Dena Abay

lido agency
About me
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Dena Abay

lido agency
About me
View profile
Dena Abay is a European-Ethiopian actress, born in Ethiopia and now based between London, Paris, and Berlin/Cologne. She feels most at home in the world of art and storytelling.

She won Best Actress at the ÉCU – The European Independent Film Festival for her performance in the short film “Get Home Safe.”
In addition to her film work, she performs in theatre productions across Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

lido agency
Jochen Doell
+49 30 767 98981
jd@lido-agency.com
open agency on Filmmakers
Dena Abay
Vita as Open in Filmmakers
33 years•Berlin (DE), Köln (DE)
Genderfemale
Year of birth1992 (33 years)
Acting age22-31 years
Place of birthAddis Abeba
NationalityGerman
Main professionActor
Working permitsEuropean Union (EU-27)
Housing optionsAmsterdam (NL), Brussels (BE), Köln (DE), London (GB), Barcelona (ES), Berlin (DE), Los Angeles (US)
SpecializationsModel, Singer
Eye colorbrown
Hair colorbrown
Height (cm)163
Weight (in kg)53
Ethnicity and heritageBlack, African American or Caribbean, Mixed
Staturefemale, normal
Languages
German(native)EnglishAmharicFrench
DialectsAfrican-EnglishAmerican-African AmericanAmerican-StandardEnglish-StandardKölsch(native dialect)
InstrumentsGuitar
SportBasketballBoxingDancesportFitnessHikingRunningYogaCheerleadingRhythmic gymnasticsAerial yogaCapoeira
Kickboxing
DanceAfro danceBachataChoreographyConcert danceContact improvisationDancehallFreestyle danceHip hopJazz danceLatin American dancesModern danceStreet danceSalsaContemporary dance
PitchMezzo-soprano
SingingBalladChoirFunkHip HopImprovisationJazzOpera singingPopRapReggaeRock & RollSoul/RnBGospel
Training
Primary professional training
2017
Acting Studio Cologne
Other professional training
2024
Verena Busche
2020
Coaching: Die Tankstelle Berlin
2020
Workshop: Alexander Technique mit Kristof Konrad & Jean -Louis Rodrigue
2019
Coaching mit Martin Christopher Bode
2018 – 2019
Workshop Still Space Studio, London
2019
Coaching Laura Garde
2019
Coaching mit Martin Christopher Bode
2017 – 2018
Workshop Jimmi Renfro
2016 – 2017
Workshop mit Susannah Iheme, Florenz
2016 – 2017
Ausbildung zur Film und Fernsehschauspielerin mit Zusatzqualifikation in Moderation und Synchronisation (Acting Studio Cologne)
2017
Workshop Giles Foreman Centre for Acting, London
2017
Workshop: Meisner-Technik mit Dannie Lu Carr
2016 – 2017
Workshop: Filmdreh mit Heinz Dietz
Awards
2025
L.A. Indies winner for "Spark"
2024
Westwind Festival
2023
Best Actress- The European Independent Film Festival Paris, France
2022
Filmfest Göttingen for Get Home Safe
2022
Schlingel - Int. Film Festival for Get Home Safe
2022
FILMZ - Festival of German Cinema for Get Home Safe
2022
fsff - Five Lakes Film Festival for Get Home Safe
2022
Exground Filmfest for Get Home Safe 2.Platz
2022
Shortfilm Slam Hamburg for Get Home Safe
2022
Hagener Kurzfilmfestival for Get home safe (nominated)
2022
Kunstgriff Rolle for Get Home Safe
2022
Engelke Short Film Award for Get Home Safe
2022
Indie Short Awards Cannes for Get Home Safe (Short film)
2022
International Fimfest Emden-Norderney for Get Home Safe (nominated) (Short film)
Film
2025
Puppet paradise (Short film)
Adore (LR)
Tamir Enkhtsatsral Hoever Elizabete Vindule-Mince & Paula Baltzer Babelsberg Tamir Enkhtsatsral Hoever
2023 – 2024
Spark picture
Spark
Qira (LR)
Anna Niebert & Zoi Naum Lennard Fricke Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
2022 – 2023
Get home safe picture
Get home safe (Short film)
Maya (LR)
TAMARA DENIĆ CHRISTIAN SIÉE HAMBURG MEDIA SCHOOL
2021
MASS (Experimental movie)
Sheba (LR)
Mohammad Shawky Hassan & Simomo Bouj Outburst Arts festival
2020 – 2021
Abgenabelt (Mini series)
Amira (LR)
Florian Schwarz Pepe Berlin Medienmarketing Amazon Prime
2019 – 2020
Bone (Short film)
Farah (LR)
Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor TW Films Isabelal Odoffin
