Sonja Ziemann obit

Sonja Ziemann(1926-2020)

 She was not on the list.

Stage, screen, and television actress.

At the age of ten, she began studying dance at Tatjana Gsovsky's Berlin dance school and made her first appearances as a ballerina in 1941. Around the same time, she began training at the UFA acting school. In 1942 she played her first small film roles. Her roles in simple, sentimental but extremely successful movies such as "Schwarzwaldmädel" (1950) and "Grün ist die Heide" (1951) - often with Rudolf Prack as a co-star - made her one of the first great stars of Germany's post-war cinema. In 1950 she receives the "Bambi" as the most popular German film actress. Credits include "Am Brunnen vor dem Tore" (1952), "Die Privatsekretärin" (1953), "Dany, bitte schreiben Sie" (1956), "Menschen im Hotel" (1959), "The Secret Ways" (1960), "Der Traum von Lieschen Müller" (1961), and "The Bridge at Remagen" (1969). From the 1960s, she was increasingly seen on television and especially on stage, portraying Eliza Doolittle in productions of "My Fair Lady" in Zurich and Munich. She also appeared as Wedekind's "Lulu" and played in works by Tennessee Williams.

She was buried with her son Pierre, who died at the age of 16 from cancer.

New trends in post-war German cinema saw a shift away from the glamorous divas or idealised motherhood figures of the 1930s and 40s towards uncomplicated, wholesome, vivacious, perhaps tomboyish girl-next-door types. Germanic features were no longer strictly required. Dimple-cheeked, dark-haired Sonja Ziemann with her grey/green eyes and Bardot mouth became the paragon of the new fun-loving heroine for undemanding romantic fare or the ever popular 'Heimatfilm'.

 

Sonja Alice Selma Toni Ziemann was born in Eichenwalde, near Berlin, the daughter of a tax advisor. She learned ballet under Hilde Altmann-Vogt and Tatjana Gsovsky and began her career as a showgirl in revues and operettas, singing and dancing at the Metropol Theater. There, the director Peter Paul Brauer 'discovered' her for the screen. Sonia made her movie debut in a 1942 musical comedy and was thereafter groomed by Germany's pre-eminent film company Ufa (headquartered in Babelsberg) as an up-and-coming starlet. She appeared in a few undemanding supporting roles and made a brief return to the stage in the immediate aftermath of World War II. After toiling for several more years in assorted musicals and comedies without making too much of a ripple, she hit the big time with The Black Forest Girl (1950). The first motion picture to be shot in colour after the war, it ended up topping the popular charts and became the highest grossing picture of the year. Sonja garnered the first of two Bambi Awards but found herself effectively typecast. Further Heimatfilms and operettas followed which built on her pairing with Austrian matinee idol Rudolf Prack , lauded as Germany's most popular screen couple. Grün ist die Heide (1951) was the biggest of the Ziemann-Prack blockbusters, scoring an audience of 16 million viewers nationwide.

 

"All my roles were kitsch" she declared in a 1961 American interview. Indeed, many of those roles had relied on her camera-proof looks and patented profile. Eventually, Sonja took steps to shed her "snow white and marzipan" image and moved on to dramatic character roles. Her first was a Polish-West German co-production, The Eighth Day of the Week (1958), based on a story and screenplay by Polish author Marek Hlasko (who became her second husband in 1962). The rest of the decade completed her breakout from typecasting through a variety of roles and genres, some filmed at home, others in England or the U.S.. She now had leading roles in realistic wartime dramas based on factual events (Stalingrad: Dogs, Do You Want to Live Forever? (1959), Strafbataillon 999 (1960), The Bridge at Remagen (1969)), thrillers (Rebel Flight to Cuba (1959), Journey Into Nowhere (1962), Frühstück mit dem Tod (1964)) and crime dramas (Das Messer (1971)). There was even a comedy (of sorts) with Sonja billed second in the cast behind Terry-Thomas (as a 'germ detective') in A Matter of WHO (1961), shot by MGM at Elstree.

