As she was banned from performing because of her Jewish father from 1935 to 1945, she worked as a telephonist and engineering drawer.
Attended drama schools in Berlin from 1928 to 1930.
Being interested in political and social issues during her whole life, she first appeared publicly in 1925, fighting against the death penalty.
Born to salesman Julius Meysel, a German Jew, and his Danish wife Anna Hansen.
Germany's most popular TV actress from the early 1960s until her death in 2004.
Is interred in the Ohlsdorf Main Cemetery, Hamburg next to her husband John Olden.
Played over 100 roles on stage and television. Appearing as a concierge on Das Fenster zum Flur (1960) (TV), she was nicknamed "Mother of the nation".
Sued (together with other feminist activists) "Stern" magazine because of sexist nudity on its cover (1978).
Was good friends with newsreader Wilhelm Wieben.