Press & Media
Actors carry real lives. They deserve preparation grounded in real sources — not accents or costumes.
I work with actors in biographical and period roles to build emotional clarity and ethical grounding before cameras roll — especially when time is short.
My new book »Preparing Historical Roles« gives actors, filmmakers and writers a clear, structured way into historical characters — without panic Googling or falling into common pitfalls.
Journalists and podcasters can request review copies and press details below — ideal for features on biopics, historical storytelling, or the craft of portraying real lives.
High-resolution author portraits and book covers available for editorial use (credit: Anne Riege).
Quick Access
- Download Press Sheet (PDF)
- Download Full Press Kit (ZIP)
- Email: withdrbarbara@proton.me
DOWNLOAD
Press Images
High-resolution author portraits and book covers available for editorial use (Drive link)
For Editors and Producers
Preview materials and sample Q&A are included in the downloadable press folder.
If you need a quote, note, or historical angle, you can reach out directly.
My work begins early, during the creative phase — not as a last-minute accuracy fix.
That’s why I don’t comment on whether existing films are »historically accurate« or not.
I’m always happy, however, to discuss the craft of historical preparation and storytelling.
Topics I Speak About
Bringing Real Lives to Screen
• What emotional risks do actors face when working with real lives?
• Why do biographical roles demand more than dialect and costume?
• What ethical questions arise when portraying real people?
When Research Turns Risky
• Why do so many performers drown in research instead of finding depth?
• Where do productions unintentionally lose historical truth?
• How do you help actors avoid overwhelm and guesswork?
Writing the Past with Precision
• What does »emotional evidence« mean in historical role preparation?
• How can writers create emotionally true historical characters without romanticising the past?
• How do we portray forgotten queer lives with dignity and emotional honesty?
On Preparation & Timing
• What’s the first thing an actor should do after being cast in a period role?
• Why do you prefer to join projects at the earliest stage?
Shaping Memory Through Film
• How do historical dramas influence how we see the past?
• Why does »accuracy« matter less than emotional truth?
• How do actors carry the emotional residue of real history?
• What disappears when filmmakers simplify difficult eras?
Recent Work
I have supported actors and writers working on major historical and biographical projects — including those portraying real public figures, queer histories, and wartime lives.
Most work is under NDA, so I speak about methods rather than names.
Contact
For interviews, commentary, and advance book material:
Email: withdrbarbara@proton.me
What to Expect
• Dr. Barbara builds the bridge between a forgotten life and the person who must carry it again.
• She is establishing a discipline that should have existed decades ago — one that protects actors asked to carry real human histories with nothing but instinct, a script, and pressure.
• She works from the belief that history is not a backdrop, and actors are not figurines moving in front of it.
• For her, this is not performance prep but ethical preparation for carrying real lives.
Suggested Bio (Short)
Dr. Barbara specialises in Historical Character Preparation — guiding actors, filmmakers, and writers to build living, breathing protagonists from the past through real evidence, not assumption. Her book »Preparing Historical Roles« offers a structured, practical path that helps avoid the common pitfalls of portraying real people from history.
Photo: Author portrait by Anne Riege
Suggested Bio (Long)
»My job as a historian is to point you towards the right aspects of the past. Your job is to make them human.«
Dr. Barbara specialises in historical character preparation.
A historian behind more than 130 projects, she works 1:1 with actors, screenwriters, and novelists.
After years spent uncovering lost voices in archives and private diaries, she saw how often actors were asked to carry those same histories with nothing but instinct and pressure — and decided to change that. Too many historical roles rely on guesswork or surface detail. She replaces that with evidence — selected fragments from real lives that help actors feel the past, before they perform it.
The German historian finds emotional entry points in real sources — moments of daily life, private fears, and the quiet pressures that shape human choice. Known for her photographic memory and instinct for finding what others miss, she brings forgotten histories into focus. For her, preparation must protect both the actor and the life portrayed.
Barbara’s book »Preparing Historical Roles« distils this work into a clear, structured method — a way to enter the past and build performances that feel real, not rehearsed.
Photo: Author portrait by Anne Riege
Interview Requests
- Feature interviews (print/digital)
- Podcast discussions
- Expert commentary for culture desks
- Background briefings for journalists, producers, casting teams
📩 Email: withdrbarbara@proton.me