**Barbara Dennek** was a German actress whose film career flourished mainly in the late 1950s and early 1960s. She became famous for her touching portrayal of Manuela von Meinhardis in Géza von Radványi's film “Mädchen in Uniform” (Girls in Uniform, 1958), a role that established her reputation.

Dennek excelled at portraying sensitive, vulnerable, and often tormented young women. Her acting style was characterized by a delicacy and intensity that allowed her to express deep inner turmoil with restraint. Other notable roles include those in Der Fuchs von Paris (The Fox of Paris, 1957) and Der Schinderhannes (1958).

Although her career as a leading actress was relatively short, Dennek left a distinctive mark on post-war German cinema with her ability to embody complex and profound female characters.