Butt Bite: Fine for Actress Anna Friedmann - Actress fined €2,100 for overzealous stage bite in Austrian play
An Austrian court has fined actress Anna Werner Friedmann €2,100 after she bit a colleague’s backside too forcefully during a theatre performance. The incident occurred in August 2023 but was only reported a year later, leading to a diversion settlement with no formal conviction.
Friedmann was performing in Alma – A Showbiz to the End at a converted hotel on the Semmering, around 70 kilometres south of Vienna. She played Alma Mahler-Werfel, a role that included a staged bite as part of the show. During one performance, the bite was harder than intended, prompting the complaint.
The case was resolved without a conviction, but Friedmann paid a €2,100 fine. The incident highlights the risks of physical interactions in live performances, even when part of the script. The colleague’s delayed report meant the matter only reached court long after the event.
