Skip to content
MovieCove
Eva Mattes

Eva Mattes

Actor · Born December 14, 1954 (71) · Tegernsee, Germany

Versatile stage and screen actress best known for Werner Herzog films (Best Supporting winner at Cannes for "Woyzeck"). Possibly her most acclaimed starring role is as her mentor 'Rainer Werner Fassbinder' in "A Man Called EVA" (Fassbinder, who treated Eva Mattes kindly, was sometimes referred to by his initials RWF). The daughter of a film composer father and actress mother, Mattes first gained attention in her teens, when she began her acting career: for Fassbinder (Jail Bait, Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, Effi Briest), as a Vietnamese rape victim (Verhoven's O.K., based on the same tragedy as Casualties of War (1989)), and briefly stumbling into early 70s exploitation fare (Naked Massacre, based on the Richard Speck murders). Mattes moved into leads in prestige and socially conscious films, including Herzog's "Stroszek" (as a German prostitute who flees to the U.S.), Fassbinder's "In A Year of 13 Moons" (as the daughter of a transsexual), Adlon's Céleste (1980) (the title role, as Proust's devoted aide), and Hauff's Mathias Kneissl (1971) (the German Robin Hood). Her recent roles include the mother of the young go-between in Enemy at the Gates, and opposite Isaach De Bankole (the assassin in Casino Royale (2006)) in Otomo. Recently she turned to singing (a CD of English-language standards, 2006) and doing children's films, as well as stage dramas and musicals. As of 2008, she's starring in the world's longest-running detective series, Tatort. In addition to her artist daughter Hanna (with director Werner Herzog), Mattes also has a son Josef, a busy young actor.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
December 14, 1954 (71)
From
Tegernsee, Germany
Works as
Actor
Titles
17 on MovieCove · 103 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 27% in 30 days

What are Eva Mattes' films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Survival.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Animation movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
22%
Survival
20%
Self
19%
Society
17%
Power
12%
Morality
6%
Ideas
5%
Isolation6 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 3 · Serious 2 · Dark 10

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 4 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 3 · Charged 5 · Intense 7

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 8 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 3 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 2

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 2 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 8

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 6 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 5 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 5
Shapeshifter
2 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
8
Tense
8
Dread
5
Contemplative
6
Warm
3
Other
10

How their films linger

Haunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Eva Mattes' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 17 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Eva Mattes' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

103 credits, 17 with a MovieCove page; 35 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Krieg oder Frieden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • Josefa’s Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Petra

  • Rehragout-Rendezvous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Liesl Mooshammer

  • The Net – Promised Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Christina Hein

  • Lena Lorenz - Mutterliebe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Eva Lorenz

  • Da is’ ja nix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 6 episodes · as Tante Mechthild

  • Enfant Terrible(2020)

    as Birgit Mira

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Lang lebe die Königin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Rose Just

  • Jewels Of The Alps - Italy's Great Lakes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 5 episodes · as Narrator

  • Leberkäsjunkie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Liesl Mooshammer

  • Botticelli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Lena Lorenz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 52 episodes · as Eva Lorenz

  • Mord am Höllengrund (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Margot Sonntag

  • Ai Weiwei - Evidence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Fever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Franziska

  • Rosas Welt – 70 neue Filme von Rosa von Praunheim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Letzte Spur Berlin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Elisabeth Berkhoff

  • Sams im Glück (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Frau Mon

  • Under Snow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Das Glück ist eine Katze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Rosemarie 'Rosa' Schätzlein

  • Keiner geht verloren (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Apolonia 'Loni'

  • Mahler on the Couch(2010)

    as Anna Sofie Schindler-Moll

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • My Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • Lippels Traum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Frau Hofstetter

  • Long Shadows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Marita Gellert

  • Memory Books (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Short Life of José Antonio Gutiérrez (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Little Polar Bear 2: The Mysterious Island(2005)

    as Darwina (voice)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Laura's Star(2004)

    as Sonne (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Die Dreigroschenoper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Mrs. Peachum

  • My Magical Friend Sams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Annemarie Rotkohl

  • The Net (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Die Farbe der Seele (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Mara

  • Suck My Dick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Bookseller

  • Goebbels und Geduldig (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Magda Goebbels

  • The Slurb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Annemarie Rotkohl

