Barbara Valentin Austrian actress, close friend of Freddie Mercury Date of Birth: 15.12.1940 Country: Germany

Biography of Barbara Valentin

Barbara Valentin, born Ursula Ledersteger, was an Austrian actress and close friend of Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the band 'Queen'. She was born in Vienna, Austria in 1940 to architect Hans Ledersteger and actress Irmgard Alberti. After graduating from drama school, Barbara made her film debut in 1959 in 'Die Nackte und der Satan', where her role as a dancer in a bar was so small that she wasn't even credited in the film's titles.

However, in 1960, she landed the lead role of Babs in the thriller 'Ein Toter hing im Netz', about the terrifying adventures of a group of dancers who survive a plane crash on a spooky island inhabited by spiders. Throughout the 1960s, Barbara was quite popular in the entertainment industry, known for her beauty and voluptuous figure. She was even dubbed the "German Jane Mansfield".

Some of her notable films include the 1974 melodrama 'Angst essen Seele auf', the television drama 'Martha' directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and his film 'Fontane - Effi Briest oder: Viele, die eine Ahnung haben von ihren Möglichkeiten und Bedürfnissen und trotzdem das herrschende System in ihrem Kopf akzeptieren durch ihre Taten und es somit festigen und durchaus bestätigen' (Effi Briest). Fassbinder frequently cast Barbara in his works, including his series 'Berlin Alexanderplatz' and the war drama 'Lili Marleen' in 1981.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Barbara appeared in various films and TV shows such as 'Ein Fall für zwei', 'Dorian Gray im Spiegel der Boulevardpresse', 'Der Fluch', and 'Go Trabi Go'. However, her most significant roles were in Fassbinder's films.

Barbara Valentin was married three times, and one of her husbands was director Helmut Dietl. She had two children. Besides her acting career, Barbara is often remembered as Freddie Mercury's close friend. They met at a gay bar called 'New York' in Munich, where Barbara loved to hang out. Despite their differences in sexual orientation, they developed a deep bond over the course of three years. They would go out together to bars and restaurants, often ending in arguments and jealousy. Rumors even circulated that they occasionally fought physically, but they also shared a bed and traveled extensively.

Barbara described their relationship as complicated, saying, "He was gay, and I loved men. But we were in love." Freddie considered her his closest friend, saying, "Barbara and I have a stronger connection than I had with anyone over the past six years. I can speak openly with her and still be myself, and that's a rare thing." However, their friendship abruptly ended in 1985 when Freddie unexpectedly left Munich and settled in London. It was only two years later that Barbara learned about his devastating diagnosis.

She saw Freddie before his passing when he was bedridden. Barbara also attended his funeral, although some speculated that her hasty arrival was motivated by an improperly formalized apartment that Freddie had purchased for her. Regardless, there is no doubt that Barbara Valentin was a very close friend of Freddie Mercury in the 1980s. Unfortunately, his illness and subsequent death put an end to their unique and touching friendship.

In the 1990s, Barbara appeared in several films, with her last role being in the 2001 television film 'Die Hunde sind schuld'. In her final years, she dedicated much of her time to animal advocacy. Sadly, Barbara Valentin suffered a stroke in 2001 and passed away on February 22, 2002, in Munich, Germany.