Celebrity
Heike Makatsch Net Worth
Heike Makatsch is probably best known for her role as Mia in ‘Love Actually.’
German actress Heike Makatsch rose to fame in the early 2000s with major roles in films like Resident Evil and Love Actually. Still, she has been quieter on the international film scene in recent years.
She was born in 1971 in Düsseldorf and first gained recognition in Germany in the 1990s before making an impression on international audiences. Her other notable roles include playing Liesel’s mother in the 2013 drama The Book Thief.
Although Makatsch has continued acting consistently over the past two decades, she has focused more on German film and television productions rather than Hollywood blockbusters.
In this article, we will discuss Makatsch’s current net worth and overview her acting career from early fame to more recent work in her native Germany.
Heike Makatsch’s net worth and filmography
Makatsch’s net worth has varied estimates ranging from $1-5 million on the lower end to as high as $20 million on the higher end. However, as there has yet to be an official statement from Makatsch herself regarding her wealth, her exact net worth is difficult to confirm.
Some key factors that contribute to her net worth include her over 30-year acting career spanning hit films, her work in German television series, and her multiple awards.
She first gained fame in Germany in the 1990s before becoming known to international audiences in the early 2000s. Her breakout roles came in 2002’s Resident Evil, where she played Dr. Lisa Addison, and in 2003’s beloved holiday film Love Actually.
Other major Hollywood films include A Sound of Thunder in 2005 and The Book Thief in 2013 as Liesel’s mother. While Makatsch has appeared in some English-language films, much of her acting work has been in German TV shows and movies.
Heike Makatsch as Ellen Berlinger in ‘Tatort’ (Source: Instagram)
This includes many popular TV movies in Germany and a leading role as police inspector Ellen Berlinger in the long-running German crime series Tatort from 2016-2021.
Some of Makatsch’s most acclaimed performances were in German films like Aimée & Jaguar and Hilde, where she portrayed famous German actresses.
For her performance as Margarete Steiff, founder of the Steiff stuffed animals, in the 2005 film Margarete Steiff, Makatsch received an International Emmy nomination.
So, although estimates vary, Makatsch’s acting resume spanning over 30 years across film industries helps explain her accumulated multi-million dollar net worth.
Her career achievements in Germany are more consistent indicators of her wealth rather than focusing solely on her handful of early 2000s Hollywood roles.
Heike Makatsch started her career by hosting shows and also transitioned to music
Before becoming an acclaimed actress, Makatsch started as a TV host in Germany in the 1990s. Her first major TV gig was hosting music programming on the German channel VIVA, including the interactive show Interaktiv and Heikes Hausbesuche from 1993 to 1995.
In 1995, she became the main host for the influential German music chart show Bravo TV on channel RTL II. She held the coveted position of presenting the German music charts until the summer of 1996.
Capitalizing on her popularity, Makatsch hosted her late-night talk show in 1997 called Heike Makatsch Show. However, due to poor ratings, her talk show was canceled after only 8 episodes.
Apart from hosting TV shows, she also pursued music early in her career. She recorded songs for the soundtracks of films she acted in, starting with the 1996 track ‘Stand By Your Man’ featuring Dirk Bach for the soundtrack of ‘Männerpension.’
Other soundtrack singles Makatsch contributed vocals to include ‘This Girl Was Made For Loving’ in 1997 and ’50 Ways to Leave Your Lover’ in 1999. She has also released three full soundtrack albums for her films Obsession (1997), Almost Heaven (2005), and Hilde (2009).
In 2009, Makatsch collaborated with singer Max Schröder on an album titled Die schönsten Kinderlieder featuring children’s songs. So, while hosting and music never became full-time pursuits, they marked the beginnings of the versatile career of the German star.
Heike Makatsch played a villain in the Christmas classic ‘Love Actually’
In the 2003 holiday ensemble film Love Actually, Makatsch played the role of Mia, the secretary and temptress to Alan Rickman’s character Harry. Harry works at a design agency and is married to Karen, played by Emma Thompson.
Mia behaves overtly sexually towards Harry at the office and asks him to buy her an extravagant necklace for Christmas. During the office Christmas party, Mia and Harry are shown dancing closely and intimately.
Harry ends up purchasing Mia a gold necklace with a heart pendant, nearly getting caught by his wife Karen while shopping for Christmas.
When Karen finds the necklace and opens her present from Harry on Christmas Eve – a Joni Mitchell CD – she is heartbroken, realizing Harry bought the necklace for another woman.
Heike Makatsch is Mia in ‘Love Actually’ (Source: Architectural Digest)
A crying Karen confronts her husband about making a mockery of their marriage while keeping a happy face for their kids.
So, while many view Harry as the true villain for betraying his wife, Mia plays an antagonistic role as the “other woman” attempting to seduce a married man.
Her request for an inappropriate Christmas gift and close dancing with Harry, leading to Karen’s tears, cemented Mia’s status as one of the few clear villains amidst Love Actually’s interwoven love stories.
The movie’s epilogue even suggests irreparable damage to Karen and Harry’s marriage despite them staying together.
So two decades later, Makatsch’s Mia remains one of the most infamous characters in the Christmas classic for breaking Emma Thompson’s heart.
Heike Makatsch’s whereabouts now
It’s been 20 years since Makatsch played Mia, the mistress and office temptress to Alan Rickman’s character in Love Actually. She looked noticeably different back then with her signature dark bob haircut.
Today, the 52-year-old actress sports lighter and longer locks, going for an updated, relaxed look. While she had some subsequent roles in English films like The Book Thief, Makatsch has spent most of the last two decades focused on acting in projects in her native Germany.
She has starred in numerous German films and TV movies over the years. Most notably, from 2016-2021, she played the lead role in the German crime series Tatort, which spanned several seasons.
Makatsch has also become a regular at fashion events and on red carpets in Germany. She makes headlines when she steps out for her trendy style.
In her personal life, Makatsch dated James Bond actor Daniel Craig for 7 years until 2004. Since 2017, she has been in a relationship with German actor Trystan Pütter.
Makatsch lives in Berlin today and has two daughters with indie musician Max Martin Schröder.
So, while she looked quite different and played the villain over 20 years ago in Love Actually, Heike Makatsch has gone on to establish herself as a versatile star in her native Germany across acting projects, fashion appearances, and as a mother of two.