Biography:

Jenny Gröllmann was born on February 5, 1947 in Hamburg, Germany. Her parents, a stage designer and a photographer, introduced her to the theater at an early age. After discovering her talent for acting at 14, Gröllmann studied drama in Berlin-Schöneweide from 1963 until 1966. She then performed at the Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin until the early 1990s.

In addition to her stage work, Gröllmann appeared in many films, including opposite Armin Mueller-Stahl in the DEFA production Die Flucht. Her role as Suzette Gontard in Hälfte des Lebens earned her praise for her subtle, sensitive and passionate portrayal of Hölderlin’s lover.

Gröllmann became known to a wider audience through her television roles, especially in the crime genre. Most notably, she played the quick-witted District Attorney Katharina Dorn in Schwurgericht, in addition to making numerous appearances on popular German series like Tatort, Polizeiruf 110, SOKO 5113, and Der Bulle von Tölz.

After a first marriage to the director Michael Kann, from 1984 to 1990 Gröllmann was married to actor Ulrich Mühe (Das Leben der Anderen, 2006; Mein Führer, 2007). Mühe caused a controversy when he accused Gröllmann of being an informer for the East German Stasi during the 1980s; she denied the allegations and sued her ex-husband for spreading unsubstantiated rumors.

Jenny Gröllmann died of cancer in Berlin on August 9, 2006, leaving behind two daughters. Her life and work are featured in the 2008 German documentary Ich will da sein (The Ballad of Jenny G.).