 

Sonja's screen acting took a backseat during the 70s with a return to the stage at theatres in Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich. Having moved to Switzerland, she became an honorary member of the Zurich Schauspielhaus in 1981. Three years after the death of Hlasko in 1969 she married the actor Charles Regnier. Sonja Ziemann died on February 17 2020 in Munich at the age of 94.

Actress

Park Hotel Stern (1997)

Park Hotel Stern

TV Series

Vera Stern

1997

2 episodes

 

Walter Giller and Nadja Tiller in Guten Morgen Mallorca (1996)

Guten Morgen Mallorca

TV Series

Marlene

1996

1 episode

 

Ein Abend mit Georg Thomalla (1982)

Ein Abend mit Georg Thomalla

7.0

TV Series

Irene Sommer

1985

1 episode

 

Intimitäten

TV Movie

Helen Frynne

1980

 

Das Biest

TV Movie

Marion

1977

 

Unter einem Dach (1974)

Unter einem Dach

7.1

TV Series

1976

1 episode

 

Der Kommissar (1969)

Der Kommissar

7.7

TV Series

Irene Triberg

1973

1 episode

 

Wie ein Blitz (1970)

Das Messer

6.6

TV Mini Series

Mrs. Corby

1971

3 episodes

 

Fröhliche Weihnachten (1970)

Fröhliche Weihnachten

8.8

TV Movie

Sonja Eckert - seine Frau

1970

 

Alle hatten sich abgewandt

TV Movie

Ursula

1970

 

De Sade (1969)

De Sade

4.3

La Beauvoisin

Actress

1969

 

The Bridge at Remagen (1969)

The Bridge at Remagen

6.7

Greta Holzgang

1969

 

Kolportage

9.4

TV Movie

Karin

1968

 

Auf der Lesebühne der Literarischen Illustrierten

TV Series

Lust

1967

1 episode

 

Liebesgeschichten (1967)

Liebesgeschichten

8.7

TV Series

Ingrid Andresson

Self - Host

1967

1 episode

 

Josephine

TV Movie

Josephine

1967

 

Das Leben des Horace A.W. Tabor - Ein Stück aus den Tagen der letzten Könige

9.4

TV Movie

Baby Doe

1965

 

Madeleine und Manouche

TV Movie

Madeleine

1965

 

Halløj i himmelsengen (1965)

Halløj i himmelsengen

4.9

Margot

1965

 

Frühstück mit dem Tod (1964)

Frühstück mit dem Tod

5.9

Rechtsanwältin Jane Painter-Talbot

1964

 

Curd Jürgens erzählt... (1962)

Curd Jürgens erzählt...

8.3

TV Series

Ehefrau Maria

1963

1 episode

 

Giorgio Capitani, O.W. Fischer, Rudolf Jugert, Georg Marischka, Axel Munthe, Rosanna Schiaffino, and Sonja Ziemann in Story of San Michele (1962)

Story of San Michele

5.7

Prinzessin Clementine

1962

 

Journey Into Nowhere (1962)

Journey Into Nowhere

5.4

Maria

1962

 

Inge Meysel and Rexi Hegyi in Ihr schönster Tag (1962)

Ihr schönster Tag

6.8

Helen

1962

 

Der Traum von Lieschen Müller (1961)

Der Traum von Lieschen Müller

6.6

Lieschen Müller

1961

 

A Matter of WHO (1961)

A Matter of WHO

6.2

Michele

1961

 

Denn das Weib ist schwach (1961)

Denn das Weib ist schwach

7.0

Hanna Schäferkamp

1961

 

The Secret Ways (1961)

The Secret Ways

6.2

Julia

1961

 

Au voleur! (1960)

Au voleur!

