Karin Thaler: No new role offers for the popular cops actress!

Karin Thaler: No new role offers for the popular cops actress!

In the world of television, there are trends that not only influence ratings, but also the prospects of actresses. A shining example of this is the long-running ZDF series “The Rosenheim Cops”, in which Karin Thaler as “Marie Hofer” has been an integral part for 25 years. But in recent years the talented actress has found that offers for new roles have stopped coming. “It's hard for women over 60 to get new roles,” explains Thaler, referring to the challenges many of her colleagues experience in the industry. This problem is being addressed by the “Let’s Change The Picture” initiative, which advocates for greater visibility of older women in German film and television. According to a report by Die Zeit, stereotypical roles and discrimination are still widespread in this age group.

Although Thaler doesn't see the decline in job offers as a personal problem, as she has achieved numerous goals in her career, the reality is sobering for many older actresses. The MaLisa study shows that the number of women over 30 in German film productions is decreasing, while more than two thirds of the central characters over 50 are male. This underrepresentation is an issue that cannot be ignored.

Marisa Burger: A chapter is coming to an end

However, Thaler is not the only one who is seeing changes in the line-up. Her colleague Marisa Burger has already completed her last day of filming on “The Rosenheim Cops”, but the broadcast of her final episode is still pending. Burger will speak about her future after the series ends at the AZ-Sofa in the Deutsches Theater on November 12th, a date that many fans are already expecting.

The discussion about the visibility of older actresses is a relevant topic, as Ruth Reinecke, another prominent voice in this debate, shows. She speaks of a massive taboo around age in the industry and the stereotypical portrayal of older women, who are often reduced to the role of the caring grandmother or the dominant old woman. Gesine Cukrowski, a co-initiator of “Let’s Change The Picture”, emphasizes the need to raise awareness of diversity in the representation of women and calls for a fundamental rethink.

A look into the future

Despite the challenges, Karin Thaler remains optimistic. She hasn't thought about leaving the successful series yet; after all, there's no reason to do so yet. With over 40 years of experience in front of the camera, she is not only valued as an actress, but also as a role model for many young actresses who want to find their place in an industry that is still male-dominated. It remains to be seen how audience acceptance and offers for older actresses will develop in the coming years.

Let's hope that more voices like those of Thaler and Cukrowski are heard and that the industry is moved to change that improves the diversity of female representation. Because one thing is certain: the stories of older women are still alive and deserve to be told.