Career
Born in Munich to German-Jewish parents, she first appeared on the stage in 1920. She became a major star on stage, in films, and in political cabaret. In the late 1920s through 1933, she was a leading actress at the famous Munich Kammerspiele.
When the Nazis came to power in 1933, Giehse left Germany for Zürich, Switzerland, where she continued to act in exile, playing leading roles in Zürich, including in Erika Mann"s acclaimed political cabaret, Die Pfeffermühle (which was itself also an exile, having been transported from Munich to Zürich in 1933 as well).
During her exile, she traveled throughout central Europe with Pfeffermühle. She returned to Germany after World World War II, and performed in theatres on both sides of the Iron Curtain, but mostly in her native Bavaria, until her death in 1975.
With Bertolt Brecht After the war, Giehse returned to Munich and to the Munich Kammerspiele, where, in 1950, she again played the role of Mother Courage, this time directed by Brecht himself. This production became documented as the second "Model production" of Brecht"s play (the first "Model production" had been performed by Brecht"s wife, Helene Weigel in 1949 in Berlin).
Giehse and Brecht would often converse in their strong Bavarian (southern German) dialect during rehearsals, making Brecht"s wife jealous of their kindred spirit.
Other roles Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Giehse continued to perform many lead roles in various theatres in Germany, often using her considerable comic skills to play character roles, as well as great dramatic roles, such as the leads in several landmark productions by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, the world premiere of The Visit in 1956, and The Physicists in 1962. Later, she also worked with Peter Stein"s renowned Schaubühne am Halleschen Ufer in Berlin. She also appeared in over 20 films and a number of television productions.
In 1988, a commemorative stamp was printed in her honour as part of the Women in German history series.
In the same year a commemorative exhibition took place at the Deutsches Theatermuseum in Munich.