4.7

La milliardaire

1960

 

Nacht fiel über Gotenhafen (1960)

Nacht fiel über Gotenhafen

6.8

Maria Reiser

1960

 

Strafbataillon 999 (1960)

Strafbataillon 999

6.8

Julia Deutschmann

1960

 

Hans-Georg Kredewahn in Rebel Flight to Cuba (1959)

Rebel Flight to Cuba

5.7

Carla

1959

 

Theo Bleser in Grand Hotel (1959)

Grand Hotel

6.1

Flämmchen

1959

 

Liebe auf krummen Beinen (1959)

Liebe auf krummen Beinen

5.6

Eva

1959

 

Stalingrad: Dogs, Do You Want to Live Forever? (1959)

Stalingrad: Dogs, Do You Want to Live Forever?

7.2

Katja

1959

 

Sérénade au Texas (1958)

Sérénade au Texas

4.3

Sylvia (as Sonia Ziemann)

1958

 

Die Beklagte

9.6

TV Movie

Eva Harold

1958

 

Zbigniew Cybulski, Aleksander Ford, Marek Hlasko, and Sonja Ziemann in The Eighth Day of the Week (1958)

The Eighth Day of the Week

7.2

Agnieszka Walicka

1958

 

Tabarin (1958)

Tabarin

5.3

Rosine Forestier (as Sonia Ziemann)

1958

 

Gli italiani sono matti (1958)

Gli italiani sono matti

7.0

1958

 

Frauenarzt Dr. Bertram (1957)

Frauenarzt Dr. Bertram

6.9

Nelly

1957

 

Frühling in Berlin (1957)

Frühling in Berlin

6.4

Nicoline

1957

 

Liselotte Pulver, Paul Hubschmid, and Bernhard Wicki in The Zurich Engagement (1957)

The Zurich Engagement

6.5

Sonja Ziemann

1957

 

Suprema confessione (1956)

Suprema confessione

Giovanna

1956

 

Viktor de Kowa, Walter Giller, Winnie Markus, and Sonja Ziemann in Nichts als Ärger mit der Liebe (1956)

Nichts als Ärger mit der Liebe

3.6

1956

 

Hans Moser, Franz Antel, Rudolf Prack, and Sonja Ziemann in Kaiserball (1956)

Kaiserball

5.9

Franzi

1956

 

Opernball (1956)

Opernball

6.4

Helene Hollinger, seine Frau

1956

 

Rudolf Prack and Sonja Ziemann in Dany, bitte schreiben Sie (1956)

Dany, bitte schreiben Sie

5.8

Daniela 'Dany' Ruland

1956

 

Paul Klinger, Paul Martin, Rudolf Platte, Karl Schönböck, Herta Staal, and Sonja Ziemann in Das Bad auf der Tenne (1956)

Das Bad auf der Tenne

5.8

Antje, Frau des Bürgermeisters

1956

 

Mädchen ohne Grenzen (1955)

Mädchen ohne Grenzen

5.7

Helga Gruber

1955

 

Karlheinz Böhm, Dieter Borsche, and Sonja Ziemann in Ich war ein häßliches Mädchen (1955)

Ich war ein häßliches Mädchen

6.3

Anneliese Howald

1955

 

Heidemarie Hatheyer, Curd Jürgens, Sonja Ziemann, and Erich Meerwald in Liebe ohne Illusion (1955)

Liebe ohne Illusion

7.1

Ursula

1955

 

Der Zarewitsch (1954)

Der Zarewitsch

5.3

Sonja

Sonja Ilyanova

1954

 

Die große Starparade (1954)

Die große Starparade

6.5

Sonja Ziemann

1954

 

Die sieben Kleider der Katrin (1954)

Die sieben Kleider der Katrin

5.7

Katrin Burian

1954

 

Meine Schwester und ich (1954)

Meine Schwester und ich

6.2

Christine

1954

 

Heinz Drache, Willi Forst, Kirsten Heiberg, Margot Hielscher, Robert Kersten, Zarah Leander, Albrecht Schoenhals, Ingrid Stenn, Georg Thomalla, Grethe Weiser, and Hans Wolff in Bei Dir war es immer so schön (1954)

Bei Dir war es immer so schön

5.9

Ballettänzerin

1954

 

