Inge Meysel

Inge Meysel was born on May 30, 1910 in Berlin, Germany as Ingeborg Charlotte Hansen.

From the mid-1920s until shortly before her death, Meysel was outspoken on many - often controversial - social and political issues. Despite her decidedly leftist and feminist views, this did not harm her popularity as an actress.

Being interested in political and social issues during her whole life, she first appeared publicly in 1925, fighting against the death penalty.

Attended drama schools in Berlin from 1928 to 1930.

First acted at the age of three, playing an angel in an operatic production of "Hänsel und Gretel". Inge made her professional stage debut in 1930.

As she was banned from performing because of her Jewish father from 1935 to 1945, she worked as a telephonist and engineering drawer.

Germany's most popular TV actress from the early 1960s until her death in 2004.

Often co-starred with the actor Joseph Offenbach, most famously in the mini-series Die Unverbesserlichen (1965).

She was an actress, known for Gertrud Stranitzki (1966), Die Unverbesserlichen (1965) and Ida Rogalski (1969). She was married to John Olden and Helmuth Rudolph.

Sued (together with other feminist activists) "Stern" magazine because of sexist nudity on its cover (1978).

In 1981 she refused to accept the Bundesverdienstkreuz because "Einen Orden dafür, daß man anständig gelebt hat, brauche ich nicht" ("I don't need an order of merit just for having lived decently").