Verena Altenberger

With immense talent and passion Verena Altenberger, originally from a small farm in Salzburg, managed to work her way to the top of the German-speaking film and theater world. Today she is one of Austria's most sought-after actresses. Her career began as part of the Junge Burg ensemble during the 2010/11 season at Vienna’s renowned Burgtheater. After studying acting at the prestigious Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna, she first captured attention in 2016 with her role in the thriller Hell, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Stefan Ruzowitzky. Her big breakthrough came a year later with her portrayal of a heroin-addicted mother in the drama The Best of All Worlds. The film, celebrated at the Berlinale, earned her numerous international awards, including the Austrian Film Prize, the Bavarian Film Prize, the Best Actress award at the International Film Festival in Moscow and several prizes in the USA.

A standout for remarkable versatility

From arthouse masterpieces to popular television productions, Verena Altenberger brings talent and depth to every role. Especially as geriatric nurse Magda, she celebrated ratings success on German television in the RTL comedy series Magda macht das schon! The sitcom was honoured with the German Television Award 2018 and nominated several times for the German Comedy Award and the Rose d'Or. In 2019 Altenberger celebrated the premiere of the remake of the Fritz Lang classic M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder by David Schalko at the Berlinale. In the same year she started her role as Inspector Elisabeth Eyckhoff in the iconic Munich-based crime series Polizeiruf 110. Her debut episode Der Ort von dem die Wolken kommen was nominated for the Grimme Prize in 2020. Despite her success, she left the series after four years in the pursuit of new creative adventures.

A journey of passion and dedication

Around the same time, Altenberger gained widespread international recognition for her portrayal of Buhlschaft in Jedermann at the Salzburg Festival in 2021 and 2022. Together with Lars Eidinger, she redefined and revolutionized the role, captivating both audiences and critics. Her outstanding performance earned her the prestigious Nestroy Prize.

The actress continually seeks out exciting challenges with unwavering passion. For the film Riesending, she spent three months in caves, taking on one of her most physically and mentally demanding roles. In Sterne unter der Stadt, she went even further, shaving her head for the role – a symbolic act that drew attention and carried deep personal meaning, as she lost her mother to cancer.

Her collaborations with Dominik Graf remain among her most cherished experiences. She has worked with the master of German cinema three times, most recently on Gesicht der Erinnerung, a collaboration she describes as transformative for her career.

Shaping the future of cinema

‘No Animal, So Wild’ by director Burhan Qurbani celebrated its world premiere at the Berlinale 2024. Following its successful cinema release, it is currently available on Amazon. Verena Altenberger starred alongside Matthias Schweighöfer in ‘Das Leben der Wünsche’ (The Life of Desires) by director Erik Schmitt. The TV film ‘Acht’ (Eight) by Marie Kreutzer has now been broadcast. ‘Sturm kommt auf’ by Matti Geschonneck, which was presented at the 2025 Munich Film Festival, has been nominated for the Grimme Prize and can still be viewed online in the ARD media library and on ORF ON, as can the ARD series ‘Mozart/Mozart’.

The feature film ‘Athos 2643’, directed by David Wnendt, has been completed. Verena Altenberger will be back in cinemas in a small guest role from 23 April 2026. That's when the multi-award-winning debut film ‘Babystar!’ by director Joscha Bongard will be released in Germany.

But Verena Altenberger is not only interested in acting; as co-president of the Austrian Film Academy, she is also passionately committed to child protection, diversity, equality and good working conditions in the industry. She is particularly passionate about promoting arthouse cinema, for which she works tirelessly.

Popular readings

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‘Den Göttern in die Seele blicken’ (Looking into the souls of the gods) is a dramatised reading with music that Verena Altenberger originally created for the Burgtheater in Vienna, together with Mavie Hörbiger and pianist Clara Frühstück. The three will be going on tour in 2026.

Equally popular are her readings of Isabel Allende's ‘The House of the Spirits’ and the staged reading with music of Stefan Zweig's ‘Letter from an Unknown Woman’, both of which will feature several times in the repertoire in 2026.

United Nations World Food Programme

Since February 2025, Verena Altenberger has been an official supporter of the UN World Food Programme (WFP). WFP is the world's largest humanitarian organization in the fight against hunger, providing not only life-saving food assistance in emergencies but also working to support communities in their long-term efforts to combat hunger. Women are at the center of the global food crisis, as they are often responsible for feeding their families—yet they are also the first to go without in times of crisis. After visiting Uganda, where she met refugee women and smallholder farmers, Verena Altenberger emphasizes the critical role of education, fair market opportunities, and access to resources in creating sustainable solutions to hunger. Through her commitment, she aims to strengthen food security and promote social justice.

(March 2025)