Franka Potente facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Franka Potente
Potente in 2019
Born	(1974-07-22) 22 July 1974 (age 51) Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1995–present
Spouse(s)	Derek Richardson ​ (m. 2012)​
Children	2

Franka Potente (born July 22, 1974) is a German actress known for her roles in both German and American films. She first became famous for the 1998 action movie Run Lola Run. This role earned her a BAMBI Award, a major German media prize.

After success in Germany, Potente began acting in Hollywood movies. She appeared in the crime film Blow (2001). She gained more fame playing Marie Kreutz in The Bourne Identity (2002) and The Bourne Supremacy (2004). She also appeared in the horror movie The Conjuring 2 (2016).

Potente has also acted in many television shows. These include Copper (2012–2013), Taboo (2017), and Titans (2022). She also had memorable roles in American Horror Story and The Bridge.

Early Life and Education

Franka Potente was born in Münster, West Germany, and grew up in the nearby town of Dülmen. Her mother was a medical assistant, and her father was a teacher. Her last name, Potente, is Italian. It comes from her great-grandfather, who moved to Germany from Sicily in the 1800s.

When she was 17, Potente was an exchange student in Humble, Texas, near Houston. After high school, she studied acting at the Otto Falckenberg School of Performing Arts in Munich, Germany.

Acting Career

Starting in German Films

While still in school, Potente began her acting career. Her first movie was a student film in 1995. A casting agent noticed her, and she was cast in the movie After Five in the Forest Primeval. For this role, she won a Bavarian Film Award for Young Talent.

Her big break came in 1998 with the movie Run Lola Run. The director, Tom Tykwer, wrote the part of Lola just for her. In the film, her character has to get a large amount of money in 20 minutes to save her boyfriend. The movie was a huge success and made her famous around the world.

Moving to Hollywood

Potente (left) at the 2005 Frankfurt Book Fair

In 2000, Potente starred in the German horror film Anatomy and the romantic drama The Princess and the Warrior. Both films were well-received and showed her talent as an actress.

Her first English-language movie was Blow (2001), where she acted alongside Johnny Depp. The film was about the life of a man involved in illegal activities. This role helped introduce her to American audiences.

A year later, she starred with Matt Damon in The Bourne Identity. She played Marie Kreutz, a woman who helps Jason Bourne figure out who he is. The movie was a blockbuster hit. She returned for the sequel, The Bourne Supremacy (2004).

Roles in Film and Television

Throughout the 2000s, Potente continued to work in a variety of films. She starred in the British horror movie Creep (2004). In 2007, she appeared in the Australian drama Romulus, My Father.

She also began working more in television. In 2007, she had a role in the TV series The Shield. In 2009, she appeared in two episodes of the popular show House.

In the 2010s, Potente starred in the BBC America series Copper from 2012 to 2013. She played a smart businesswoman in New York City during the American Civil War. She also had a memorable two-episode role in American Horror Story: Asylum.

In 2016, she played real-life paranormal investigator Anita Gregory in the hit horror film The Conjuring 2. She also appeared in the TV shows Dark Matter and Taboo. In 2022, she played the villain Mother Mayhem in the fourth season of the superhero series Titans.

Personal Life

Franka Potente married American actor Derek Richardson in 2012. They live in Los Angeles and have two daughters, who were born in 2011 and 2013.

Besides acting, Potente has also written books. In 2005, she published a book of letters she wrote with a friend. She has also written a book about fitness and a collection of short stories.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Franka Potente para niños