Franka Potente: She talks about her breast cancer diagnosis

Actress Franka Potente (50) spoke for the first time about her breast cancer. She received the diagnosis in April 2023, but the illness actually started in the winter of 2022, said the 50-year-old. “I was filming in Canada with my entire family for six months,” Potente remembers. “At some point I felt a strange feeling in my right side. No real pain, more like the entire body was warped. It seemed strange to me.”

An initial mammogram remained inconclusive, but she stubbornly insisted on further examinations. “I can only recommend that everyone listen to their inner voice and, if necessary, get a second medical opinion if they have the impression that something is wrong,” says Potente.

After the diagnosis, she was in shock: “Imagine you are a house in which there is a fire on every floor. Should you first look for the fire extinguisher, turn off the beeping smoke detector, call the fire department or run out? Total alarm! ” She was afraid of death, her motivation was not to die: “I really like living!”

Her way of dealing with the feeling of powerlessness was a “declaration of war”. “You have to take action. Self-pity is not one of my character traits. There’s nothing dynamic about it, it’s standing still. I wanted to be really strong for cancer,” said the “Lola Rennt” actress. Before the operation, she “threw herself into an intensive sports program” – consisting of hot yoga, spinning and muscle building. She also ate a very healthy diet in consultation with her doctors. “Less fat, no sugar, no dairy products, but lots of nuts, papaya. I also fasted.”

Today she feels much fitter than she did 25 years ago. “When I did ‘Lola Run’, for example, I wasn’t trained, so that was quite exhausting. I think it depends on how old you feel.” Potente said she grew from the disease. It gave her a new appreciation for herself and those around her.

In 1998, Franka Potente became internationally known alongside Moritz Bleibtreu (53) in the cult film “Lola Run” by director Tom Tykwer (59). Starting in January, she will appear in the Amazon Prime Video show “Dinner Club.” She has lived in Los Angeles for over 20 years and is married to actor Derek Richardson (48), with whom she has two daughters.