Corinna Harfouch
Known for: Acting
Corinna Harfouch (born 16 October 1954) is a German actress. Widely regarded as one of the most important performers in German film and theatre, she is known for her portrayals of complex, often emotionally layered characters across more than four decades on stage and screen. Among her most beloved and unexpected performances is her turn as Rabia in Bibi Blocksberg, in which her scene-stealing energy has since been embraced by audiences as camp and iconic, earning her a cult following and status as an unlikely queer icon. For this performance, she received the German Film Award (Lola) for Best Supporting Actress in 2003. Trained at the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst “Ernst Busch” in Berlin, Harfouch began her career in theatre before transitioning to film and television, where she has appeared in over 80 productions. Her early breakthrough came with Die Schauspielerin (1988), followed by roles in films such as Knockin' on Heaven's Door (1997), Der Untergang (2004), Das Parfum: Die Geschichte eines Mörders (2006), Finsterworld (2013), and Lara (2019). She has also been part of the long-running crime series Tatort since 2023. Among her numerous accolades, Harfouch has received the Bavarian Film Award, the Adolf Grimme Award, the German Television Award, and the German Film Award. She won Best Actress at the Shanghai International Film Festival for Frei nach Plan (2007) and received the German Film Award for Best Actress in 2024 for Sterben. In addition to her screen work, Harfouch is an acclaimed stage actress, performing at major theatres including the Deutsches Theater Berlin, the Berliner Ensemble, and the Volksbühne. In 1997, she was named Actress of the Year by Theater heute and awarded the Gertrud-Eysoldt-Ring for her performance in Des Teufels General. Born in Suhl, East Germany, Harfouch initially trained as a nurse before studying acting. She has three children, including actor Robert Gwisdek.
Filmography
Series
Scene of the Crime
Dr. Lore Ewers
1970
Series
Scene of the Crime
Anna Cordes
1970
Series
Scene of the Crime
Valerie
1970
Series
Scene of the Crime
Conny Seegmeister
1970
Series
Scene of the Crime
Sabine Korsack
1970
Series
Scene of the Crime
Martha Kandis
1970
Series
Scene of the Crime
Susanne Bonard
1970
Series
Scene of the Crime
Barbara
1970
Series
Polizeiruf 110
Sonja
1971
Series
Wetten, dass..?
Self
1981
Film
23 000 Lives
Mrs. Gans
2026
German Film Award
Self
1951
Grimme Award
Self
1964
Series
Kulturzeit
self
1995
Film
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Madame Arnulfi
2006
Goldene Kamera
Self
1984
Film
Downfall
Magda Goebbels
2004
German Television Award
Self
1999
Series
Der letzte Zeuge
Malia Reh
1998
Bavarian Film Awards
Self
1979
Series
Bella Block
Bianca Kling
1993
Blauer Panther
Self
1989
Series
Ärzte
Vera Haeusler
1994
Film
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Ward B Nurse
1997
Das Duo
Anna Mundorf
2002
Film
Suck Me Shakespeer 3
Kerstin BIZ
2017
Series
Unser Lehrer Doktor Specht
Dr. Lilo von Barnim
1992
Film
Bibi Blocksberg
Rabia
2002
Film
Zwischen uns
Child psychologist
2022
Series
Blochin – Die Lebenden und die Toten
Tilda
2015
Film
Brennende Themen
Ms. Platek
Film
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Marianne
2026
Series
Holiday Secrets
2019
Film
Move
Mutter
2012
Series
Berlin - Schicksalsjahre einer Stadt
Sprecherin
2018
Film
In My Mother's Mirror
Ursula Scheuer
2026
Film
The Green Desert
Krankenschwester
1999
Film
Dying
Lissy Lunies
2024
Film
The Elementary Particles
Dr. Schäfer
2006
Blond: Eva Blond!
Eva Blond
2002
Film
Bloodsuckers
Tante Erkentrud
2022
Film
Berlin Calling
Prof. Dr. Petra Paul
2008
Film
Jack
Susanne Sönnmann
2015
Film
Lara
Lara
2019
My Father The Turk
Sprecherin
2006
Film
Cracks in the Shell
Nina
2012
Film
Gefährliche Freundin
Bibi Bratseth
1996
Series
2 Minuten
Dr. Vogel
2020
Film
Moon Man
Conquistadora (voice)
2012
Wer anhält stirbt
Heike
1996
Series
Vera Brühne
Vera Brühne
2001
Series
Teufelsbraten
Wachtel
2008
Film
Faust Sonnengesang
(voice)
2011
Film
Kundschafter des Friedens 2
Helene
2025
Film
Bibi Blocksberg and the Secret of Blue Owls
Rabia von Katzenstein
2004
Series
Helen, Fred und Ted
Biggie Schwarz
2006
Film
Yasemin
Frau Rathjens
1988
Film
Rage
Christa Laub
2006
Deutscher Hörbuchpreis
Self
2010
Film
This Is Love
Maggie
2009
Film
Free to Leave
Hanni Hudetz
2007
Film
Mostly Minimalistic
Marlen
2022
Film
The Devil and Ms. D
Cora Dulz
1999
Film
Charlie & Louise - Das doppelte Lottchen
Sabine Kröger
1994
Film
Schlingensief – A Voice That Shook the Silence
Self (archive footage)
2020
Film
Thea und Nat
Thea Friedberg
1992
Film
Finsterworld
Inga Sandberg
2013
Film
The Missing Woman
Karen
2016
Film
Now or Never
Flora
2000
Goldstaub
Kerstin
1993
Film
Sexy Sadie
Lucy / Sadie
1996
Kiss Kiss Wolf
Film
C(r)ook
Maria
2004
Film
Home for the Weekend
Gitte Heidtmann
2012
Film
Verdammt, er liebt mich
Paula
1996
Film
Persona
Schwester Alma
2019
Film
Kein Sex ist auch keine Lösung
Theresa
2011
Film
Helen, Fred und Ted
Biggie Schwarz
2006
Film
Gebürtig
Else Sachs
2002
Film
Stockholm Marathon
Monica Lundin
1994
Film
Hamlet_X
Gertrude
2003
Film
The Promise
Sophie II
1995
Film
The Big Mambo
Maria
1998
Film
A Year Ago in Winter
Eliane Richter
2008
Film
Looking for Simon
Valerie
2011
Hüpf, Häschen, hüpf
Ms. Daniels
1991
Film
Solo for Clarinet
Anna Weller
1998
Film
Immer der Nase nach
Imke
2021
Film
The Girl With the Golden Hands
Gudrun
2022
Film
Tod einer Schülerin
Susanne Berger
2010
Hitlers letzte Tage - Der Film "Der Untergang"
Self
2005
Film
Silberhochzeit
Alexandra
2006
Film
Geisterstunde - Fahrstuhl ins Jenseits
Lisa Mosdi
1997
Film
The Actress
Maria Rheine
1988
Hand in Hand
Heike Laurens
2009
Film
Right Here Right Now
Innensenatorin
2018
Film
What You Can See from Here
Selma
2022
Film
The Bunny Guards vs. the Forces of Evil
Frau Schmächtig
2002
Film
Through This Night
Bozena Nemcová
2005
Film
The Tango Player
Elke
1991
Film
Rose
Rose Steher
2005
Film
Der kleine Staatsanwalt
Frau Meffert
1987
Film
Verzeihung, sehen Sie Fußball?
Michaela
1983
Film
Schmidt & Schwarz
Carolin Schwarz
2012
Film
Der Fall Bruckner
Katharina Bruckner
2014
Film
According to Plan
Iris
2007
Film
Verlobung in Hullerbusch
Schwester Erika
1979
Film
An die Grenze
Frau Dobbs
2007
Film
Puppe
Geena
2013
5 Stunden Angst – Geiselnahme im Kindergarten
Viviane Sperling
1996
Film
Whiskey with Vodka
Bettina Moll
2009
Film
Verrückt nach Paris
Frau Hermann
2002
Film
Die Spur des Bernsteinzimmers
Lisa Mohrbrink
1992
Film
Julia's Disappearance
Giulia
2009
Film
Inge, April und Mai
1993
Film
Kranke Geschäfte
2019
Film
Irren ist männlich
Bettina
1996
Manchmal sehe ich ihn nachts
Corinna
Film
Farewell to Agnes
Agnes
1994
Film
Fandango - Members Only
Duke
2000
Film
Pestalozzi's Mountain
Juliette Benoit
1989
Film
Reunion in Travers
Therese Forster
1989
Film
Emma nach Mitternacht - Frau Hölle
Katharina Holl
2016
Film
Wengler & Sons
Jenny Weinhold
1987
Film
Die Ironie des Lebens
Eva
2024
Film
Zwischen Pankow und Zehlendorf
Isolde Wünsche
1991
Film
Cloud Whispers
Charlotte
2018
Bis zum Horizont und weiter
Beate Nelken
1999
Film
Gates of Fire
Stromberg
1996
Film
The Boy Who Owns the World
Edna
2024
Film
Das Monstrum
Helene
2001
Stunde des Wolfs
Gisela Grosche
2000
Ein Dorf sieht Mord
Maria Bonk
2009
Film
Fallada: The Last Chapter
Else-Marie Bukonje
1988
Film
Ruhe! Hier stirbt Lothar
Rosa
2021
Film
Die fremde Frau
Helen Berg
2004
Film
The House on the River
Emmi Voß
1986
Film
Too Close
Caro
2017
Die lange Ankunft des Alois Fingerlein
1981
Des Teufels General
Fliegergeneral Harras
1997
Film
Meine Mutter, mein Bruder und ich!
Susanne
2008
Film
The Boyfriend
Henriette
2023
Film
Ihr Brief zur Hochzeit
Hannah
2012