Scene from Even Closer: Hautnah / TV series (2021)

Dana Marie Esch is a versatile German actress and performer based in Berlin, the city where she was born and raised. Born as Dana Marie Esch, she has established herself as a dynamic talent within the German entertainment industry, blending her passion for classical theater with contemporary screen acting. She recently completed her formal artistic training at the ETI Schauspielschule Berlin in 2024, though she had already gained professional traction years prior.

Her screen career includes a notable appearance in the 2021 dance-drama series "Even Closer – hautnah," as well as roles in popular German productions like Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten. Beyond television, she has a strong presence on the stage, having performed at prestigious venues such as the Deutsche Oper Berlin in Macbeth and the Sommertheater Dresden. In addition to her acting work, the 176 cm tall blonde-haired actress is active as a fashion model and dedicated to the next generation of talent, serving as a coach for young actors at the filmreif acting school in Berlin.

Alternate Names: Mareike Theresia Zwahr

Physical Characteristics: N/A

First Appearances:

• Julka and Julie (2020) as

Most Important Roles:

• Julka and Julie (2020) as
• Life And Death Of God (2023) as Anja

Career Highlights:

• Julka and Julie (2020)
• Life And Death Of God (2023)

Born on April 27, 1992, in Schwerin, Germany, as Mareike Theresia Zwahr, the German actress and performer initially pursued a career in athletics. For ten years, she dedicated herself to track and field, specifically the heptathlon, with dreams of becoming an Olympic champion. However, a sudden injury forced her to change her plans, leading her to discover her passion for the arts.

She went on to study acting, singing, and dancing at the Stage School Hamburg from 2011 to 2014. Following her graduation, Zwahr built a versatile career across theater, musicals, and television. She gained significant stage experience performing in major productions such as the Udo Lindenberg musical Hinterm Horizont and West Side Story, and toured extensively in the Bibi & Tina live shows.

Zwahr is perhaps best known to television audiences for her role as Lucie in the series Even Closer - Hautnah (2021). Her screen credits also include appearances in popular German crime series like SOKO Potsdam and Letzte Spur Berlin, as well as the medical drama Doktor Ballouz. Based in Berlin, she continues to work as a multi-talented artist, incorporating her skills in voice acting, songwriting, and presenting into her professional repertoire.

Alternate Names: Maeva Marie Mathilde Roth

Physical Characteristics: N/A

First Appearances:

• Rex Gildo: The Last Dance (2022) as Heidi

Most Important Roles:

• Rex Gildo: The Last Dance (2022) as Heidi
• Bandido (2024) as Lia
• Blutspur Antwerpen (2025) as Michelle Wouters

Career Highlights:

• Rex Gildo: The Last Dance (2022)
• Bandido (2024)
• Blutspur Antwerpen (2025)

Born in 1995 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Maéva Marie Mathilde Roth is a versatile German-French actress, dancer, and voice-over artist. Her birth name is Maéva Marie Mathilde Roth. She discovered her passion for performance early on, starting dance at the age of four and taking acting lessons throughout her school years.

After completing her high school education (Abitur), she moved to Hamburg to undergo professional training at the Stage School Hamburg from 2014 to 2017. Following her graduation, she expanded her international experience by working as an artistic director and choreographer in Bangkok, Thailand, for a year.

Her breakthrough in the German television landscape came with her leading role as Klara Ludwig in the RTL+ drama series "Even Closer – Hautnah" (2021). Since then, she has appeared in various high-profile productions, including the series "Notruf Hafenkante," the drama "Alice," and the thriller "Blutspur Antwerpen". Beyond the screen, she is a sought-after bilingual voice-over talent, lending her voice to both German and French commercial and dubbing projects. She currently resides in Berlin.

First Appearances:

• Living Your Life (2022) as Meike

Most Important Roles:

• Living Your Life (2022) as Meike

Career Highlights:

• Living Your Life (2022)

Born as Susanne Studentkowski on September 28, 1995, in Bitburg, Germany, Susi Studentkowski is a versatile German actress and singer. She first rose to prominence as a teenager as a member of the popular music group Die Lollipops between 2008 and 2010. After transitioning into acting, she gained significant recognition for her role as Sophie in the 2021 series Even Closer – Hautnah. Throughout her career, she has appeared in various television productions, including the long-running crime series SOKO Stuttgart, and film projects like Living Your Life. In addition to her screen work, she remains active in the music industry, performing with the vocal ensemble BAZAM and launching her own independent music label in 2023.

Alternate Names: Vivien Koenig

Physical Characteristics: N/A

First Appearances:

• Follow (2020) as

Most Important Roles:

• Lips & Tips (2021) as Melanie
• Hard Feelings (2023) as Francoise
• Krass Klassenfahrt - Der Kinofilm (2021) as Alena
• Follow (2020) as
• Die vergessene Hochzeit (2024) as Pia

Career Highlights:

• Lips & Tips (2021)
• Hard Feelings (2023)
• Krass Klassenfahrt - Der Kinofilm (2021)
• Follow (2020)
• Die vergessene Hochzeit (2024)

Awards:

• Nominated for 1 Jury Prize - Best Actress (2021)
• Won Festival Award - Best Actress (2021)
• Nominated for 1 Jury Prize - Best Actress: (Crime) (2022)
• Nominated for 1 Best Actor - Best Actor (2022)

Vivien König, born in Germany, began her acting career by joining Stage School Hamburg, one of Germany's most prestigious art schools. Alongside fellow students Feli, Lucie, Klara, Ben, and Nils, König dedicated herself to honing her craft with the goal of performing on stage.