Gisela May

Gisela May (31 May 1924 – 2 December 2016) was a German actress and singer.

Early life May was born in Wetzlar, Germany. Both her mother, Kate May, and her father, Ferdinand May, were writers. She studied at the drama school in Leipzig from 1942 to 1944.

May was known as a diverse performer. In the 1970s she performed the lead role in the musical Hello, Dolly! in Berlin, and later she starred in the television series Adelheid and her Murderers. She also performed solo concerto concerts internationally, including at New York's Carnegie Hall and the Milan Scala.

From 1983 to 1989 she hosted her own entertainment show "Pfundgrube" on GDR television. From 1992, she freelanced, often working at Berlin's Renaissance Theatre.

Awards 1959: Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic 1960: Distinguished Service Medal of the National People's Army in Silber for Schritt für Schritt 1962 Clara-Zetkin-Medaille 1963 National Prize of the German Democratic Republic for Art and Literature, III Class 1991 Deutscher Filmpreis (German Film Award) Film Award in Gold for outstanding individual achievement: Category actress for: (1990) 2004 Bundesverdienstkreuz (Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany)