Actress Iris Berben is celebrating her 70th birthday – even the Federal President has publicly congratulated. What makes it so fascinating?
Iris Berben celebrates her 70th birthday on August 12th. The fascination of the actress, who was born in Detmold, North Rhine-Westphalia, is still unbroken. Why is that? There are certainly many reasons. Among other things, she is mysterious, dignified, creative, courageous and a real person of respect.
The mysterious Berben clan
When it comes to the subject of "mysterious", you quickly reach your family. Two of its members, she and her son Oliver Berben (48), work in the film business and are well known. He has been a board member at Constantin Film AG since 2017. Iris Berben did not open the doors for him, which she is proud of. At a certain stage in his career that would no longer have been possible anyway. "Others saw that in him. Bernd Eichinger (1949-2011, former Constantin boss) told me very early on that Oliver had great potential after seeing him at work," she told spot on news in one Interview.
Berben's "small clan" has also been her partner Heiko Kiesow since 2007, who often accompanies her to red carpet events, but still stays in the background. The same applies to Oliver Berben's wife Katrin and the grandchildren. "My mother is a cool grandma", that was what her son revealed in a gala interview. Oliver Berben's father, on the other hand, never played a role; from the public point of view, he is probably the biggest secret.
The dignified beauty queen
Iris Berben has been an attractive woman since she was in public and the ravages of time have not changed that. It has to do with style, elegance and dignity. For designer Guido Kretschmer (55), she is even the most beautiful star in Germany: "She has a class that you can't learn," he said.
"You definitely can't learn class," she agreed when asked. For style, however, there are style advisors. "I think it's great that this job exists, but it's out of the question for me. I like fashion very much because it's also a piece of culture. Besides, fashion has to do with respect. If there is a dress code at an event, it should I think you dress appropriately out of respect. It's not difficult for me because I enjoy fashion. "
Iris Berben knows what she's talking about and gives simple tips. In the past, "women of a certain age simply disappeared, on the one hand in terms of color, but also because of overly practical clothing and short hairstyles". But practical can also be beautiful. "If you want the hair off your face, you can simply tie a ribbon in it." And when it comes to clothing, too, it is now possible "not to appear particularly youthful or totally trendy, but to dress individually" – regardless of your figure.
It looks different at work. If it is important for the story, it can also be filmed with "very hard light, (…) without make-up and very unattractive". Iris Berben always emphasizes that she has no problem with not being the beauty queen.
Enough courage and creativity for an unexpected career
"I am someone who leaves out nothing in life as much as possible and takes part in it in every way, even where it hurts," she said in another interview with spot on news. This courageous and creative approach to life also fits very well with her career. "They made it far too easy for me in a job that I didn't even know would become my job. As a young girl, I just slipped into it. Seriousness and what the job actually means, I have discovered and worked on it much later. I was just very, very lucky, "she said from today's perspective.
Certainly there have been setbacks from time to time, "but I was always ready to enter new territory and haven't let myself be committed – until today," said the actress, who incidentally doesn't really like castings. And yet the most varied of titles can be found in their impressive filmography.
As a teenager, Iris Berben was the only actress to be seen in the German experimental film "Noch und Nöcher". The film premiered at the International Forum of New Cinema in Berlin in 1965. A real milestone in her career was certainly the comedy trailblazer show "Sketchup", in which she was seen from 1985 to 1986 at the side of cabaret artist and comedian Diether Krebs (1947-2000). The first major series role followed in "Das Erbe der Guldenburgs" (1986-1988). As the first of more than 40 other prizes and awards, it was awarded the Golden Camera in 1987.
As Commissioner "Rosa Roth" she conquered the crime world from 1994 to 2013. Demanding chamber play-like films like "Silberhochzeit" (2006) or "Liebesjahre" (2011) mixed with period films like "Buddenbrooks" (2008), "Krupp – Eine deutsche Familie" (2009) or "Der Wagner-Clan. Eine Familiengeschichte" ( 2014) and international biopics like "Eddie the Eagle – Everything is Possible" (2016) as well as comedies à la "Miss Sixty" (2014) and "The First Name" (2018) … In fact, there has not been a year without a project since 1976 and there is no end in sight.
The great commitment of a respected person
Iris Berben is at least as well known for her roles and style as she is for her social commitment. Many patrons, honorary posts and many of the countless awards are evidence of this. Most recently, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (64) paid tribute to her on Tuesday with a personal birthday greeting on his website. In addition to their enjoyable acting skills, he praised their "great commitment to democracy and tolerance. They take a clear and uncompromising position against any form of anti-Semitism, exclusion, violence and resentment".
In this sense, Iris Berben is a real role model: "With your very personal commitment and your attitude you have become a role model for all those who know about their responsibility to our history, to the victims and also to the survivors. You interfere and show face ", praises Steinmeier. "Today I thank you for all of this." And Iris Berben? For them it is "a matter of course".
Films, programs and shoots around the 70th birthday
There are many Iris Berben films to be seen around her milestone birthday. On August 8th, Bayerischer Rundfunk showed a small themed evening with the films "Silver Wedding" (2006) and "35 Years of Sketchup" – both of which are available in the media library until November. The thriller "Not to get dead" (2020) was broadcast on Monday on ZDF and can also be seen for a while in the corresponding media library. The best-ager drama "My Indian Summer" will be broadcast on Wednesday (August 12th) at 8:15 pm on Erste.
Filming began at the beginning of August for the black-humored TVNOW miniseries "You don't die with friends" with Iris Berben, Alexandra Maria Lara, Adele Neuhauser, Heiner Lauterbach, Walter Sittler etc. And that is by no means the only upcoming film project. Because, as she revealed in interviews, there will be no big party for the 70th birthday, instead it falls into a shooting phase. On the day itself, however, she has a day off – and lets everything happen. "This year is freestyle. I watch what's coming and don't put any pressure on myself," she told the "Teleschau".