Born on 12 November 1978 in Bucharest, Romania, Alexandra Maria Lara fled to Germany with her parents when she was four and half years old. After graduating at the French High School, she studied acting at the Theaterwerkstatt Charlottenburg from 1997 and 2000, but had already played leading characters in several TV shows and movies such as Bubi Scholz Story, Die. Due to her critically acclaimed performance in Tunnel, Der, she has appeared in several successful national and international projects, most notably the Oscar nominated The Downfall: Hitler and the End of the Third Reich.
Ranked #1 in a list by tabloid "Bild" searching the "50 most beautiful Germans of today" (28 April 2005). Jury member of the Transylvanian Film Festival 2005. Often used to travel to Bucharest to visit her grandmother. Daughter of Valentin Platareanu. When leaving Romania, her family planned to emigrate to Canada, but remained in Germany. Due to her convincing performance in The Downfall: Hitler and the End of the Third Reich, Francis Ford Coppola wrote her a letter and gave her a leading role in Youth Without Youth. Failed to pass driver's license three times. Her favorite drink is Coca Cola. Split from boyfriend Florian Unger after 9 years. (2006). Met companion Sam Riley on the set of Control.