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Dena Abay

Dena Abay

Actress

Pronouns: her/she
Booking Base: Berlin

Dena Abay is an Ethiopian-German actress and filmmaker with a soft spot for stories that don’t wait to be invited. Born in Addis Ababa and raised in Cologne, she has lived between London and Berlin, carrying her curiosity across borders, cultures, and creative communities.
Film is where Dena’s storytelling truly comes alive. She has worked across independent gems and mainstream productions alike, bringing depth and nuance to every role. On stage and screen, she moves seamlessly between classical, intense roles like Electra and playful, unexpected ones such as Jay-Z and Blue Ivy, demonstrating a range that embraces both seriousness and humor. She is drawn to new narratives — the quiet ones, the bold ones, the stories often overlooked or told too late — and believes the most exciting stories are the ones that haven’t found their spotlight yet.She has collaborated with artists from Europe, Africa, Australia, and the United States, and works comfortably across independent projects as well as commercial productions. Off stage and off set, Dena balances her many sides with kickboxing and Pilates — strength meets focus, fire meets calm.And just when you think she’s all discipline and depth, her Ethiopian roots gently shine through: coffee is serious business. Strong, plenty, and preferably shared.

SLT SPACE is a branch of Studio Levi dedicated to making performance and film sets safer, diverse and more inclusive. Through SLT SPACE, we represent the underrepresented, showcase multidisciplinary artists, amplify diverse voices and create safe spaces in front of and behind the camera.