Die Privatsekretärin (1953)

Die Privatsekretärin

5.7

Gerda Weber

1953

 

Boris Streimann in Mit siebzehn beginnt das Leben (1953)

Mit siebzehn beginnt das Leben

6.6

Madelien de Jeu

1953

 

Werner Fuetterer and Barbara Rütting in Christina (1953)

Christina

5.6

1953

 

Hollandmädel (1953)

Hollandmädel

3.9

Antje

1953

 

Heli Finkenzeller, Willy Fritsch, Paul Klinger, Bobby E. Lüthge, Kurt Reimann, Hans Richter, Marina Ried, Ludwig Schmitz, Hans Stüwe, Fritz Wagner, Sonja Ziemann, and Otto Assmann in Am Brunnen vor dem Tore (1952)

Am Brunnen vor dem Tore

5.2

Inge Bachner

1952

 

Made in Heaven (1952)

Made in Heaven

5.3

Marta

1952

 

Adrian Hoven, Hardy Krüger, and Sonja Ziemann in Alle kann ich nicht heiraten (1952)

Alle kann ich nicht heiraten

4.9

Dschidschi

1952

 

The Thief of Bagdad (1952)

The Thief of Bagdad

6.9

Fatme, die Diebin von Bagdad

1952

 

Grün ist die Heide (1951)

Grün ist die Heide

5.3

Helga

1951

 

Johannes und die 13 Schönheitsköniginnen (1951)

Johannes und die 13 Schönheitsköniginnen

5.1

Wally, Zigarettenverkäuferin

1951

 

Die Frauen des Herrn S. (1951)

Die Frauen des Herrn S.

6.6

Euritrite

1951

 

Boris Streimann in Schön muß man sein (1951)

Schön muß man sein

5.7

Maria Schippe

1951

 

The Merry Wives of Windsor (1950)

The Merry Wives of Windsor

6.1

Frau Fluth (Mistress Ford)

1950

 

The Black Forest Girl (1950)

The Black Forest Girl

5.0

Bärbele Riederle

1950

 

Maharadscha wider Willen (1950)

Maharadscha wider Willen

Brigitte Brummer - seine Tochter

1950

 

Eine Nacht im Separee (1950)

Eine Nacht im Separee

Käthe

1950

 

Nach Regen scheint Sonne (1949)

Nach Regen scheint Sonne

5.8

Sabine

1949

 

Um eine Nasenlänge (1949)

Um eine Nasenlänge

4.8

Anni Klingebeil

1949

 

Sonja Ziemann in Nächte am Nil (1949)

Nächte am Nil

Susanne

1949

 

Carl-Heinz Schroth and Sonja Ziemann in Die Freunde meiner Frau (1949)

Die Freunde meiner Frau

7.3

Fee Freiberg - Kabarettistin

1949

 

Nichts als Zufälle (1949)

Nichts als Zufälle

Gerti Danzer

1949

 

Wege im Zwielicht (1948)

Wege im Zwielicht

8.1

Lissy Stenzel

1948

 

Danke, es geht mir gut (1948)

Danke, es geht mir gut

7.0

Irmgard Holk

1948

 

Liebe nach Noten (1947)

Liebe nach Noten

5.9

Mimi, Barners Nichte

1947

 

Herzkönig (1947)

Herzkönig

Bianca

1947

 

Margot Hielscher and Albert Matterstock in Spuk im Schloß (1947)

Spuk im Schloß

6.0

Dagmar Mauritius

1947

 

Allez Hopp

Patsy

1946

 

Sag' die Wahrheit (1946)

Sag' die Wahrheit

7.0

Lisa - seine Freundin

1946

 

Freunde (1945)

Freunde

6.6

Vilma

1945

 

Irene von Meyendorff in Eine kleine Sommermelodie (1944)

Eine kleine Sommermelodie

3.7

Helga Gutentag

1944

 

Wolf Albach-Retty, Olly Holzmann, and Grethe Weiser in Hundstage (1944)

