May, Gisela (1924–)

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May, Gisela (1924–)

German singer and actress. Born in Wetzlar, Germany, May 31, 1924; dau. of Ferdinand May (1896–1977, well-known playwright and author) and Käthe (Käte) Mettig May (1898–1969, successful actress).

Began acting (1942) and became a permanent member of the ensembles of the Deutsches Theater (1951) and the Berliner Ensemble (1962), 2 of East Berlin's leading theaters; regarded for a generation as the foremost singing actress of the German Democratic Republic, was also a major dramatic actress; continued to perform after the unification of the 2 German states (1990); among her most famous roles was that of Mother Courage in Brecht's play of the same name; regarded by many as the greatest interpreter of the songs of Brecht, Kurt Tucholsky, Kurt Weill, and Hanns Eisler. Awarded the Arts Prize of GDR (1959); won Grand Prix du Disque for recording of Kurt Weill's Die Sieben Todsünden (The Seven Deadly Sins, 1967).

See also Dieter Kranz, Gisela May, Schauspielerin und Diseuse: Bildbiographie (Henschelverlag, 1988); and Women in World History.