Senta Berger facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Senta Berger
Berger in 2017
Born	(1941-05-13) 13 May 1941 (age 84) Vienna, German Reich
Other names	Senta Verhoeven
Occupation	Actress, producer
Years active	1955–present
Spouse(s)	Michael Verhoeven ​ ​ (m. 1966; died 2024)​
Children	Simon Verhoeven Luca Verhoeven
Relatives	Lis Verhoeven (sister-in-law) Paul Verhoeven (father-in-law)

Senta Berger (born May 13, 1941) is a famous actress from Austria and Germany. She has won many awards for her work in movies, TV shows, and plays. Some of her awards include the Bambi Awards, Romys, and the Golden Camera.

Early Life and First Steps

Senta Berger was born in Vienna, Austria. Her father was a musician, and her mother was a teacher. She first performed on stage when she was just four years old. Her father played the piano while she sang. At age five, she started taking ballet lessons.

Senta also took private acting lessons. In 1957, she got her first small part in a movie. This film was directed by the famous Austrian director Willi Forst. She was accepted into the Max Reinhardt Seminar, a well-known acting school in Vienna. However, she left the school early because she took a movie role without permission. In 1958, she became the youngest member of the Josefstadt Theatre in Vienna.

Acting Career

Senta Berger with Robert Vaughn on the set of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964)

In 1960, Senta Berger starred in the comedy film The Good Soldier Schweik. She worked with German actor Heinz Rühmann. She made several films with producer Artur Brauner. However, she soon grew tired of only doing musicals.

In 1962, Senta went to Hollywood in the United States. There, she worked with many big stars. These included Charlton Heston, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and John Wayne. She was sometimes compared to famous actresses like Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren.

In 1963, Senta met Michael Verhoeven. He was the son of German film director Paul Verhoeven. In 1964, she appeared in an episode of the American TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. This episode was later made into a movie called The Spy with My Face (1965).

Senta Berger and Michael Verhoeven started their own film company in 1965. They got married in 1966. Senta continued to work in movies in France and Italy. In 1966, she co-starred with Kirk Douglas in the film Cast a Giant Shadow. She played a soldier in the Israeli army. She also acted in The Quiller Memorandum, where she played a German schoolteacher.

In 1970, Senta starred in a film made by her own company. Her husband directed it. Their company made other successful films, such as Die weiße Rose (1982) and The Nasty Girl (1990). In 1972, Senta supported the Willy Brandt's political party.

Senta Berger in 1975

After her first son was born, Senta returned to working in theatre. She performed at famous theaters in Vienna, Hamburg, and Berlin. From 1974 to 1982, she played a main role in the play Jedermann at the Salzburg Festival. She also acted in the war film Cross of Iron (1977). In 1977, she led the judging panel at the 27th Berlin International Film Festival. She was part of the jury again in 1998.

In the mid-1980s, Senta became very popular with German-speaking audiences again. She starred in the TV series Kir Royal. More popular TV shows followed, like Die schnelle Gerdi (The Fast Gerdi), where she played a taxi driver. She also started singing chansons, which are a type of song.

From 2003 to 2010, Senta Berger was the president of the German Film Academy. This academy helps actors and actresses in Germany and Europe. Since 2005, the academy gives out the annual German Film Awards.

In 2016, Senta played a main role in the film Welcome to Germany. Her son, Simon Verhoeven, wrote and directed this movie. It was a very successful German film that year and won many awards.

From 2002 until 2020, she played Doctor Eva Maria Prohacek in the German crime TV series Unter Verdacht (Under Suspicion). She retired from this role in March 2020. In 2023, her romantic movie Remember Me [de] premiered at the 40th Filmfest München.

Memoirs

In 2006, Senta Berger's autobiography was published in Germany. It was called Ich habe ja gewußt, daß ich fliegen kann (I Knew that I Could Fly). In the book, she shared her memories of Hollywood.

Personal Life

Senta Berger with her husband, Michael Verhoeven, in 2013

Senta Berger was married to German film director Michael Verhoeven from 1966 until he passed away in 2024. They had two sons: Simon Verhoeven (born 1972) and Luca Verhoeven (born 1979). Both of her sons are also involved in acting and producing. Senta Berger lives in Germany. She is Jewish.

Selected Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Recognitions

Senta Berger's star on Berlin's Boulevard of Stars (2011)

Senta Berger has received many honors and awards throughout her career. Here are some of them:

• Bambi Prize (1968, 1990, 1999)
• Film Award in Silver for her film company Sentana (1983)
• German Actor Award (1987)
• Golden Gong (1996)
• Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class (1999)
• Karl Valentin Order (1998)
• Golden Romy as the most popular actress (1998)
• Federal Cross of Merit (1999)
• Bavarian Order of Merit (2002)
• German Hörbuchpreis (2003)
• Medal Munich shines (2003)
• Hessian TV award (2005)
• Golden Ox – Honorary Award for Sentana Film Production (2005)
• Billy Wilder Award (2006)
• Platinum Romy for lifetime achievement (2007)
• Special Prize of the German TV crime Award (2009)
• Herbert-Strate Prize (2009)
• German Television Award for Best Actress (2009)
• Special Prize at the Television Film Festival in Baden-Baden (2009)
• Golden Camera Award for Best Actress (2010)
• Adolf Grimme Award (2010)
• Bavarian Television Award for best actress (2010)
• Grand Diagonale drama prize for lifetime achievement (2010)
• Star on the Boulevard of Stars in Berlin (2010)
• Hans Abich Award (2010)
• Cultural Honor Prize of the City of Munich (2011)
• Bear (B.Z. culture prize) (2012)

See also

In Spanish: Senta Berger para niños