Lea van Acken
Born: 1999-02-22 in Lübeck, Germany
Known For: Acting
Biography
Van Acken grew up in Schleswig-Holstein, where she still lives today in a small village. As a child, she was interested in horseback riding and dancing. She first took the stage in 2011 as an extra in a production of *Der Ölprinz* at the Karl May Festival in Bad Segeberg. She did not undergo formal training as an actress; instead, she studied other actors by watching them in films. In 2014, Van Acken played the lead role—that of the deeply religious teenager Maria—in the drama *Kreuzweg* (Stations of the Cross), directed by Dietrich Brüggemann. The film won a Silver Bear at the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival. In Brüggemann’s next film, *Heil*—a satire about neo-Nazis—Van Acken portrayed a teenager. She also played a small role in Bernadette Knoller’s RBB television film *Ferien*. In 2015, she appeared in a supporting role in the fifth season of the US series *Homeland*, which was filmed entirely in Germany. She also appeared in the SWR television film *Sag mir nichts* and in the *Spreewaldkrimi* installment *Das Duell im Moor* (ZDF). In the film adaptation of *The Diary of Anne Frank*, Van Acken played the title role of Anne Frank. To prepare for the role of the Jewish girl who became famous through her diary, she wrote fictional letters to Anne Frank. For the final scene—which takes place in a concentration camp—the actress had her hair cut off to ensure an authentic portrayal.
Filmography
2026
- Wovon sollen wir träumen as Julia
- Drop
- Liebesbesuch as Nathalie
2025
- Call Me Levi as Annie Packsher
- 5 Finger sind 'ne Faust as Maria
- Und keiner geht hin as Matea
2023
- German Genius as Lea van Acken
- Two Sides of the Abyss as Josi
- Hitlerputsch 1923: Das Tagebuch der Paula Schlier as Paula Schlier
- 4 Days to Eternity as Idilia Dubb
2022
- The Privilege as Lena
2021
- Blackout: Tomorrow Is Too Late as Ulrike
2020
- The Island as Ella
- Cracks as Iris
2019
- All My Loving as Tinka
- Abikalypse as Hannah
- Abikalypse as Hannah
2017
- Dark as Girl from the Future
- Suck Me Shakespeer 3 as Amrei Keiser
- Windstorm 3 as Samantha
- Bibi & Tina: Perfect Pandemonium as Aladin
2016
- Sag mir nichts as Sasanna
- The Diary of Anne Frank as Anne Frank
- Ferien as Lea
2015
- Wer weiß denn sowas? as Self
- Heil as Teenager
2014
- Stations of the Cross as Maria
2011
- Homeland as Ayla
2006
- Spreewaldkrimi as Svenja Heinze
2003
- ZIBB as Self
1992
- Morgenmagazin as Self
1979
- Bavarian Film Awards as Self
1976
- Kölner Treff as Self
1970
- Scene of the Crime as Verena Hetsch