Ruth Posner

Ruth Posner (née Wajsberg; died 23 September 2025) was a Polish-born British Holocaust survivor, dancer and choreographer, actress and a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Early life Rutenka Wajsberg was born in Warsaw, Poland; her birth date is reported variously as 1933 She was the only child of Moshe Wajsberg, an accountant and artist and a non-observant Jew, and his wife Anna, an underwear designer. During the Holocaust the family were ousted from their home by the Gestapo and sent to the Warsaw Ghetto.

As a nine-year old, Posner was faced with a life-or-death decision: She knew that if she tried to break out that she would most likely be shot or die anyway staying at the ghetto. She and her aunt took that risk and escaped, making it out of the ghetto walls alive. As for Posner's parents, they did not. Posner had an idea of what happened to her parents, but was unable to verify it. After the war with Germany was over she moved to the UK, where she spent the rest of her life. In the last 25 years of her life, she appeared in a play about her life, called Who Do We Think We Are, choreographed plays, acted in films, danced, and wrote a book. On returning to London she taught Physical Theatre at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Career Later Posner concentrated on an acting career and on television she appeared in Making News (1990), Love Hurts (1994), The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1995), Bramwell (1997), To Anyone Who Can Hear Me (1999), Casualty (1987–2003), The Bill (2003), Coming Up for Air (2003), Timeless (2005), Apparitions (2008) and The Pharmacist (2012). In 2013, she was one of the main cast members in series 1 of Count Arthur Strong.

Posner's film appearances included Leon the Pig Farmer (1992), Stage roles include Hiawatha at the Bristol Old Vic (1991–92), The Dybbuk for the Royal Shakespeare Company (1992), The Tempest with the Actors Touring Company (1999), Woman in the Moon at the Arcola Theatre (2001), Ritual in Blood at the Nottingham Playhouse (2001) and Seven Jewish Children (2009) at the Royal Court Theatre.

Posner spoke Polish, German, English, Italian and Hebrew.

Posner and her husband both died by assisted suicide at a clinic in Switzerland, on 23 September 2025. She was 96.

Published works Posner always wanted to be a dancer and danced most of her life. She felt life through her dancing. During her 40s she decided to switch from dance to drama. Many people told her she wasn't going to "make it" in the theatre world because of her thick accent. Posner proved people wrong and became a popular actress. She appeared in a Holocaust play about her life called Who Do We Think We Are? Along with drama and dancing she also wrote her autobiography, Bits and Pieces of My Life. The book mainly shares many descriptions of her Holocaust experiences and her life afterwards.