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Julika Jenkins

Julika Jenkins (born 20 October 1971) is a actress of British- heritage, recognized for her extensive work across , film, and television in and . Born in to a Welsh father and a German-French mother, she trained at the prestigious Otto-Falckenberg acting school in starting in 1991. Jenkins began her professional career in , debuting in 1993 at the Münchner Kammerspiele in productions such as The Moon in the Grass and Krach in Chioggia. She later joined the Neumarkt Theatre Company in in 1994, where she performed in over 20 plays, including selections featured at the Berliner Theatertreffen. From 1999 to 2003, she collaborated with director Thomas Ostermeier at the Schaubühne in , and subsequently freelanced at venues like the Schauspielhaus , Münchner Kammerspiele, and , with a notable role as Irmgard in The Speckled People at The Gate in . In film and television, Jenkins gained international prominence for her role as adult Claudia Tiedemann in the Netflix series Dark (2017–2020), a critically acclaimed German sci-fi thriller. Other significant film roles include Helen von Holzen in Vitus (2006), a Swiss drama about a child prodigy, and appearances in Body Rice (2006) and Un Homme et Son Chien (2008). On television, she portrayed Ruth Iosava in the epix series Berlin Station (2016–2019), and more recently Karin Beck in the Netflix miniseries Dear Child (2023), and has guest-starred in German series such as Tatort and Kommissarin Heller: Hitzschlag. Jenkins resides in with her long-term partner, the actor Arnd Klawitter, with whom she has collaborated professionally.

Early life and education

Family background

Julika Jenkins was born on October 20, 1971, in , , (now ). She grew up in a multicultural , with a Welsh father and a mother, which exposed her to diverse cultural influences from an early age. Her upbringing in South-West , centered in , immersed her in the region's blend of traditions while her parental heritage introduced elements of Welsh and customs, fostering a broad worldview. This family background contributed to Jenkins' trilingual proficiency in , English, and , reflecting her mixed heritage and early linguistic exposures. Her multilingual identity shaped her multicultural perspective, which later supported her versatility in international roles across , English, and French-language productions.

Acting training

In , Julika Jenkins moved to to begin her training at the Otto Falckenberg School of the Performing Arts, a renowned institution affiliated with the Münchner Kammerspiele that emphasizes practical, ensemble-based instruction in and directing. The school's program at the time focused on intensive craft development through workshops, , and stage performances, allowing students to gain hands-on experience early in their studies. During her studies, she made her professional debut at the Münchner Kammerspiele in productions including The Moon in the Grass directed by and Krach in Chioggia by , which toured throughout . Following her training, Jenkins joined the ensemble at Theater am Neumarkt in from 1994 to 1999, where she performed in over twenty productions, honing her skills in a collaborative repertory environment.

Professional career

Theatre work

Julika Jenkins began her professional theatre career following her training at the Otto Falckenberg School in , where she laid the foundation for her stage work. From 1999 to 2003, Jenkins was a member of the ensemble at the Schaubühne Berlin under artistic director Thomas Ostermeier, contributing to the theatre's reputation for innovative, contemporary interpretations of classic and modern texts. During this period, she performed in several key productions that explored themes of alienation, power dynamics, and social critique, including Push up 1-3 (2000), a fragmented addressing corporate exploitation and human disconnection, directed by Ostermeier; Dantons Tod (2001), Büchner's on revolutionary turmoil, also under Ostermeier's direction; and Personenkreis 3.1 (2002), which examined everyday absurdities in post-reunification through Ostermeier's lens of . These roles highlighted her versatility in ensemble-driven works that blended physicality with intellectual depth, aligning with the Schaubühne's postdramatic style. Jenkins' work at the Schaubühne exemplified her broader contributions to contemporary and theatre, where she emphasized themes of , , and societal fragmentation in both classical revivals and new texts. Prior to , she had built experience at the Neumarkt Theatre in (1994–1999), appearing in over 20 productions such as Top Dogs (1996) by Volker Hesse, which satirized corporate culture, and Die Vorgezeichneten (1998) directed by Jossi Wieler, delving into fate and morality. Her early engagement at the Münchner Kammerspiele in 1993, including Robert Wilson's Mond im Gras, introduced her to experimental staging that influenced her later career. After leaving the Schaubühne in 2003, Jenkins transitioned to freelance work while maintaining selective stage involvement, allowing her to balance with screen projects. Notable post-2003 appearances included Die Orestie (2004) at Schauspielhaus , directed by Stefan Pucher, reimagining ' cycle with contemporary political resonance; Penthesilea (2010) at Deutsches Schauspielhaus under Roger , focusing on Kleist's themes of love and war; and Liliom (2013–2014) at Schauspielhaus , directed by Christina Paulhofer, a Molnár fantasy exploring . These engagements underscored her ongoing impact on German-speaking , particularly in and venues, through roles that prioritized emotional intensity and ensemble collaboration.

Television roles

Julika Jenkins gained prominence for her portrayal of Claudia Tiedemann in the series Dark (2017–2020), where she appeared in 14 episodes as the adult and middle-aged versions of the character, a director entangled in time-travel conspiracies and family secrets across multiple timelines. Her performance captured Claudia's evolution from a determined professional in the to a strategic time traveler confronting existential threats, contributing to the series' critical acclaim for its complex narrative. In the espionage thriller Berlin Station (2016–2019), Jenkins played Ruth Iosava in 4 episodes, depicting a shadowy figure involved in international intrigue and CIA operations in post-Cold War . The role highlighted her ability to convey moral ambiguity in high-stakes political dramas. Jenkins has made recurring appearances in the long-running German crime series across various episodes from the 2010s onward, including roles such as Carmen Hartmann in "Kartenhaus" (2016) and Birte Knopp in "Hardcore" (2019), often portraying complex suspects or victims in procedural investigations. These performances underscore her familiarity with the format's emphasis on psychological depth in mystery-solving. More recently, Jenkins starred as Karin Beck, a grieving mother unraveling family trauma, in the Netflix miniseries Dear Child (2023), appearing in all 6 episodes of the psychological thriller adapted from Romy Hausmann's novel. In 2024, she portrayed Ina Fissler, a key witness in a rural murder case, in the episode "Schwarzer Spiegel" of the crime drama Wolfsland. She also appeared as Petra Schirmer in the 2023 episode "Cottbus kopflos" of Polizeiruf 110, a single-episode role involving a carnival-related homicide investigation. In 2024, she appeared in the TV series Bad Influencer as Siegrid Scherz and the miniseries Seelendorf. Jenkins' television work demonstrates versatility across genres, particularly in crime dramas like , Wolfsland, and , where she excels in nuanced portrayals of ordinary people drawn into suspenseful narratives, contrasted with her sci-fi turn in .

Film roles

Jenkins made her film debut in the Swiss drama Vitus (2006), directed by Fredi M. Murer, where she portrayed Helen von Holzen, the ambitious mother of a piano prodigy. This role marked her breakthrough in cinema, earning praise for her nuanced depiction of parental pressure in a family-centric narrative that blended Swiss realism with universal themes. In 2008, she appeared in the French-Swiss co-production (Un homme et son chien), directed by Francis Huster, playing the character Jeanne alongside . The film, a remake of Vittorio De Sica's Umberto D., explored themes of loneliness and displacement, showcasing Jenkins' ability to convey quiet empathy in international settings. Jenkins continued her screen work with a supporting role as Tina's mother in the German horror film (Der Nachtmahr, 2015), directed by Mikroschok. In this atmospheric infused with elements, her performance added emotional depth to the familial tensions surrounding the protagonist's hallucinations. Her success in television, particularly the Netflix series Dark, opened doors to further film opportunities in the 2020s. More recently, Jenkins starred as Regina in the British-German horror thriller Baghead (2023), directed by Alberto Corredor, portraying a grieving mother entangled in a supernatural inheritance plot. She also appeared as Vera in the German short film Der zweite Kurzschluss (2023), a continuation exploring interpersonal dynamics in a small-town setting. In 2024, she took on the role of Carola in the mystery drama series Wäldern, contributing to its focus on disappearances in a rural German community, and starred in the drama Der Heimatlose. Throughout her film career, Jenkins has gravitated toward Swiss-German and international co-productions, often embodying complex maternal or authoritative figures that highlight emotional restraint and psychological nuance in arthouse and genre cinema. Her roles reflect a commitment to storytelling traditions, bridging precision with broader continental narratives.

Personal life

Relationships

Julika Jenkins has maintained a long-term partnership with German actor Arnd Klawitter, with whom she shares professional circles in theatre, television, and film. The couple, often described in media coverage of their joint projects as a personal pair, prioritizes privacy and rarely discusses their relationship publicly. Little is known about how they met. They have a son together. They base their life together in .

Residence

Julika Jenkins has maintained her primary residence in , , since relocating there in 1999. This move aligned with her professional commitments, establishing as her long-term base. functions as a key hub for Jenkins' and film endeavors in the German-speaking world, offering proximity to major institutions like the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, where she began her tenure in 1999 and continues as a freelance performer. The city's dynamic cultural landscape supports her work across stage productions and screen projects throughout , , and . Despite these commitments, Jenkins frequently travels for international collaborations while keeping Berlin as her home, including roles in the Swiss production (2006) and the American series (2016).

References

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    Julika Jenkins is a German actress. She lives in Berlin with her partner, actor Arnd Klawitter. She has appeared in stage, television, and film productions ...
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    Julika Jenkins - Filmmakers
    LanguagesGerman(native)EnglishFrenchItalian ; DialectsBadisch(native dialect)Berlin German ; InstrumentsPianoRecorder ; SportDancesportFencing (sports)Fencing ( ...Missing: spoken | Show results with:spoken
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    School – Otto Falckenberg Schule
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    Rating 6.5/10 (3,318) Top Cast20 ; Carolyn Genzkow · Tina ; Sina Tkotsch · Barbara ; Wilson Gonzalez · Adam ; Arnd Klawitter · Tinas Vater ; Julika Jenkins · Tinas Mutter.
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    Wäldern, TV Movie (multi-part), Mystery, 2023-2024 | Crew United
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    Documents. Training. - Otto-Falckenberg-Schule, München. Awards/Nominations. CV CV - Television & Streaming CV - Film CV - Theatre CV - Commercials CV - Audio ...Missing: acting School
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    Cast. Teo Gheorghiu · Bruno Ganz · Julika Jenkins · Urs Jucker · Fabrizio Borsani ... “Vitus” represents Switzerland at new RomeFilmFest · 03.10.2006. Swiss films ...