I remain a seeker
We visit Caroline Hanke in her new home in Leipzig. She tells us about her life as an independent actress, lecturer, farewell speaker, hobby gardener, and mother of two children.
We sit in a backyard in Leipzig, which grows and sprouts around us. Caroline Hanke sits opposite us and tells us about her beginnings as an actress. "Acting has been an important way of expressing myself since I was a child. I feel safe on stage. There I can be free, surprise myself and remain a seeker."
Upon graduating from Rostock 20 years ago, she immediately engaged as a permanent ensemble member of the Staatsschauspiel Dresden. During this time, she also gave birth to her first child. Her husband Marcus, whom she already knew from her studies, quit his job at the Theater Rostock and moved to Dresden to be with his family. Three months after giving birth, Caroline was back on stage.
"That was sometimes quite a feat!"
She had rehearsals in the morning and in the evenings, a rehearsal, or her performance. She learned texts and completed everyday tasks whilst trying to catch her breath in between. "Without my husband and his self-employment, and thus more flexible work as an actor, this would not have been possible!"
During a trip from Dresden to her hometown, Potsdam, an unanticipated opportunity arose. A familiar group of actors, dramaturges, and directors invited her to join the Schauspiel Dortmund, where she worked as a permanent ensemble member for eleven years.
During a trip from Dresden to her hometown, Potsdam, an unanticipated opportunity arose. A familiar group of actors, dramaturges, and directors invited her to join the Schauspiel Dortmund, where she worked as a permanent ensemble member for eleven years.
When the management of the theater changed in 2021, and the group was reassembled, Caroline decided not to take on another permanent engagement. She decided to become an independent actress in the future and be her own mistress. She no longer wanted to feel heteronomous.
After preparing herself as best she could for her new professional life, Caroline's plans were suddenly interrupted by the Corona pandemic. In consequence of the lockdown, all existing filming orders for television were interrupted overnight, and the theaters stopped operations.
Nevertheless, Caroline and Marcus decided to move to Leipzig in February 2021. Marcus is originally from Leipzig, and both have many friends and relatives there. "Besides, Leipzig is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany," Caroline insists. "I've always wanted to live there!" But the decision of the family was not taken lightly. After all, the then fourteen-year-old son and six-year-old daughter were rooted in Dortmund. In April 2021, the family moved into their new apartment in the north of the city.
After preparing herself as best she could for her new professional life, Caroline's plans were suddenly interrupted by the Corona pandemic. In consequence of the lockdown, all existing filming orders for television were interrupted overnight, and the theaters stopped operations.
Nevertheless, Caroline and Marcus decided to move to Leipzig in February 2021. Marcus is originally from Leipzig, and both have many friends and relatives there. "Besides, Leipzig is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany," Caroline insists. "I've always wanted to live there!" But the decision of the family was not taken lightly. After all, the then fourteen-year-old son and six-year-old daughter were rooted in Dortmund. In April 2021, the family moved into their new apartment in the north of the city.
A year later, Caroline's backyard is growing green, the birds are chirping, and spring has finally arrived. With a smile on her face, she holds the garden shovel in her hand and says: "I am very pleased we were so brave to try something new, even though we did not know how it would turn out. Our belly guided us, and we trusted him, and the leap into the unknown was worth it! I didn’t know I had a green thumb. It gives me great pleasure to turn the originally dreary backyard into a colorful garden for the whole house. It has grown from the stuff I sowed and lo-and-behold, it holds.
"I never thought gardening could relax me and inspire me in creative ways."
In the courtyard, there now is a cozy sitting area where we sit and listen to their story.
Meanwhile, Caroline’s everyday life looks very different from a few years ago. The days are not as busy as before and the "flow" can be felt more clearly. "I spend more time with my children. During pleasant weather, I am often outside for hours and enjoy the seasons. This unblocks me and gives me new strength when my stress rages in my head or my battery simply is empty. "Although Caroline still works as an actress, she is now less often on stage but seen in front of the camera. "I have always been very interested in filming, and there is still so much to discover and explore in this area. I find that very exciting!" Caroline is currently shooting a lead role for an upcoming crime series on ZDF. The filming took place in both Hamburg and Flensburg. "It is sometimes a bit stressful, but not a problem for a manageable period."
