Autorentext

Born in Germany, UTA HAGEN moved to Madison, Wisconsin, at the age of six. Ms. Hagen made her professional debut in 1937 in Dennis, Massachusetts, as Ophelia in Eva Le Gallienne's production of HAMLET. In 1938 she made her Broadway debut as Nina in the Alfred Lunt's famous production of Chekov's THE SEA GULL. She married Jose Ferrer, whom she met while playing summer stock. Following her marriage, Ms. Hagen worked on Broadway, opposite Paul Muni in KEY LARGO, and in VICKI. From 1943-45, she played in the legendary production of OTHELLO with Paul Robeson. She played for the last time opposite Ferrer in the City Center revival of ANGEL STREET. In 1947, Ms. Hagen played on Broadway with Herbert Berghof in THE WHOLE WORLD OVER. Her 1948 role as Blanche DuBois in the National Company of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE with Anthony Quinn met with phenomenal success. She succeeded Jessica Tandy on Broadway the following year. In 1950 Hagen won her first Tony Award, The Drama Critic's Award and The Donaldson Award for her portrayal of Georgie Elgin in Clifford Odets's THE COUNTRY GIRL. In 1951 she starred in Shaw's ST. JOAN; in 1952 with Walter Matthau in George Abbott's production of IN ANY LANGUAGE; in 1952 THE DEEP BLUE SEA; in 1954 THE MAGIC AND THE LOSS with Robert Preston; and in 1955 with Laurence Harvey in Ugo Betti's THE ISLAND OF GOATS. Ms. Hagen married Herbert Berghof in 1957 and played opposite him in TOVARICH, THE LADY'S NOT FOR BURNING, THE AFFAIRS OF ANATOL, and CYPRIENNE (Divorçons) by Sardou. At The Phoenix Theater, she played Natalya in Turgenev's A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY and Shen Te in Brecht's THE GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN. She won her second Tony and Drama Critic's Award in 1962, for shaping the role of Martha in Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? In 1964, she won the London Critics Award for the same role in an English production. Her other theater credits include Lyuba in the APA production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD at the Lyceum Theater. Ms. Hagen's TV appearances include PLAYHOUSE 90, KRAFT THEATRE PLAY OF THE WEEK, THE LONG HOT SUMMER, LOU GRANT, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, and THE HOME. In addition to her work in television, she has appeared in the films THE OTHER, THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL, THE DOCTOR'S STORY and REVERSAL OF FORTUNE. In 1980, under the direction of Mr. Berghof, Ms. Hagen returned to Broadway and later toured in CHARLOTTE by Peter Hacks. In 1985 and 1986, she playe d in Shaw's MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION at The Roundabout Theater and YOU NEVER CAN TELL at the Circle in the Square on Broadway. At HB Playwrights, she played the title role in Nicholas Wright's MRS. KLEIN, a production that won great critical acclaim during its 1996-1997 run at the Lortel Theater and later on tour. For her work in MRS. KLEIN, Ms. Hagen won the Obie Award and several lifetime achievement awards. In 1998-99, she starred in Donald Margulies's play COLLECTED STORIES Off-Broadway, George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, NJ, The Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario and at the Saidye Bronfman Theatre in Montreal. In 1999, Ms. Hagen was honored with a special Lifetime Achievement Tony Award. In what the New York Times called the finest theatrical event of that year, Ms. Hagen presented and starred in a staged reading of Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, as a benefit for HB Playwrights Foundation. The event co-starred Jonathan Pryce, Mia Farrow and Matthew Broderick in New York, and in Los Angeles with Peter Gallagher taking over forBroderick. In 2001, Ms. Hagen starred in Richard Alfieri's SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, which co-starred David Hyde Pierce at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. The play pulled in record audiences for more than 3 months. In January 2003, Ms. Hagen was awarded the National Medal of Honor for the Arts. She was honored, along with the other recipients, in a gala ceremony at the White House.