kids encyclopedia robot

Helena Zengel facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Helena Zengel
Helena Zengel-1038.jpg
Zengel at the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival
Born (2008-06-10) 10 June 2008 (age 17)
Berlin, Germany
Occupation Actress
Years active 2013–present

Helena Zengel (born June 10, 2008) is a talented German actress. She is famous for her amazing acting in movies like System Crasher (2019) and News of the World (2020).

Helena Zengel's Early Life

Helena Zengel grew up in Berlin, Germany. She started her acting journey very young, at just five years old. Her first role was in a music video for a band called Abby.

Helena Zengel's Acting Career

Helena got her first main movie role when she was eight. This was in a drama film called Die Tochter (which means The Daughter). This movie was shown at the Berlinale film festival in 2017. She also had small parts in a German TV series called Die Spezialisten – Im Namen der Opfer.

Breaking Through with System Crasher

In 2019, Helena starred in the drama film System Crasher. She played the main character, "Benni," a nine-year-old who is very energetic and has faced many challenges. The movie first showed at the Berlinale film festival in February 2019. Helena's performance was so good that she won the German Film Prize for Best Actress in April 2020. This is a very important award in Germany!

Helena's First International Film

After System Crasher won many awards around the world, Helena got a big chance. She was chosen by Universal Pictures to act in an American Western movie called News of the World. This was her first international film, meaning it was made outside of Germany.

The movie was directed by Paul Greengrass and starred Tom Hanks. Helena played Johanna Leonberger, a 10-year-old German orphan. Johanna was raised by the Kiowa people. Most of Helena's lines in the movie were in the Kiowa language. Her acting in this film earned her nominations for two major awards: a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Helena even recorded her own voice for the Italian, German, French, and Spanish versions of the movie for the parts she spoke in English.

Recent Film Projects

In 2021, Helena appeared in A Christmas Number One. She played Nina Cutter in this romantic comedy. The story is about a young woman trying to help her uncle.

In 2023, Helena starred in a fantasy adventure film called The Legend of Ochi. She acted alongside famous actor Willem Dafoe.

In 2024, Helena took on a main role in an international film called Transamazonia. She plays Rebecca, the daughter of an American missionary in the Amazon rainforest. Rebecca is believed to have special healing powers.

Helena Zengel's Filmography

Movies Helena Zengel Has Been In

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Spreewaldkrimi: Mörderische Hitze Johanna TV film
2016 Looping Lilly
2017 Tochter, DieDie Tochter Luca
2019 System Crasher Bernadette “Benni” Klaaß Main role
2020 News of the World Johanna Leonberger Main role, First international film
2021 A Christmas Number One Nina Cutter
2024 Transamazonia Rebecca Main role
2025 The Legend of Ochi Yuri Main role

TV Shows Helena Zengel Has Been In

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Spezialisten – Im Namen der Opfer, DieDie Spezialisten – Im Namen der Opfer Anja Rothmann Episode Flowerpower
2017 Spezialisten – Im Namen der Opfer, DieDie Spezialisten – Im Namen der Opfer Lily Weyer Episode Sommermärchen
2017 Der gute Bulle [de] Fabienne Television film
2019 Inga Lindström: Familienfest in Sommerby Mila Television film

Music Videos Helena Zengel Has Been In

Year Title Artist
2013 Streets Abby [de]
2022 Ich hasse es hier Tocotronic

Awards and Nominations

Helena Zengel has been recognized for her amazing acting with many awards and nominations. Here are some of them:

Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2020
Chicago Film Critics Association Most Promising Performer News of the World Nominated
2021
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Women's Breakthrough Performance Nominated
Austin Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Young Performer Nominated
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress 3rd place
Georgia Film Critics Association Breakthrough Award Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated
Hawaii Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Online Film and Television Association Best Youth Performance Runner-up
Phoenix Critics Circle Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Best Performance by a Youth Won
Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated
Seattle Film Critics Society Best Youth Performance Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Youth Performance Nominated
kids search engine
Helena Zengel Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.