The eldest of two daughters of woodcarver, musician and carpenter Ernst Rücker and his wife Frieda, a trained nurse.
Began as a photographic model and appeared on the cover of several magazines. Made her theatrical debut in 1969 at the Theater am Kurfürstendamm and was successful on stage in Gigi and Irma La Douce in Berlin and Vienna in the 70s.
Trained for acting at the Zerboni drama school between 1962 and 1965. Then privately tutored under Lilly Ackermann.