- One of the few West Germans who emigrated to East Germany during the Cold War era (1979).
- Her right hand became paralyzed following an aborted suicide attempt in 1975.
- Discovered at a talent contest and subsequently promoted as the 'German Brigitte Bardot'. Her dark hair was eventually dyed blonde and she was refused acting classes to maintain her 'naturalness'. She attained a measure of fame as a 'female Tarzan' in Liane, Jungle Goddess (1956).
- She was the second German actress to appear nude on film, after Hildegard Knef who starred in the German film The Sinner in the 1950s.
- After retiring from acting in 1976, she worked as a saleswoman.
- Has a son, Benjamin, whose father is an American director.
- Lived on a farm in the Uckermarck, Germany with her second husband.
- She became famous for playing "Liane," a sort of female Tarzan, in a trio of skin-baring jungle romps.
- Michael sometimes returned to film and television acting later in her life, but only rarely. However, despite her lack of screen time after the 1960s, she remained a well known German film icon.
- She was selected for the role of Liane in Liane, Jungle Goddess out of 12,000 prospective actresses.
- Her last onscreen appearance was in a 1996 German television musical about her life, entitled Liane.
- She was only 15 at the time of the filming Liane, Jungle Goddess, which took place on location in Africa, and she controversially appeared topless during the first half of the movie.
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