Additionally, Caroline has been working as a lecturer for students at various drama schools since the end of last year. "I enjoy being with young people, exchanging ideas, and sharing my experiences. This is actually very similar to gardening. In the best case, I can empower students to grow, discover themselves and their abilities and make them shine.“
Meanwhile, Caroline’s everyday life looks very different from a few years ago. The days are not as busy as before and the "flow" can be felt more clearly. "I spend more time with my children. During pleasant weather, I am often outside for hours and enjoy the seasons. This unblocks me and gives me new strength when my stress rages in my head or my battery simply is empty. "Although Caroline still works as an actress, she is now less often on stage but seen in front of the camera. "I have always been very interested in filming, and there is still so much to discover and explore in this area. I find that very exciting!" Caroline is currently shooting a lead role for an upcoming crime series on ZDF. The filming took place in both Hamburg and Flensburg. "It is sometimes a bit stressful, but not a problem for a manageable period."
Additionally, Caroline has been working as a lecturer for students at various drama schools since the end of last year. "I enjoy being with young people, exchanging ideas, and sharing my experiences. This is actually very similar to gardening. In the best case, I can empower students to grow, discover themselves and their abilities and make them shine.“
Another new task opened up to Caroline last year. In the course of grief for someone’s passing from her immediate family circle, she felt so comforted by a speech at the funeral. She decided to investigate this field of activity more closely. „Death was suddenly so present that I could not avoid it, wanted and had to deal with it more deeply and intensively in order to better understand it."
Since last autumn, Caroline has been working as a farewell speaker at funerals two to three times a month. This is such a meaningful activity! ", she says. "I get to know so many life paths and designs, can look into so different households, and meet so many people, with whom I would probably have never come into conversation with otherwise. My words can help give the deceased a farewell ritual, encourage the bereaved, and perhaps comfort them. It is also incredibly reassuring to deal with the subject of transience, as it unites and unites us all.
Since last autumn, Caroline has been working as a farewell speaker at funerals two to three times a month. This is such a meaningful activity! ", she says. "I get to know so many life paths and designs, can look into so different households, and meet so many people, with whom I would probably have never come into conversation with otherwise. My words can help give the deceased a farewell ritual, encourage the bereaved, and perhaps comfort them. It is also incredibly reassuring to deal with the subject of transience, as it unites and unites us all.
"For me, death is a gate to change, no end. I am really happy to have found such an enriching and grounding part-time job!"
Despite the added tasks, Caroline never stops looking. The next project that interests me is recording an audiobook or participating in audiobook production. We have built a small studio in our apartment. By autumn, I hope to spend more time exploring it."
When asked what is particularly meaningful to Caroline in life, she spontaneously replies: "I want to be myself and not hide. My goal is to stay curious and flexible. I would like to keep finding inspiring experiences and sharing them with my friends and family. There's still so much to discover! I'm looking forward to seeing what my way holds."
When asked what is particularly meaningful to Caroline in life, she spontaneously replies: "I want to be myself and not hide. My goal is to stay curious and flexible. I would like to keep finding inspiring experiences and sharing them with my friends and family. There's still so much to discover! I'm looking forward to seeing what my way holds."
Caro’s favorite pieces
Me & Tezer tells the stories of women with exciting life stories about unique experiences, ideas, creative hobbies, families, and careers. Carolin Hanke moved from her hometown of Dortmund to Leipzig during the Corona pandemic as a freelance actress without a permanent job. We visit her in her new home, where she tells us about her life as an actress, lecturer, valedictorian, hobby gardener, and mother. In the process, we have some jewellery in our luggage, which we are allowed to photograph on Caroline. The actress particularly likes the filigree designs: light lines, small stones, and delicate chains.
Story: Lucie Schnurrer
Having the courage to reach out at the right moment - hopefully!
Within our interview series Me & Tezer we tell about women with exciting life stories around unique experiences, ideas, creative hobbies, families, and careers. We also visit Lucie Schnurrer because she is a gallery owner and exhibits jewelry by Tezer. She not only has a personal relationship with Tezer, but also shares our interest in aesthetics, culture, and craftsmanship.
