Schygulla was born in Königshütte (nowChorzów, Poland) to German parents Antonie (née Mzyk) and Joseph Schygulla.[3] Both the names Schygulla (also spelled Szyguła) and Mzyk are of Polish/Silesian origin. Her father, a timber merchant by profession, was drafted as aninfantryman in theGerman Army and was captured by American forces in Italy, subsequently being held as aprisoner of war until 1948. In 1945, Schygulla and her mother arrived as refugees inMunich, following theexpulsion of the majority German-speaking population of Königshütte byCommunist Poland.[3] Much later, in the 1960s, Schygulla studiedRomance languages andGerman studies, while taking acting lessons in Munich during her spare time.
Acting eventually became her focus, and she became particularly known for her film work withRainer Werner Fassbinder. During the making ofEffi Briest (1974), an adaptation ofa German novel byTheodor Fontane, Fassbinder and Schygulla fell out over divergent interpretations of the character.[4] Another issue for Schygulla was low pay, and she led a revolt against Fassbinder during the making ofEffi Briest, shot in September 1972 some time before its commercial release. His response was typically blunt: "I can't stand the sight of your face any more. You bust my balls".[5] They did not work together again for several years untilThe Marriage of Maria Braun in 1978. The film was entered into the29th Berlin International Film Festival, where she won theSilver Bear for Best Actress for her performance.[6] In 1980 she acted in Fassbinder's miniseries adaptation ofBerlin Alexanderplatz.[7]
In the 1990s, she became aChanson singer. InJuliane Lorenz's documentary filmLife, Love and Celluloid (1998), on Fassbinder and related topics, Schygulla performs several songs.
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