She is remembered for roles of strong, self-conscious women who defy adverse circumstances, as television series began to present from the mid-1980s,[1] including Countess Christine von Guldenburg in the series Das Erbe der Guldenburgs from 1987 to 1990, and the title role of the Austrian television series Julia – Eine ungewöhnliche Frau from 1999 to 2004. She became a favourite with audiences and received international awards.
As her mother wished, she first trained to be a pastry maker (Zuckerbäcker),[3] and her parents bought her a Konditorei.[1] She decided in 1955 to pursue an acting career, and attended the Max Reinhardt Seminar, but dropped out the same year to play Mary Vetsera in the film Kronprinz Rudolfs letzte Liebe. She first appeared at the Burgtheater in Vienna as Recha in Lessing's Nathan der Weise in 1959, but reviews were scathing.[3][4] She moved to the Theater Heidelberg[3] for two years.[5] She played at the Salzburg Festival, together with her mother for the first time, as Lottchen in Raimund's Der Bauer als Millionär [de] in 1961. When she returned to the Burgtheater, again as Recha, she was successful.[3][4]
Hörbiger was married to director Wolfgang Glück. Her second husband was the Swiss journalist Rolf R. Bigler; they had a son, Sascha. After Bigler's death in 1978, Gerhard Tötschinger, a director and author, became her partner; he died in 2016. Hörbiger lived mainly in Vienna.[3] She was a UNICEF ambassador, and was committed to cancer aid.[1]
Hörbiger died in Vienna on 30 November 2022 at age 84.[1][3]
