Therese Giehse, a celebrated German actress, was born Therese Gift on March 6, 1898, to a family of German-Jewish heritage in Munich, Germany, a city that would play a significant role in her future endeavors and artistic pursuits. She began her theatrical journey in 1920, gradually ascending to prominence as a leading lady on stage, screen, and in the realm of political cabaret, a genre that allowed her to utilize her remarkable acting skills to convey powerful messages and commentary on the social and political issues of her time.
During the late 1920s and up until 1933, Giehse held a prestigious position as a mainstay actress at the esteemed Munich Kammerspiele, a renowned theater company that would provide her with the platform and opportunities to hone her craft and solidify her status as a luminary figure in the world of German theater, her reputation spreading far and wide as she became a household name in the German theatrical community.