She started her long term acting career in 1904 as a young woman at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus in Hamburg. She was a member of stage companies in Hannover and Berlin, but she retired after her marriage in 1915. Her husband died in 1937 so she started again as a stage actress in Berlin. In 1939, she made her film debut. In the 40's, she also worked as a teacher at the drama school of the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. In the post war period, she was member of a popular radio cabaret group in Berlin. When she was older, she gained more popularity. In the 1960s, when she was in her seventies, she became a famous character actress of West German cinema and television. She played mostly old ladies with charm and wit. She is best remembered as grandma in the TV-series 'Die Unverbesserlichen' (1966-71). She died aged 87 in Berlin. Her grave is named a grave of honor.