Hundstage

8.1

Marion Seidel

1944

 

Dorit Kreysler and Johannes Riemann in Geliebter Schatz (1943)

Geliebter Schatz

8.5

Lette Eilers

1943

 

Die Jungfern vom Bischofsberg (1943)

Die Jungfern vom Bischofsberg

7.8

1943

 

Ein Windstoß (1942)

Ein Windstoß

7.1

Gina Galassi

1942

 

Soundtrack

Die große Starparade (1954)

Die große Starparade

6.5

performer: "Mein roter Bruder wohnt in Arizona/Ro-Ro-Robinson/Bongo Boogie"-Medley

1954

 

Heinz Drache, Willi Forst, Kirsten Heiberg, Margot Hielscher, Robert Kersten, Zarah Leander, Albrecht Schoenhals, Ingrid Stenn, Georg Thomalla, Grethe Weiser, and Hans Wolff in Bei Dir war es immer so schön (1954)

Bei Dir war es immer so schön

5.9

performer: "Wenn mein kleiner Teddybär"

1954

 

Adrian Hoven, Hardy Krüger, and Sonja Ziemann in Alle kann ich nicht heiraten (1952)

Alle kann ich nicht heiraten

4.9

performer: "Klavierspielereien"

1952

 

The Thief of Bagdad (1952)

The Thief of Bagdad

6.9

performer: "Wir schaukeln uns ganz sachte durch das Leben", "Du Bist die Liebe"

1952

 

Self

Sonja Ziemann erzählt...

Short

Self

2017

 

Germaine Damar - Der tanzende Stern (2011)

Germaine Damar - Der tanzende Stern

5.8

TV Movie

Self

2011

 

Heimat - Deine Filme: Der Traum vom Paradies

TV Movie

Self

2008

 

Bambi Verleihung 2008

6.6

TV Special

Self - Special Guest

2008

 

Was kann denn schöner sein

7.1

TV Movie

Self

2007

 

Beckmann (1999)

Beckmann

3.0

TV Series

Self

2006

1 episode

 

Filmlegenden. Deutsch

6.4

TV Movie

Self

2005

 

Dieter Borsche - Liebhaber und Gentleman

TV Movie

Self - Narrator

1999

 

Kein schöner Land (1989)

Kein schöner Land

5.2

TV Series

Self - Interviewee & Singing 'Lied ohne Worte'

1999

1 episode

 

Boulevard Bio (1991)

Boulevard Bio

5.5

TV Series

Self

1998

1 episode

 

Höchstpersönlich (1994)

Höchstpersönlich

6.2

TV Series

Self

1996

1 episode

 

Frauengeschichten (1981)

Frauengeschichten

TV Series

Self

1993

1 episode

 

Herzlichen Glückwunsch: Heinz Rühmann zum 90. Geburtstag

8.3

TV Movie

Self - Musician

1992

 

NDR Talk Show (1979)

NDR Talk Show

6.3

TV Series

Self

1989

1 episode

 

Träume über Träume

TV Movie

Self

1986

 

Jahre unseres Lebens

TV Mini Series

Self - Co-Host

1981

1 episode

 

Liebesgeschichten (1967)

Liebesgeschichten

8.7

TV Series

Self - Host

1967

6 episodes

 

Continental Showcase

TV Series

Self

1966

1 episode

 

Gut gefragt ist halb gewonnen (1964)

Gut gefragt ist halb gewonnen

7.9

TV Series

Self

1966

1 episode

 

Mona Baptiste in Blå time (1963)

Blå time

TV Series

Singer

1964

1 episode

 

Musik vom Broadway

TV Movie

Self - Musician

1963

 

Die Abendschau (1954)

Die Abendschau

6.4

TV Series

Self

1962

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

René Deltgen - Der sanfte Rebell (2004)

René Deltgen - Der sanfte Rebell

6.2

TV Movie

(archive footage, uncredited)

2004

 

Die Helden von Bern

7.0

TV Movie

Self (archive footage)

2004