Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1962-10-16
- Born Place: Eisenfeld, Germany
Maria Happel
Maria Happel, born on October 16, 1962, in Elsenfeld, Spessart, Germany, is a highly distinguished German actress, director, and author, particularly renowned for her work on the stage in Austria. After completing her acting training in Hamburg, she held engagements in Cologne, Hanover, and Bremen before becoming a prominent member of the prestigious Burgtheater ensemble in Vienna, where she was initially engaged from 1991 to 1999 and then returned in the 2002/03 season. She also spent time at the Berliner Ensemble from 2000 to 2002. Beyond her extensive stage career, which earned her the title of Kammerschauspielerin in 2016, she has appeared in numerous film and television productions, including a continuous role in the popular crime series SOKO Donau/Wien (known in some regions as SOKO Wien), and a part in the 2024 film Chantal in Fairyland. She has also received significant accolades, including the Kainz Medal (1999), the Nestroy Theatre Award for Best Female Actor (2003), and the ORF's Female Actor of the Year in the Audio Drama category (2005). In addition to her acting work, Happel served as the director of the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna from May 2020 to June 2023 and has been the artistic director of the Reichenau Festival since summer 2021.