Television
2025
Wapo Elbe
Julia
Philipp Osthus ARd Tina Böckenhauer
2024 – 2025
Nighties picture
Nighties (Series)
Katja (SUP)
Matthias Koßmehl Network Movie ZDF NEO Sandra Köppe Melina Natale
2023 – 2024
Soko Stuttgart
Joy
Burkhard Feige ZDF-Bavaria Fiction Manolya Mutlu
2022 – 2023
Wapo am Bodensee picture
Wapo am Bodensee
Tamara Sedlak (LR)
Florian Anders Kerstin Lipownik Patrick Lorenz ARD Christiane Rölli
2022
Dr. Nice
Lydia (GR)
Constanze Knoche Sibylle Illner & Stefan Raise ZDF Silke Koch
2022
Die Macht der Frauen picture
Die Macht der Frauen (Drama)
Sadia Hassan (SUP)
Lars Becker Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH Lina Behr Lars Becker
2022
In aller Freundschaft (Series)
Sibel Aden (LR)
Jan Bauer SAXONIA MEDIA Filmproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
2021
Notruf Hafenkante (Series)
Olufemi Adu (SUP)
Stephanie Stoecker Ines Karp ZDF
2021
Late Night Alter
Jane (SUP)
Christopher Eder Fabiola GmbH ZDF NEO Michelle Romero
2020 – 2021
Die Martina Hill Show
Tina (SUP)
Marco Musienko Redseven Entertainment GmbH SAT1
2020 – 2021
letzte Spur Berlin (Series)
Silke Kramer (SUP)
Florian Kern NOVAFILM ZDF Dorothee Weyers
2018 – 2019
Tatort - Nemesis picture
Tatort - Nemesis (TV movie (series))
Lissy (SUP)
Stephan Wagner W&B Television GmbH & Co. KG MDR [de] Iris Baumüller
Theater
2025
None of my business picture
None of my business
Ballhaus Ost
2025
Spuren- Orangerie Theater
Leading Role
Shari Asha Crosson Africologne Festival
2023 – 2025
I wanna be loved picture
I wanna be loved (Drama)
h.e.r (LR)
SHARI ASHA CROSSON Theater Dortmund SHARI ASHA CROSSON
2024
COLONIZING THE SKIES (Drama)
NOÉMI OLA BERKOWITZ English Theatre Berlin | International Performing Arts Center
2024
Abdruckkörper
Yatri Niehaus Ballhaus Naunynstraße Yatri Niehaus
2024
Orestie (Drama)
Kassandra / Elektra (LR)
José Fernando Peixoto de Azevedo Ballhaus Naunynstraße
2023
SAY HI TO ME! picture
SAY HI TO ME!
Sandra de los Santos
Viviana M. Medina / Sarah Elisabeth Braun TD Berlin
2023
Dinge, die wir nicht sagen
Leading Role
Naomi Kelechi Odhiambo Kampnagel Naomi Kelechi Odhiambo
2023
Doppeltreppe zum Wald
Maimouna
Sarah Claire Wray Lamin Leroy Gibba
2023
Ewigkeit, Ende und alles, was niemals begann picture
Ewigkeit, Ende und alles, was niemals begann
XO (LR)
Ta-Nia/ Talia Paulette Oliveras Theater Dortmund Nia Farrell
2022 – 2023
GABAN (Theater recording)
Evidence (LR)
Brook Andrew Cherie Schweitzer Gropius Bau Brook Andrew
2022 – 2023
Abdruckkörper
Yatri N.Niehaus Ballhaus Naunynstraße Yatri N.Niehaus
2021
Space Creators picture
Space Creators
Leading Role
Jasco Viefhues Ballhaus Naunystraße Dena Abay, Lois Alexander, Sanni Est, Lamin Leroy Gibba, Jasco Viefhues in Kollaboration mit Gülây Akin, Satma Fouad, Roxi Thile-Dogan, Sel Capone
2021
UNCONVENTIONAL SIGNS
Maimouna (LR)
Theresa Henning, Dan Thy Nguyen Ballhaus Naunynstraße
2018
Concepts of Ownership
Andrea
Oliver El-Fayoumy Theater in Windhoek, Namibia
2015
I-CARE
Dena Abay
Susannah Iheme ExFila-Connessioni-Metropolitane, Florenz
2014 – 2015
Roommates
Giuli
Youngung Sebastian „Jaekwon“ Kim Bühne der Kulturen, Köln
2014
Enter at your own risk
Zara
Massimo Tuveri Bühne der Kulturen, Köln
Audio
2024
Germaine Acogny (Speaker)
Amy Collé Seck
Margaux Lechevallier & Greta Marie Becker alias film + sprachtransfer GmbH
2024
Doppeltreppe zum Wald (Audiobook)
Maimouna (LR)
Sarah Claire Wray SWR SWR Nana Rademacher
2022 – 2024
Traumata Erben (Speaker)
Leading Role
Dan Thy Ngyuen Burg Hülshoff Center of Literatur Nina Reipich & Dan Thy Ngyuen
2022 – 2024
Traumata Erben
different voices
Dan Thy Ngyuen Dan Thy Ngyuen
2022 – 2023
Bühne für Menschenrecht
Maria
Michaela Maxi Schulz Michaela Maxi Schulz
2022
Bühne für Menschenrecht (Speaker)
Mary (LR)
Michaela Maxi Schulz Theater für Menschenrecht
2021 – 2022
Various Answers (Speaker)
different voices (LR)
Brücke-Museum
2020
die prissy edition - vom wind verweht (Audio drama)
Supporting Role
margarete mitchell & amina eisner WDR