Heike Makatsch

Born on 13 August 1971 in Düsseldorf, Germany, as the daughter of former German national ice hockey keeper Rainer Makatsch. After studying politics and sociology at the University of Düsseldorf for two years and an apprenticeship as dressmaker, she was hired by newborn TV music channel VIVA in 1993 and hosted popular shows such as _Interaktiv (1996)_ (qv). Also presenting the charts show _Bravo TV (1993)_ (qv), the media considered her the prototype of a "girlie girl". Her first appearance in a movie, _Männerpension (1996)_ (qv), surprised the critics and slowly changed her image. In the following years, she played leading characters in successful projects such as _Am I Beautiful? (1998)_ (qv) and _Gripsholm (2000)_ (qv). Living in London from 1999 to 2005, she also appeared in English language movies, most prominently _Love Actually (2003)_ (qv). After another convincing performance on _Margarete Steiff (2005)_ (qv), she is considered a respected actress anyway. In 2009 she played the main role in 'Hilde', the biographical movie about the famous German actress/singer 'Hildegard Knef' (qv). Her performance was a tour de force.::fippi2000 & Hal Davis