1900 - 1971

Helene Weigel had artistic training from 1915 to 1918 and was given her first theater engagements in 1918, such as at the Neues Theater Frankfurt, the Staatliches Schauspielhaus Berlin and the Deutsches Theater Berlin.

She met the writer Bertolt Brecht at the beginning of the 20s, and their first child was born in 1924. They were married in 1929. Helene Weigel was the inspiration for many of Bertold Brecht's literary women and she portrayed them impressively on stage.

Helene Weigel appeared in Fritz Lang's legendary silent movie "Metropolis" in 1927, in which she portrayed a female worker in. However, the theater was still hub of her life. 
One of her greatest successes was Brecht's "Die Mutter" in 1932.

Like Bertolt Brecht, Helene Weigel was politically committed and joined the Communist Party in 1930. When the National Socialists seized power
the couple emigrated with their children to Switzerland; after that they went via Scandinavia to the USA.
Helene Weigel had a minor role in the movie "The Seventh Cross" in 1944.

She returned to Europe after the war and initially settled in Switzerland. In 1948 she went back to Germany where she founded the Berliner Ensemble in East Berlin together with Bertolt Brecht. She was director of this ensemble till her death.

Helene Weigel enjoyed much success on the stage in the following years and only appeared seldom in movies, for example in "Die Gewehre der Frau
Carrar" ('53), "Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder" ('55) and "Die Windrose" ('57).
 

Other movies featuring Helene Weigel:
Mann ist Mann (31) Katzgraben (57) Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder (61)