Sarah Zaharanski is an Austrian actress based in Vienna, originally from Hallein near Salzburg. She began her formal training at the University of the Arts in Graz. During her studies, she performed in acclaimed theatre productions at Schauspielhaus Graz, the Schaubühne Berlin, and the prestigious Salzburg Festival. Following her graduation, Zaharanski transitioned into television. In 2020 she starred in Letzter Kirtag, part of the Austrian Altaussee crime series, photographed by award-winning
cinematographer Martin Gschlacht. In addition to her on-screen work, she is an accomplished voice actor, regularly recording for various projects and earning multiple awards for her voice performances. Zaharanski made her feature film debut in Woodland (2023), directed by Elisabeth Scharang and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. She landed her first leading cinema role in Soldier Monika (2024), screened at Doclisboa and the Torino Film Festival. In Das Wunderteam (2026), the first historical vertical series by ORF, she plays the fictional sports journalist Millie von Ostenhoff-Peng.

EDUCATION

1999-2003 Federal Grammar School Hallein (language focus)
2003-2008 Commercial Vocational College Hallein (International Business - English & French)
2008-2012 University of the Arts Graz (Performing Arts)
2021-2025 University of Regensburg (Master of Speech Communication and Rhetoric)

 

AWARDS

Torino Film Festival, 2024 (Nomination) — Soldier Monika
Next Step Film Festival Cannes, 2025 (1st Prize) — Dear Mother
Camgaroo Award München, 2025 (2nd Prize) — Dear Mother
Baden-Württembergischer Filmpreis, 2024 (Short Film Nomination) — Dear Mother
Fantasy/Sci‑Fi Festival, 2024 (Best Short Film – Audience Award) — Dear Mother

CREDITS

FILM

Soldier Monika (2024)
FreibeuterFilm | Director: Paul Poet | Role: The First Wife
Doclisboa 2024
Hof International Film Festival 2024
Torino Film Festival 2024

Woodland (2023)
WEGA Film | Director: Elisabeth Scharang | Role: Ulrike
Toronto International Film Festival 2023
Hof International Film Festival 2023
Zurich Film Festival 2023

No Exit (2022)
Gone Astray Films | Director: Lukas Benjamin Engel | Role: Inès
Hof International Film Festival 2022

 

TELEVISION

Die Toten von Salzburg (2026)
Satel Film | Director: Erhard Riedlsperger | Role: Gloria

Das Wunderteam (2026)
Neuland Film (ORF) | Director: Paul Poet & Lukas Sturm | Role: Millie von Ostenhoff-Peng

Gnadenlos (2025)
Prater Film | Director: Umut Dağ | Role: Cosma Wecker

Fast Forward - Angelika Who (2023)
MR Film | Director: Gerald Liegel | Role: Sardes

Mountain Rescue - Höhenfeuer (2023)
NDF | Director: Franziska Jahn | Role: Tina Schlosser (alpine climber)

Crime Series Altaussee - Letzte Bootsfahrt (2022)
Film AG | Director: Julian Pölsler | Role: Manuela Reitmaier

Vienna Crime Squad - Verloschen (S17/E6, 2022)
Satel Film | Director: Katharina Heigl | Role: Anna Wenzel

Crime Series Altaussee - Letzter Kirtag (2020)
Coop99 | Director: Julian Pölsler | Role: Judith Naglreiter

The Plumber - Die Wahrheit kann erst wirken, wenn der Empfänger reif für sie ist (S1/E1, 2019)
Amalia Film | Director: Michael Wenning | Role: Frauke Schindler

Vienna Crime Squad - Über den Dächern von Linz (S12/E10, 2017)
Satel Film | Director: Olaf Kreinsen | Role: Lucille Jelinek

Mountain Medic - Alte Wunden (S8/E1, 2015)
NDF | Director: Axel Barth | Role: Lena Strickler

Vienna Crime Squad - Schneewittchen (S9/E6, 2013)
Satel Film | Director: Erhard Riedlsperger | Role: Daria

 

SHORT FILM

Dear Mother (2024)
University of Applied Sciences Salzburg | Director: Sabrina Hickl  | Role: Emilia Bing

Crossdressing (2014)
Film Academy Vienna | Director: Lixi Frank | Role: Eva

THEATRE

Amerika • Franz Kafka (2026)
Salzburg State Theatre | Director: Georg Schmiedleitner | Role: Klara, Therese, Ensemble

Odyssey • Homer/Nuran David Calis (2025)
Salzburg State Theatre | Director: Nuran David Calis | Role: Pallas Athena

The Red of the Egg • Gertraud Klemm, Gabriele Kögl, Grischka Voss (2024)
Kosmos Theater Vienna | Director: Barbara Herold
Altes Hallenbad Feldkirch

The Oresteia - The Eumenides Aischylos/John von Düffel (2023)
Salzburg State Theatre | Director: Carl Philip von Maldeghem | Role: Megaira/Erinye

The Argonauts Franz Grillparzer (2023)
Salzburg State Theatre | Director: Nuran David Calis | Role: Medea

