One of the most celebrated figures of the New German Cinema, Hanna Schygulla acquired transnational stardom through her work with a range of directors in different national cinemas and languages.

This absorbing study charts Schygulla's career and star persona from her early days as a member of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's experimental anti-teater group to her work with eminent European auteurs, including Jean-Luc Godard, Andrzej Wajda and, more recently, Fatih Akin. It also discusses her reinvention as an acclaimed cabaret chanteuse.

Unpicking the myth that Schygulla's star persona depended on her collaboration with Fassbinder, Ulrike Sieglohr examines how her versatile and idiosyncratic acting style developed throughout her career. With in-depth analysis of key films and their international receptions, Sieglohr foregrounds Schygulla's individual agency, resourcefulness and talent.