 2009 | Saviors in the Night | Marga Spiegel | German | Ludi Boeken | |
| 2010 | Life Is Too Long [de] | Natasha Miesbach-Boronowski | German | Dani Levy | |
| 2013 | Ruby Red | Grace Shepherd | German | Felix Fuchssteiner [de] | Based on the Ruby Red Trilogy |
| 2013 | King Ordinary [de] | Sabine Müller | German | David Dietl [de] | |
| 2013 | The Devil's Violinist | Elizabeth Wells | English | Bernard Rose | |
| 2014 | Sapphire Blue [de] | Grace Shepherd | German | Felix Fuchssteiner [de], Katharina Schöde [de] | Based on the Ruby Red Trilogy |
| 2014 | Hector and the Search for Happiness | Anjali | English | Peter Chelsom | |
| 2014 | Casanova Variations | Elisa | English | Michael Sturminger [de] | |
| 2015 | The Manny | Ilona | German | Matthias Schweighöfer | Cameo |
| 2015 | Pay the Ghost | Hannah | English | Uli Edel | |
| 2016 | Short Term Memory Loss (a.k.a. Tod auf Raten) | Annett Gräber | German | Andreas Arnstedt [de] | |
| 2016 | The Comedian | Karola | English | Taylor Hackford | |
| 2016 | Salt and Fire | Dr. Laura Sommerfeld | English | Werner Herzog | |
| 2017 | Unter deutschen Betten [de] | Linda Lehmann | German | Jan Fehse [de] | |
| 2018 | Siberia | Raisa | English | Matthew Ross | |
| 2018 | Intrigo: Death of an Author | Kerr | English | Daniel Alfredson | |
| 2018 | Head Full of Honey | Woman on the train | English | Til Schweiger | Cameo |
| 2019 | Berlin, I Love You | Else Speck | English | Anthology film by 11 directors | |
| 2019 | Malou | Regina Vollmer | German | Adi Wojaczek | |
| 2020 | Love, Weddings & Other Disasters | Bev | English | Dennis Dugan | |
| 2021 | Crisis | Meg Holmes | English | Nicholas Jarecki | |
| 2021 | Every Breath You Take | Dr. Vanessa Fanning | English | Vaughn Stein | Also producer |
| 2021 | The Unforgivable | — | English | Nora Fingscheidt | Producer |
| 2021 | Best Sellers | Drew Davis | English | Lina Roessler | |
| 2022 | Paradise Highway | Rose | English | Anna Gutto | |
| 2024 | The Bricklayer | Greta Becker | English | Renny Harlin | |
| 2024 | The Unholy Trinity | Sarah | English | Richard Gray | |
| 2025 | Red Sonja | Ashera and Mother of Red Sonja | English | M. J. Bassett | Post-production |

## Awards

* 2024: Bavarian Film Award, Honorary Award of the Bavarian Minister President
* 2021: Inspiring Youth Award, TV Series Festival in Berlin for national and international movie success
* 2020: Kitzbühel Filmfestival, Honorary award
* 2019: Bavarian Europe Medal, award for special services to the Free State of Bavaria in Europe and the world
* 2018: ST. George Order for artistic achievements and charitable commitment
* 2017: 10th Maler Media Prize for Human Rights, awarded by Amnesty International for the film Master of Death
* 2013: Hadassah-Award "Citizen of the World" for longstanding engagement for Hadassah
* 2013: Cinema for Peace Award against anti-Semitism and hatred of foreigners
* 2013: Oldenburg Film Festival - Star of Excellence - Walk of Fame
* 2011: Boston Jewish Film Festival - Saviors in the Night - Winner of Audience Award
* 2011: Premio Bacco
* 2010: SIGNIS Award at the International Film Festival DC in Washington for Saviors in the Night
* 2009: Steiger Award in the category Film
* 2008: Jupiter in the category Best TV-production for Die Frau vom Checkpoint Charlie
* 2008: Deutscher Fernsehpreis in the category Best actress for Die Frau vom Checkpoint Charlie
* 2007: "Hans-Rosenthal-Ehrenpreis" for her encouragement for her charity project "Power-Child"
* 2007: Book of the Month - The book No, I don't go with strangers! was chosen as "Book of the month" of March 2007 by the "Deutsche Akademie für Kinder-und Jugendliteratur e.V."
* 2007: "Bad Iburger" Children's Literary PrizeE for her book No, I don't go with strangers!
* 2006: "Bavarian Merit Award" for her extraordinary achievements and dedication for Bavaria
* 2006: "Goldene Feder" Award, best actress
* 2005: Best Actress Award "Bambi" in Germany for her excellent career in movies, on television and on stage
* 2005: "DIVA - HALL OF FAME - German Award"
* 2004: "Bavarian TV Award" for Anna's Return, Forever Lost and Stronger than Death
* 2002: EMMY - Best film/serial for The Manns
* 2002: "Golden Grimme" Award for The Manns
* 2002: "Golden Camera" Award, best actress of feature film and TV movie in Germany
* 2002: "Bavarian TV" Award for The Manns
* 2002: "ROMY" Award, most popular actress in Austria
* 1999: Abruzzo Filmfestival, best actress
* 1999: Best Actress Award for The Bride, 9th International Film-Festival, Pescara, Italy
* 1998: "Golden Camera" Award, best actress of feature film and TV movie in Germany for Rossini
* 1997: SPA Award, Beauty Award
* 1992: Best Actress Award "Bambi" in Germany for Schtonk

## Nominations

* 2009: German Television Award - Best mini-series for The Godmother
* 2008: German Television Award - Best TV-movie for The Woman from Checkpoint Charlie and The Miracle of Berlin
* 2008: Emmy - TV-movie for The Miracle of Berlin
* 2008: Festival in Canada/BANFF - Best foreign language film for The Woman from Checkpoint Charlie
* 2007: German Television Award for best actress in a leading role and best TV-movie Snow in December
* 2007: Goldene Henne Award for best actress
* 2007: Golden Camera Award - Best German TV-movie for Destined to witness
* 2007: Bambi - For the TV-event of the year 2007 for The Woman from Checkpoint Charlie
* 1998: Adolf Grimme Award for her role in The Naughty Woman and in The Chaos Queen
* 1998: Tele Star - Best actress in a movie made for TV – The Naughty Woman
* 1992: Oscar - Best foreign language film for Schtonk (role: Martha)