Benita Sarah Bailey Actress
Benita Sarah Bailey is an award-winning Ethiopian-German actress, filmmaker, and cultural producer whose work bridges continents, disciplines, and narratives. With a background in International Relations and African Studies from the University of Leipzig and Hong Kong Baptist University—and professional experience with the UN and German government in New York, Beijing, and Berlin—she brings a uniquely global lens to storytelling.
As a filmmaker and performer, Benita creates bold, socially relevant work that challenges dominant narratives and centers Black voices. On screen, Benita stars in several TV shows, including the lead role in PFLEGIONÄRIN on ARD Mediathek. On stage, she has performed at acclaimed venues such as the Maxim Gorki Theater and Deutsches Theater Berlin, and will soon appear at the National Theater Weimar. She is the creator and host of her own video podcast #yellit , celebrating Black icons of TV and film. In 2024, she received the prestigious DEI Achievement Award, and in 2022, was named one of Focus magazine’s “100 Women of the Year” for her cultural impact and advocacy against everyday racism.
She is also a founding board member of Schwarze Filmschaffende e.V., an organization championing Black filmmakers in Germany.
Overview
NationalityGermany
LanguagesEnglish (mother tongue), German (mother tongue), English – American (good), English – British (good), Afrikaans (basic), Amharic (basic), Chinese – Mandarin (basic), French (basic)
Born1989, Rudolstadt, Germany, Thuringia
Age range31 - 41
Height170 cm
Ethnic typesAfro-American, Black (African), Black (Caribbean), Black (other regions), Mixed race, Oriental
Place of residenceBerlin - Berlin (Germany), Berlin - Berlin (Germany), Toronto (Canada)
Possible accommodationKapstadt (South Africa), NYC (United States of America), Addis Abeba (Ethiopia), London - England (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Johannesburg (South Africa), Leipzig - Saxony (Germany), Rudolstadt - Thuringia (Germany), Donaueschingen - Baden-Wurttemberg (Germany)
Real nameBenita Bailey
MembershipsGVL - Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten mbH (Germany)
Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) (Canada)
BFFS - Bundesverband Schauspiel (Germany)
Work permitEuropean Union
Contact
Skills/Talents
Languages English (mother tongue), German (mother tongue), English – American (good), English – British (good), Afrikaans (basic), Amharic (basic), Chinese – Mandarin (basic), French (basic)
Dialects Thuringia (native dialect), Saxony (fluent), Berlin (good), Swahili (basic)
Accents German (native accent), African (very good), Afro-American (very good)
Dance African dance (contemporary) (good), African dance (traditional) (good), Afro (good), Ancient dance (good), Ballroom (good), Ballroom (good), Cha cha cha (good), Charleston (good), Choreography (good), Foxtrot (good), Hip hop (good), Interpretive dance (good), Jive (good), Latin American dance (good), Period ballroom dance (good), Street dance (good), Ballet (basic), Break dancing (basic), Cabaret dance (basic), Cancan (basic), Classical (basic), Dance training (basic), Funky (basic), Indian dance (basic), Irish dance (basic), Jazz dance (basic), Line dancing (basic), Locking (basic), Merengue (basic), Modern dance (basic), Musical (basic), Polka (basic), Popping (basic), Quick step (basic), Rock 'n' roll (basic), Rumba (basic), Salsa (basic), Samba (basic), Standard dance (basic), Tango (basic)
Singing. A Cappella (good), Ballad (good), Blues (good)
Vocal pitch / Dubbing voice Alto
Musical instruments Piano (good), African Drums (basic), Keyboards (basic)
Sports Yoga (very good), Aerobics (good), Ballsport (good), Basketball (good), Bowling (good), Fencing (good), Gym (good), Jogging (good), Swimming (good), Volleyball (good), Acrobatics (basic), Gymnastics (basic), Pilates (basic), Tai Chi (basic)
Driving licences / Other permits Driver’s licence car
Other Skills Dance Teacher, Director, Journalist, Storytelling, Translator, Workshop Director
Appearance
Age range 31 - 41
Height 170 cm
Build Slender
Weight 71 kg
Colour of eyes Brown
Colour of hair Dark brown
Hair style curly medium long
Twin No
Ethnic types Afro-American, Black (African), Black (Caribbean), Black (other regions), Mixed race, Oriental
Tattoo None
Piercing None
Glasses No
Scars Yes, invisible
Training
Toronto Academy of Acting for Film and Television
Soul Pepper Theatre - Audition Workshop - Toronto, Kanada
Schauspielschule Charlottenburg
Cavale Studio
Awards/Nominations
2025
Televisionale Kinderserienpreis (Germany)
- Nomination
for Cathrin Saby / ECHT friends
2025
Grimme Preis (Germany)
- Nomination
for Cathrin Saby / ECHT friends
2023
Beste Interpretin (Deutscher Hörbuchpreis) (Germany)
- Nomination
for / Zusammenkunft
2022
Hörfilmpreis (Germany)
- Nomination
for Caro Lacher / Pflegionärin
2017 Gewinner Handykurzfilmwettbewerb von ProQuoteRegie (Berlinale 2017) (Germany) - Award
2016 Einladung zum Theatertreffen der Jugend (Germany) - Award
CV CV - Television & Streaming CV - Film CV - Theatre CV - Audio
CV - Television & Streaming
2025
Thüringen Krimi
Ziegler Film
Network/Distributor: ZDF
Television film
Christian Werner
Directed by
Holly
Actor in Episode
2024
Doppelhaushälfte
Iconoclast Films
Network/Distributor: ZDF
Television series
Rebeca Ofec
Directed by
Gundula
Actor in Episode
2023
Alles Gelogen
MadeFor Film
Network/Distributor: ZDF
Television film
Erik Haffner
Directed by
Esma Haile
Supporting Lead
2023
In Aller Freundschaft
Saxonia Media
Network/Distributor: ARD
Television series
Mathias Luther
Directed by
Andrea Tepping
Star of Episode
2023
WAPO Berlin
Saxonia Media
Network/Distributor: ARD
Television series
Oren Schmucker
Directed by
Lara Kolle
Star of Episode
2023 - 2024
ECHT friends
Studio Zentral
Network/Distributor: ZDF
Television series
Kids' production
Koku Musebeni / Thui Trang / Joya Thome
Directed by
Cathrin Saby
Recurring Role
2023
Wapo Bodensee
Saxonia Media
Network/Distributor: ARD
Television series
Crime, Drama
Gerd Schneider
Directed by
Marion Herbst
Star of Episode
2021
Pflegionärin
CrossMedia
Network/Distributor: MDR
Television series
Judith Bonesky
Directed by
Caro Lacher
Lead
2019
The Bold Type
Network/Distributor: Freeform
Television series
Kimberly McCullough
Directed by
Pharmacist
Supporting Actor
2019
Der Zürichkrimi - Borchert und der Mord im Taxi
Network/Distributor: ARD Degeto
Television film
Roland Suso Richter
Directed by
Myriam Saidi
Supporting Actor
2018
Unité 9
Network/Distributor: Radio Canada
Television series
Jean-Philippe Duval
Directed by
Pregnant Woman
Supporting Actor
2018
Alarm für Cobra 11 - Schuld
Action Concept
Network/Distributor: RTL
Television film
Action
Franco Tozza
Directed by
Sky
Star of Episode
2015 - 2016
Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten
UFA Serial Drama
Television series
Hartwig van der Neut
Directed by
Aminata Akram
Guest Role
CV - Film
2022
Hack the System
Feature film (cinema)
Satire, Theatrical comedy
Mateja Meded
Directed by
May
Member of Ensemble
2021
The Ordinaries
Bandenfilm
Network/Distributor: ZDF
Sophie Linnenbaum
Directed by
Polizeimeisterin
Supporting Actor
2018
Kreuzberg
Raven West Films
Feature film (cinema)
Drama
Carl Bessai
Directed by
Carmen / Sozialarbeiterin
Supporting Actor
2017
Into me see
HFF München
Feature film (cinema)
Drama
Xenia Pieper
Directed by
Kate
Supporting Actor
2017
Act a Hool
Filmuni Babelsberg
Short film
Action, Drama
Serkan Irkan
Directed by
Jessie
Lead
2017
Hard & Ugly
Unfiltered Artists
Feature film (cinema)
Experimental
Malte Wirtz
Directed by
Erzählerin / Sue
Supporting Actor
CV - Theatre
2024
Und der Himmel über uns ist sein eigenes Land
Deutsches Theater
Theatre
Sarah Kurze
Directed by
Maya
Member of Ensemble
2022
Davor
Münchner Biennale
Theatre: Münchner Kammerspiele
Robert Lehniger
Directed by
Lead
2020
Chattermarks
Theatre La Chapelle
Theatre: Cabale
Theatre
Anthony Kennedy
Directed by
Joanne
Supporting Lead
2020 - 2020
Auf Noah's Blutigem Regenbogen Tanzen Wir
Gorki
Theatre: Label Noir
Theatre
Lara-Sophie Milagro
Directed by
Speaker/narrator
2017
For Colored Girls who have considered suicide/ When the rainbow is enuf
McGill University
Theatre: Tuesday Night Café (TNC)
Theatre
Drama
Munyaradzi Guramatunhu
Directed by
Lady in Red
Supporting Lead
2017
What happened after Nora left her husband
Centaur Theatre (Montreal)
Theatre: Imago Theatre
Theatre
Cristina Cugliandro
Directed by
Mrs. Linde / Worker
Supporting Actor
2017 - 2017
Oedipus: Part 1, Assembly
Centaur Theatre (Montreal)
Theatre: Scapegoat Carnivale Theatre
Theatre
Andreas Apergis
Directed by
Chor
2016
Lessons of Leaking
Münchner Kammerspiele
Theatre
Anna Sina Fries
Directed by
Natalia Willow
Supporting Actor
2016
Luther - Dancing with the Gods
RBB Rundfunkchor
Other
Robert Wilson
Directed by
Performer
Other
2015
Die Backchen
bat. (Studiotheater der HfS "Ernst Busch")
Theatre
Branko Janak
Directed by
Chor
Supporting Lead
2015 - 2017
One Day I went to *idl
Ballhaus Naunynstraße
Theatre
Theresa Henning
Directed by
Supporting Lead
CV - Audio
2021
Zusammenkunft
Audioverlag
Network/Distributor: Audioverlag
Radio play/audiobook
Barbara Meerkötter
Directed by
Speaker/narrator
