Person
Lea van Acken
Lübeck, Germany
Van Acken grew up in Schleswig-Holstein, where she still lives today in a small village. As a child, she was interested in horseback riding and dancing. She first took the stage i…
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Van Acken grew up in Schleswig-Holstein, where she still lives today in a small village. As a child, she was interested in horseback riding and dancing. She first took the stage in 2011 as an extra in a production of *Der Ölprinz* at the Karl May Festival in Bad Segeberg. She did not undergo formal training as an actress; instead, she studied other actors by watching them in films. In 2014, Van Acken played the lead role—that of the deeply religious teenager Maria—in the drama *Kreuzweg* (Stations of the Cross), directed by Dietrich Brüggemann. The film won a Silver Bear at the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival. In Brüggemann’s next film, *Heil*—a satire about neo-Nazis—Van Acken portrayed a teenager. She also played a small role in Bernadette Knoller’s RBB television film *Ferien*. In 2015, she appeared in a supporting role in the fifth season of the US series *Homeland*, which was filmed entirely in Germany. She also appeared in the SWR television film *Sag mir nichts* and in the *Spreewaldkrimi* installment *Das Duell im Moor* (ZDF). In the film adaptation of *The Diary of Anne Frank*, Van Acken played the title role of Anne Frank. To prepare for the role of the Jewish girl who became famous through her diary, she wrote fictional letters to Anne Frank. For the final scene—which takes place in a concentration camp—the actress had her hair cut off to ensure an authentic portrayal.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2026
Wovon sollen wir träumen
Movie Julia
-
2026
Drop
Movie
-
2026
Liebesbesuch
Movie Nathalie
-
2025
Und keiner geht hin
Movie Matea
-
2025
5 Finger sind 'ne Faust
Movie Maria
-
2025
Call Me Levi
TV show Annie Packsher
-
2023
Hitlerputsch 1923: Das Tagebuch der Paula Schlier
Movie Paula Schlier
-
2023
German Genius
TV show Lea van Acken
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2023
Game Over
Movie Verena Hetsch
-
2023
Two Sides of the Abyss
TV show Josi
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2023
4 Days to Eternity
Movie Idilia Dubb
-
2022
The Privilege
Movie Lena
-
2021
Blackout: Tomorrow Is Too Late
TV show Ulrike
-
2020
Cracks
Movie Iris
-
2020
The Island
TV show Ella
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2019
Abikalypse
Movie Hannah
More credits
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2019
Abikalypse
Movie Hannah
-
2019
All My Loving
Movie Tinka
-
2017
Dark
TV show Girl from the Future
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2017
Suck Me Shakespeer 3
Movie Amrei Keiser
-
2017
Windstorm 3
Movie Samantha
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2017
Bibi & Tina: Perfect Pandemonium
Movie Aladin
-
2016
Ferien
Movie Lea
-
2016
The Diary of Anne Frank
Movie Anne Frank
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2016
Sag mir nichts
Movie Sasanna
-
2015
Heil
Movie Teenager
-
2015
Wer weiß denn sowas?
TV show Self
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2014
Stations of the Cross
Movie Maria
-
2011
Homeland
TV show Ayla
-
2006
Spreewaldkrimi
TV show Svenja Heinze
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2003
ZIBB
TV show Self
-
1992
Morgenmagazin
TV show Self
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1979
Bavarian Film Awards
TV show Self
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1976
Kölner Treff
TV show Self
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1970
Scene of the Crime
TV show Verena Hetsch