  • Enemy at the Gates(2001)

    as Mother Filipov

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Danach hätte es schön sein müssen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as (voice)

  • Himmlische Helden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Molle

  • Otomo(1999)

    as Gisela

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Jew-boy Levi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Kresenz Horger

  • Und alles wegen Mama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Hilda Zucker

  • Moloch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Eva Braun (voice)

  • Widows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Molly Dollinger

  • Yugofilm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Bilja

  • The Cry of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Simone

  • Alice Guy-Blaché (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Alice Guy Blaché

  • In der glanzvollen Welt des Hotel Adlon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Pola Negri

  • Brother of Sleep(1995)

    as Nulfin

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Barbara II

  • The Film Narrator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Frau Fritzsche

  • Motzki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 13 episodes · as Gisela Klipschitz

  • Wolffs Revier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Ana Cortez

  • Werner and the Wizard of Booze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Ms. Hansen (voice)

  • Elektro-Lähmung - Ein Film gegen die politische Ohnmacht (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Activist

  • Autumn Milk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Fotografin

  • Fussel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Felix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Eva

  • Now or Never (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Mo

  • Die Unbekannten im eigenen Haus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • Peaceful Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Frau im Café

  • Rita Ritter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Bride

  • A Man Like Eva (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as EVA

  • Longing for Women: Dorothy Arzner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Narrator

  • Dear Melanie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • The Roaring Fifties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Hilde Werwolf

  • Vergiftet oder arbeitslos? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Tochter

  • Céleste(1980)

    as Celeste Albaret

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Vor den Vätern sterben die Söhne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Sophie

  • Germany Pale Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Helene

  • Woyzeck(1979)

    as Marie

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Union der festen Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Paula Griguszies

  • Schattengrenze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Actor

  • I Am My Films: A Portrait of Werner Herzog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Eva

  • Der Schluchtenflitzer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Barbara

  • David (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Toni

  • In a Year with 13 Moons(1978)

    as Marie-Ann

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Women in New York (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Edith

  • Stroszek(1977)

    as Eva

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Tausend Lieder ohne Ton (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Iselore

  • Born for Hell(1976)

    as Catherine

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven(1975)

    as Sekretärin (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Die Jungfrau von Orleans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Johanna von Orleans

  • Effi Briest(1974)

    as Hulda

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Supermarket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Monika

  • Unter Ausschluß der Öffentlichkeit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Christa Mahler

  • Liebe leidet mit Lust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Jaquinetta

  • Desaster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Rosi

  • Immobilien (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Helga-Maria Strothmann

  • Jail Bait (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Hanni Schneider

  • Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Beschwippste Freundin

  • The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant(1972)

    as Gabriele von Kant

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Hochzeit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Mariechen

  • Police Call 110(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Thea Weinert

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Mathias Kneißl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Katharina Kneissl

  • Love Under 17 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • Tatort(1970)

    Show 31 episodes · as Dr. Kispert · as Klara Blum · as Ms. Reiche

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • o.k. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Phan Ti Mao

  • Alle Hunde lieben Theobald (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Heidi Hofer

  • The Commissioner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Billie · as Mali Kusat

  • Der Tag, an dem die Kinder verschwanden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Edna Tocchi

  • Dr. med. Hiob Prätorius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as krankes Mädchen

  • Das Sams in Gefahr (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 104 titles, 103 of them dated from 1965 to 2024; peak year 2002.

Biggest box office

Enemy at the Gates (2001)

$97M worldwide

Highest rated

One Day in the Life of Andrei Arsenevitch (1987)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Enemy at the Gates (2001)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19652024

Peak 2002 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting103 of 104: 103 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thDirecting1 of 104: 1 only directing, 0 with another role

By decade

1960s4 · acting1970s28 · acting1980s16 · acting1990s16 · acting2000s16 · acting2010s14 · 13 acting · 1 crew2020s9 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
727797

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Eva Mattes' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 77th percentile, the median of all 15; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 75th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 17 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 17 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Enfant Terrible (2020)

78th percentile spread · 37% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Stroszek (1977)

Midcredits 96th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Eva Mattes' work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 57 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Eva Mattes work with?

People who share at least 2 of Eva Mattes' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rainer Werner Fassbinder shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers