German Actress Gisa Flake Discusses Career and Personal Life

German actress and comedian Gisa Flake, known for her work in the ZDF satire program "heute-show" as well as crime dramas like "Tatort" and "Polizeiruf 110," has opened up about her professional journey and her long-term partnership with actor Knud Riepen. Born in Braunschweig on October 10, 1985, Flake has built a diverse career spanning cabaret, television, and operetta performances at the Komische Oper.

Flake and Riepen share a relationship that began a decade ago under unusual circumstances on a television set. Reflecting on their initial meeting during a broadcast of the MDR show "Riverboat," Flake recalled an improvised moment where Riepen jumped onto her back to keep her from leaving a room, prompting her to playfully toss him onto a table. The spontaneous interaction served as an alternative to a standard interrogation scene and marked the beginning of their personal and professional bond.

Before their romance solidified, however, Flake nearly played matchmaker for Riepen. When the two first met on set in 2013, Riepen was immediately captivated, while Flake remained more reserved. Believing they might be a good match for someone else, she invited him to a karaoke evening and brought along several female friends in an attempt to set him up. The matchmaking effort ultimately failed, as Riepen's interest remained fixed on Flake, leading to a casual relationship that eventually developed into a committed partnership.

Today, the couple resides together in Berlin. Flake has emphasized that sharing the same profession provides a strong foundation for their relationship. "You trust each other blindly, both take the job seriously, you are always well prepared because you learn the text together," she stated on "Riverboat," noting that knowing each other so well makes filming intense scenes much easier.

Despite her steady success, Flake has faced persistent hurdles related to physical typecasting in the film and television industry. In a radio interview with "Bremen Zwei," she criticized the prevalence of narrow character tropes. "I am the auxiliary figure and the cliché of the fat woman," Flake explained, adding that scripts frequently require her to eat or pant on camera without any narrative justification. She expressed frustration that heavy women are often restricted from pursuing certain career trajectories or roles in media.

Flake maintains a positive outlook regarding her body image and draws strength from her support network, particularly her partner. She recalled how Riepen helped counter industry pressures by affirming her self-worth. "And then suddenly there was my phenomenal friend, who kept telling me: What you are playing is not you. You are sexy. You are female. I love everything about you," she shared in a contribution for the publication "Bunte."

Looking forward, Flake continues to expand her repertoire across multiple entertainment mediums. Beyond her comedic roles and television detective work, she remains active in musical theater. Expressing gratitude for her current professional standing, she noted the importance of having the autonomy to choose her projects. "I am really grateful that I currently have the chance to show myself, to do what I want—and to say 'no' to some things. That is totally important to me," she said.

In addition to her ongoing television and stage work, Flake is slated to appear in the upcoming second season of the German dark comedy series "Where's Wanda?," which premieres globally on Apple TV.