Background
Born Daniela Barnes in Munich, Wendel is the daughter of German actress Britta Wendel and of the American football player and film actor Walt Barnes.
Born Daniela Barnes in Munich, Wendel is the daughter of German actress Britta Wendel and of the American football player and film actor Walt Barnes.
She made her debut at just four years old as a model for ads, and at the age of seven she made her film debut in the Tonino Valerii"s giallo film. She also appeared as Mario Adorf"s daughter Rita in, directed by Fernando Di Leo, and as the young Silvia in, directed by Francesco Barilli. Wendel had her first main role at 12 years old in the controversial erotic drama, which involved both nudity and simulated sexual
Later she appeared in other controversial films, characterized by plots involving incest and improper relations between adults and adolescents, such as,, and
In the 1980s Wendel was mainly active in horror films, working with Dario Argento (Tenebre, 1982), Lamberto Bava (Midnight Killer, 1986), Joe Doctorate"Amato (Killing Birds, 1988), and Umberto Lenzi (Ghosthouse, 1988) among others She was also in a number of art films, including Michelangelo Antonioni"s and Federico Fellini"son
She also appeared on television, notably playing a role of weight in the second season of the television-series Louisiana piovra. Her last film was Mauro Bolognini"s erotic drama, and she retired at just 26 years old.