Dörrie completed her schooling at a humanistic high school, graduating in 1973 with her Abitur. She then spent two years in the USA, where she studied film and acting at the Drama Department at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. This was followed by studies at the New School of Social Research in New York, where she also worked in cafés and as a projectionist in the Goethe House. In 1975, she returned to Germany and studied at the University of Television and Film in Munich, while also working as a film critic journalist for the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
After completing her studies, Dörrie made various documentaries until 1982. Her first feature film, "Mitten ins Herz", was released in 1983, followed by the hit film "Men" in 1986, starring Uwe Ochsenknecht and Heiner Lauterbach. The film became the most successful German film of that year.
In 1988, Dörrie married Helge Weindler, with whom she had a daughter, Carla, in 1990. Her marriage ended in 1996. During this time, she continued to work on various films, including "Happy Birthday, Turk" in 1991, which was based on a novel by Jakob Arjouni, and "Nobody Loves Me" in 1994, starring Maria Schrader.
Dörrie's other notable films include "No Trace of Romanticism" (1980),"Between" (1981),"Love in Germany" (1989),and "Enlightenment Guaranteed" (1999). She often wrote the script herself and worked with well-known actors such as Senta Berger, Gottfried John, and Uwe Ochsenknecht.
In addition to her film work, Dörrie has also worked on literary projects, including short stories and novels. Her short story collection, "Forever and Ever", was well-received by critics in 1991. She has also written novels, including "What Do We Do Now?" and "Happy".
Dörrie has also ventured into opera direction, staging Giuseppe Verdi's "Rigoletto" at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich in 2005, and Giacomo Puccini's "Madame Butterfly" at the Gärtnerplatztheater in the same year. She also directed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "La finta Giardiniera" at the Salzburg Festival in 2006.
