Our guest on 15.06.2008

Michael Verhoeven is one of Germany’s most renowned directors. He initially followed in the footsteps of his father, actor legend Paul Verhoeven, before deciding to work behind the camera. He has been married to actress Senta Berger since 1966 and has two sons with her.

Michael Verhoeven was born in Berlin in 1938 and grew up in Munich. After high school he first studied medicine and began working as a doctor while also becoming actively involved in film and theater. After twice winning West Germany’s biggest film award, he eventually dropped his original career in the mid 1970s to focus fully on cinema. Verhoeven has always been interested in politically or historically charged material. He won domestic and international acclaim for works such as "The White Rose" (about the anti-Hitler student movement led by Sophie and Hans Scholl) and "The Nasty Girl". The latter likewise dealt with the Nazi legacy and won its maker Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. His success won him a first-look deal with the Miramax studio – but nothing on offer really interested him.

Verhoeven also has around 100 advertising films under his belt – which helped to finance some of his more ambitious personal projects.

The director is currently working on a documentary about the Nazi Aryanization program for German regional broadcaster WDR.