Biography
Ilka Bessin's CV makes for reading that is just as shrill and off-beat as the maxims of her on-stage alter ego, Cindy from Marzahn. With such a full life, the best way to keep from totally losing one's train of thought is to lend an ear to the high-powered career woman from the precast high-rise herself.
Welcome to my little world! My name is Ilka Bessin, and I am the discoverer of 'Cindy aus Marzahn'. But before I begin: I do not come from Berlin-Marzahn myself, but I was born in a lovely area just as precast and green as Marzahn is. I come from a small town by the name of Luckenwalde, where I came into the world on 18 November 1971.
My parents devoted a lot of effort to bringing me up - up to the impressive size you see today. After I finished school, I threw away the key and decided to become a clown. But because my parents didn't own a circus, that option was quickly ruled out. But the career counsellors suggested I learn the next-best alternative, a job every bit as funny and exciting, and so I became a cook at VEB Wälzlagerwerk Luckenwalde.
Having completed my career training, I was now prepared to cook mashed potatoes for 750 people. But who wants to do that? What I needed was training in another career - fast. I decided to go into hotel management. So after I had completed this apprenticeship, the great wide world beckoned: I decided to go west, and in doing so I got to know the most beautiful areas Germany has to offer. Still, before long I had had my fill again, which is why I simply headed back home. Yippee, they certainly were elated to see me.
But of course I was anything but lazy back on my home turf. I worked in discothèques and restaurants, played minor roles on TV - but there was still one thing I hadn't done yet: I had never been on a ship. Since my parents had not only no circus and no hotel but also no ship as well, I decided to sign up for one.
It wasn't long before I set sail: I became a guest host aboard a ship. And since the guests on board were my captive audience, this was my first opportunity to put my talent for humour to the test. It was a smashing success, and after nine months on the high seas, in 2004/2005 I decided to take part in the 'Talent Smithy' at Quatsch Comedy Club. This event gives talents young and old an opportunity to introduce themselves to audiences. The audience then decides who wins the annual finale. In the year I entered, that winner was me, and that's how a personal dream of mine came true.
Since then, I've had an opportunity to meet artists I only knew from having seen them on television. But now, I have had and continue to have the honour of sharing the stage with them at a wide variety of venues. I don't regret the path I've taken, even though I've sometimes asked myself whether this is the right thing for me. But when guests come up and thank me after a performance and say they think what I'm doing is brilliant, that's when I ask myself: What more could a person want?
Since March 2009 the comedienne hosts her TV show "Cindy aus Marzahn & Die Jungen Wilden" at RTL. New episodes were aired in September 2011. Cindy aus Marzahn also successfully tours throughout Germany with her new programme, "Nicht jeder Prinz kommt uff'm Pferd!" ("Not Every Prince Comes on Horseback!"), since January 2010. The current live programme aired on RTL on 25th March 2011.
To see all of the tour dates, visit www.cindy-aus-marzahn.de
Nominations & Awards
| 2011 | Cindy aus Marzahn | German Comedy Award "Best Comedienne" | |
| 2010 | Cindy aus Marzahn & Die jungen Wilden | German Comedy Prize in the category "Best Comedyshow" for "Cindy aus Marzahn & Die jungen Wilden" | |
| 2010 | | Radio Regenbogen Award for Cindy aus Marzahn in der category "Best Comedy 2009" | |
| 2009 | Cindy aus Marzahn Live! Schizophren - Ich wollte ne Prinzessin sein | German Comedy Award for Cindy aus Marzahn as "Best Comedienne" and for the "Best TV-Soloprogram" | |
| 2008 | | Nomination German Comedy Prize as "Best female Comedian" | |
| 2007 | | German Comedy Prize for Cindy aus Marzahn as "Best Newcomer" | |
Nominations & Awards
| 2011 | Cindy aus Marzahn | German Comedy Award "Best Comedienne" | |
| 2010 | Cindy aus Marzahn & Die jungen Wilden | German Comedy Prize in the category "Best Comedyshow" for "Cindy aus Marzahn & Die jungen Wilden" | |
| 2010 | | Radio Regenbogen Award for Cindy aus Marzahn in der category "Best Comedy 2009" | |