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Hella von Sinnen Says She Began Drinking at 12 and Now Calls Herself Sober

Her confession, paired with a new fortnightly video podcast, follows a severe 2024 fall that forced long rehab and changed how she works publicly.

Overview

  • In early June 2026, von Sinnen launched the video podcast 'Gestatten, von Sinnen!' and used interviews with Bild and teleschau to speak openly about her past alcohol use.
  • She told reporters she began heavy drinking around age 12, described decades of alcohol use as part of the artist life, and said she now regrets that behavior and considers herself sober.
  • Von Sinnen suffered a serious stage fall in February 2024 that fractured both legs and required months of hospital care and rehabilitation, a setback that curtailed long stage engagements.
  • She credited close personal supports—calling Dirk Bach the person who 'saved her life' and recalling a roughly 25-year partnership with Cornelia Scheel—as pivotal during crises.
  • Von Sinnen remains publicly outspoken on political and social issues, is hosting guests such as Mike Krüger and Claudia Roth on her podcast, and plans to use the format to stay engaged despite limited mobility.