Heike Makatsch was born in Düsseldorf on August 13th, 1971. Her father, Rainer Makatsch, played ice hockey for Germany"s national team. After starting to study sociology at university, Heike Makatsch was cast as a host for the German music television station Viva in 1993.

Two years later, she made her screen debut as the naive lover of a convicted felon in Detlev Buck"s comedy "Männerpension" (Jailbirds). Quickly establishing herself as an actress, she then played high-profile parts in "Obsession" (Obsession) and Detlev Buck"s satirical take on the salvation army, "Liebe deine Nächste".

After a supporting role in the acclaimed WWII melodrama "Aimée & Jaguar", Makatsch convinced critics and audiences alike with "Gripsholm", in which she plays the girlfriend of famous writer Kurt Tucholsky.
She then took lead roles in Doris Dörrie"s drama "Nackt" and in the horror sequel "Anatomie 2" (Anatomy 2), thereby following the example of Franka Potente, who starred in the first instalment of the successful German slasher franchise.

Makatsch, who was romantically linked to British actor Daniel Craig for several years and had subsequently moved to London, also appeared in several international productions, including "Late Night Shopping" (2001),"Resident Evil" (2002) and "Love…Actually" (2003).

2005 saw Heike Makatsch"s large-scale return to German cinema: The rock" n" roll antics of the mockumentary "Keine Lieder über Liebe" (No songs of Love) were followed by "Almost Heaven", in which Makatsch – who often sings in her films – plays a German country singer who wants to go to Nashville, but eventually ends up in Jamaica instead.

Makatsch received rave reviews for her title role in the TV production "Margarete Steiff", a film about the life of the famous toy animal manufacturer. After her leading role as an "older sister" in a crisis in Ed Herzog"s highly praised independent movie "Schwesterherz" ("Twisted Sister") alongside Anna Maria Mühe, Makatsch portrays another historic character in 2009: In Kai Wessel"s "Hilde", Makatsch plays the legendary actress Hildegard Knef.