Matthias Schweighöfer is one of Germany’s most successful contemporary actors. A multi-award winner, he has been a prominent presence on German screens for over 20 years, he is best known for directing and playing the starring role in You Are Wanted, a gripping drama series that was the first German production for Prime Video. He has also starred in many successful homegrown films, including Der Geilste Tag, Der Nanny, and Vaterfreuden. His portrayal of celebrated literary critic Marcel Reich-Raniki in the 2009 television film Mein Leben—Marcel Reich-Raniki won him the Best Actor Award at the German Television Awards and the Best German Actor Award at the Golden Cameras.

Born in Anklam in 1981, Schweighöfer made his screen debut as a teenager in the TV series Artze. It wasn’t until the early 2000s, however, that he truly began to make his presence felt, winning numerous Best Young Actor and Best Newcomer accolades for his roles in the likes of Soloalbum, Kammerflimmern, and Schiller. Before the decade was out, he’d also begun appearing in music videos for a broad range of international artists, including the likes of Bloc Party, Blue, and Norwegian songstress Maria Mena.

In 2010, having established himself in front of the camera Schweighöfer moved behind it, making his directorial debut with the successful film What a Man. He has continued to direct and is the co-founder of Pantaleon Films. He has also enjoyed musical success, releasing two albums that have reached the German top ten and had success in other European countries. Among his recent cinema roles is a part in the award-winning film Resistance, a biopic of legendary mime Marcel Marceau set in France during World War 2.