The Creation of Light Charles Darwin/Joseph Haydn (2022)
Salzburg State Theatre | Director: Carl Philip von Maldeghem | Role: Fanny Owen

Casimir and Caroline Ödön von Horváth (2022)
Salzburg State Theatre | Director: Carl Philip von Maldeghem | Role: Caroline

Next Week's Attacks (GER: Die Anschläge von nächster Woche)Thomas Arzt (Austrian premiere, 2022)
Salzburg State Theatre | Director: Christina Piegger | Role: Eva

Black MilkVassily Sigarev (2020)
Schauspielhaus Graz | Director: Jan Stephan Schmieding | Role: The Cler

Antigone • Sophokles (2019)
Stadttheater Klagenfurt | Director: Lore Stefanek | Role: Ismene

The Unmarried (GER: Die Unverheiratete) • Ewald Palmetshofer (2018)
Vorarlberg State Theatre | Director: Philip Jenkins | Role Sister #1

Katzelmacher • Rainer Werner Fassbinder (2017)
Coburg State Theatre  | Director: Thorsten Köhler | Role: Helga

Antigone • Sophokles (2017)
Coburg State Theatre | Director: Konstanze Lauterbach | Role: Ismene

Anger • Elfriede Jelinek (2017)
Coburg State Theatre | Director: Axel Sichrovsky

Ich sinnlose so vor mich hin ... • Gerhard Polt/Matthias Straub (2016)
Coburg State Theatre | Director: Matthias Straub | Role: Evelyn

Bin nebenan • Ingrid Lausund (2016)
Coburg State Theatre | Director: Mascha Pitz | Role: A

Über die Grenze ist es nur ein Schritt • Michael Müller (2016)
Coburg State Theatre | Director: Constanze Weidknecht | Role: Melle

Ms. Mueller Must Go • Lutz Hübner (2016)
Coburg State Theatre | Director: Leila Müller | Role: Marina

Danton's Death • Georg Büchner (2016)
Coburg State Theatre | Director: Matthias Straub | Roles: Julie, Lucile, Marion

Love In Thoughts • Arno Meyer zu Küingdorf (premiere, 2015)
Coburg State Theatre | Director: Johannes Zametzer | Role: Hilde

Andorra • Max Frisch  (2015)
Coburg State Theatre | Director: Michael Götz | Role: Barblin

The Interview • Theodor van Gogh  (2015)
Coburg State Theatre | Director: Frederik Leberle | Role: Katja

Romeo & Julia rebooted feat. DJ XRated • William Shakespeare (2015)
contribution to “HeForShe” by UN Women
ARGEkultur Salzburg | Directors: Valentin Werner and Sarah Zaharanski | Solo performance by Sarah Zaharanski
Perspektiven Attersee Festival 2015

Cabaret • John Kander, Fred Ebb, Joe Masteroff (2013)
Schauspielhaus Graz | Director: Ingo Berk | Role: Texas

Gawain • opera of Harrison Birtwistle (2013)
Salzburg festival | Director: Alvis Hermanis | Role: Dancer

The Appointment • Herta Müller (2013)
dramatization and German debut performance of the novel by Herta Müller
Theater im Palais Graz | Director: Sarah Zaharanski | Solo performance by Sarah Zaharanski
Fringe of Ruhr festival Recklinghausen 2013
Halleiner Stadtfestwochen 2014

Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter • Astrid Lindgren (2012)
Stadttheater Klagenfurt | Director: Claudia Meyer | Role: Ronia

A Midsummer Night’s Dream • William Shakespeare (2012)
WBT/Gasometer Muenster | Director: Meinhard Zanger | Role: Helena

Zack ‘n’ Dave • Sebastian Schwarz, David Ruland (2012)
Schaubühne Berlin | Director: Sebastian Schwarz, David Ruland | Role: The Nun

Suburbia • Eric Bogosian/Igor Bauersima (2011)
Theater im Palais Graz | Director: Igor Bauersima | Role: Pakeeza

The Crucible • Arthur Miller (2011)
Schauspielhaus Graz | Director: Anna Badora | Role: Eva Parker

The Criminals • Ferdinand Bruckner (2011)
Theater im Palais Graz | Director: Johann Kresnik | Role: Ernestine Puschek

The Good Person of Szechwan • Bertolt Brecht (2011)
Theater im Palais Graz | Director: Axel Richter | Role: Mrs. Shin
Kampnagel Hamburg

Offending the Audience • Peter Handke (2010)
Theater im Palais | Directors: Kitty Buchhammer, Sandy Lopicic
Kunsthaus Mürz

Eddie Lechner’s Trip to Paradise • Jura Soyfer (2010)
Theater im Palais | Director: Reinhard Herrgesell-Mitter | Role: Gutenberg, Kolumbus, Iustitia
Theater in Kempten/ Jura Soyfer festival

Everyman • Hugo von Hofmannsthal (2009+2010)
Salzburg Festival | Director: Christian Stückl | Role: Maid