Corinna Harfouch

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.

Cast

The Elementary Particles
Dr. Schäfer
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Ward B Nurse
Downfall
Magda Goebbels
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Madame Arnulfi
Solo for Clarinet
Anna Weller
Irren ist männlich
Bettina
Meine Mutter, mein Bruder und ich!
Susanne
Charlie & Louise - Das doppelte Lottchen
Sabine Kröger
Silberhochzeit
Alexandra
The Actress
Maria Rheine
Mostly Minimalistic
Marlen
Berlin Calling
Prof. Dr. Petra Paul
According to Plan
Iris
An die Grenze
Frau Dobbs
A Year Ago in Winter
Eliane Richter
C(r)ook
Maria
Stockholm Marathon
Monica Lundin
Whiskey with Vodka
Bettina Moll
Bibi Blocksberg
Rabia
The Devil and Ms. D
Cora Dulz
Julia's Disappearance
Giulia
Verrückt nach Paris
Frau Hermann
Hitlers letzte Tage - Der Film "Der Untergang"
Self
Bibi Blocksberg and the Secret of Blue Owls
Rabia von Katzenstein
Gebürtig
Else Sachs
This Is Love
Maggie
Kein Sex ist auch keine Lösung
Theresa
Home for the Weekend
Gitte Heidtmann
The Promise
Sophie II
Free to Leave
Hanni Hudetz
Tod einer Schülerin
Susanne Berger
Gefährliche Freundin
Bibi Bratseth
Finsterworld
Inga Sandberg
Yasemin
Frau Rathjens
The Tango Player
Elke
Looking for Simon
Valerie
Puppe
Geena
Zwischen uns
Child psychologist
Zwischen Pankow und Zehlendorf
Isolde Wünsche
Sexy Sadie
Lucy / Sadie
Die Spur des Bernsteinzimmers
Lisa Mohrbrink
The Boyfriend
Henriette
Now or Never
Flora
Erkan & Stefan 2
Frau Schmächtig
Pestalozzi's Mountain
Juliette Benoit
Ihr Brief zur Hochzeit
Hannah
The House on the River
Emmi Voß
The Boy Who Owns the World
Edna
Cracks in the Shell
Nina
Gates of Fire
Stromberg
Verzeihung, sehen Sie Fußball?
Michaela
Wengler & Sons
Jenny Weinhold
Verdammt, er liebt mich
Paula
Goldstaub
Kerstin
Helen, Fred und Ted
Biggie Schwarz
Hand in Hand
Heike Laurens
The Big Mambo
Maria
Das Monstrum
Helene
Bis zum Horizont und weiter
Beate Nelken
Fallada: The Last Chapter
Else-Marie Bukonje
Reunion in Travers
Therese Forster
Fandango - Members Only
Duke
Inge, April und Mai
Unknown
What You Can See from Here
Selma
Geisterstunde - Fahrstuhl ins Jenseits
Lisa Mosdi
The Green Desert
Krankenschwester
Der Fall Bruckner
Katharina Bruckner
Dying
Lissy Lunies
5 Stunden Angst – Geiselnahme im Kindergarten
Viviane Sperling
Thea und Nat
Thea Friedberg
Rage
Christa Laub
Die Ironie des Lebens
Eva
Die lange Ankunft des Alois Fingerlein
Unknown
Rose
Rose Steher
Ein Dorf sieht Mord
Maria Bonk
Move
Mutter
Kundschafter des Friedens 2
Helene
Jack
Susanne Sönnmann
Persona
Schwester Alma
Die fremde Frau
Helen Berg
Der kleine Staatsanwalt
Frau Meffert
Schmidt & Schwarz
Carolin Schwarz
Stunde des Wolfs
Gisela Grosche
Farewell to Agnes
Agnes
Wer anhält stirbt
Heike
Hamlet_X
Gertrude
Emma nach Mitternacht - Frau Hölle
Katharina Holl
The Missing Woman
Karen
Im Spiegel meiner Mutter
Ursula Scheuer
Right Here Right Now
Innensenatorin
Through This Night
Bozena Nemcová
My Father The Turk
Sprecherin
Too Close
Caro
Moon Man
Conquistadora (voice)
Suck Me Shakespeer 3
Kerstin BIZ
Verlobung in Hullerbusch
Schwester Erika
Des Teufels General
Fliegergeneral Harras
Faust Sonnengesang
(voice)
Cloud Whispers
Charlotte
Hüpf, Häschen, hüpf
Ms. Daniels
Lara
Lara
Bloodsuckers
Tante Erkentrud
Schlingensief – A Voice That Shook the Silence
Self (archive footage)
Kranke Geschäfte
Unknown
Ruhe! Hier stirbt Lothar
Rosa
The Girl With the Golden Hands
Gudrun
Immer der Nase nach
Imke
Kalter Hund
Marianne
Untitled Jugend Rettet Film
Unknown
Manchmal sehe ich ihn nachts
Corinna
Brennende Themen
Ms. Platek