Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1974-04-14
- Born Place: West Berlin, West Germany
Also Known As:
Laura Maori Tonke
Laura Tonke
Born on April 14, 1974, in West Berlin, Laura Tonke is one of Germany’s most respected and versatile actresses, known for her ability to navigate seamlessly between high-concept art-house films, mainstream comedies, and intense television dramas. She made her cinematic debut at age 17 in Michael Klier’s Ostkreuz (1991) and quickly established herself as a major talent, winning the Lilli Palmer Memorial Camera in 2000. Her career reached a significant milestone in 2016 when she made history by winning two German Film Awards (Lolas) in a single year: Best Actress for the comedy Hedi Schneider Is Stuck and Best Supporting Actress for the legal thriller The People vs. Fritz Bauer. Tonke is celebrated for her "brittle" yet vulnerable screen presence, often portraying complex women facing existential crises, such as her role as a struggling mother in the 2019 hit System Crasher or her comedic turns in the improvisational series Kranitz – Bei Trennung Geld zurück. In the 2025–2026 season, Tonke has enjoyed a prolific period of critical and commercial success. She delivered a powerhouse performance as Hille Hagener in Fatih Akin’s historical drama Amrum (2025), playing a fervent Nazi supporter whose mental collapse during the final days of WWII drives the film's central quest. This role earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the 47th Bavarian Film Awards, scheduled for January 2026. Simultaneously, she starred in the family drama 22 Bahnen (22 Lengths) and the adventure comedy Der Prank, while continuing her work in television with the sci-fi drama Jupiter and the series Sexuell Verfügbar.
Person History
Amrum 2025
2025