Proschat Madani

“It takes a great deal of courage to be where you are anyway—in the here and now,” says Proschat Madani. It took her years to bring herself to say the words, “I am an actress.” In her book *Leben spielen* (*Playing Life* ), she examines—with depth and humor—the clichés associated with her profession—from egomania to the thirst for applause to the insatiable need to be the center of attention. But Madani also writes about the wisdom hidden within her profession: Through acting, you get to know yourself. You’re more honest and vulnerable than you could ever be in real life. Through acting, you learn to live! Not just in front of the camera—but above all in everyday life, in our shared reality. A plea for the art of acting.

Actress Proschat Madani was born in Iran and grew up in Vienna. She rose to fame, for example, through her role in *Vorstadtweiber*; most recently, she captivated audiences in the feature film *What a Feeling*. In addition to acting, Madani writes—with keen powers of observation and a clear political stance.

A collaboration between Literaturherbst Heidelberg, HEIDELBERGER THEATERTAGE 2026, Freier Theaterverein Heidelberg e. V., and DAI

As part of the Heidelberg Literature Festival 2026