Sandra Hüller: From GDR Childhood to Cannes Laureate

Sandra Hüller, the German actress celebrated for her roles in 'Anatomy of a Fall' and 'The Zone of Interest', reflects on her career in an interview for AnOther Magazine's Autumn/Winter 2026 issue. Hüller's journey began in East Germany, where she was born in 1978 and raised in Friedrichroda. She trained at the Ernst Busch Academy in Berlin, graduating in 2003. Her breakthrough came in 2006 with the film 'Requiem', for which she won the Silver Bear at the Berlinale. She gained international recognition with 'Toni Erdmann' (2016), which was nominated for an Oscar. In 2023, she starred in two Palme d'Or-winning films: 'Anatomy of a Fall' and 'The Zone of Interest', earning an Oscar nomination for the former. Hüller continues to balance theatre and film, recently appearing in 'Fatherland' (2024) and 'Project Hail Mary' (2026). She is set to star in Alejandro González Iñárritu's 'Digger' alongside Tom Cruise. Hüller's approach to acting is deeply physical and intuitive, often avoiding over-explanation. She discusses her childhood in the GDR, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and her early love for theatre. The interview also covers her roles in 'Rose' (2025) and her upcoming projects, including 'Fatherland' and 'Digger'.