Eva-Maria Hagen

Eva-Maria Hagen (; ; 19 October 1934 – 16 August 2022) was a German actress and singer. She was known as the "Brigitte Bardot of the GDR" but was banned from performance for political reasons. Life Hagen was born Eva-Maria Buchholz in Költschen (present-day Poland) on 19 October 1934, the daughter of farm workers from East Brandenburg. In 1945, Költschen was occupied by the Soviet army and the family was expelled. They moved to Perleberg, which became part of the GDR in 1949. In 1952, after completing an apprenticeship as a machinist, she was trained at the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin. She joined the Berliner Ensemble in 1953. Hagen made her theater debut in 1953 in Erwin Strittmatter's play Katzgraben directed by Bertolt Brecht at the Berliner Ensemble. In 1957, she made her film debut in Kurt Maetzig's comedy Don't Forget My Little Traudel. Her film career led to her being called the "Brigitte Bardot of the GDR". From 1958, she acted at the Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin. At the Landestheater Dessau, she had continued success as the flower girl Eliza in the musical My Fair Lady.