By Claudia von Duehren
In Berlin nightlife he is the dazzling travesty star Sheila Wolf. In normal life, Neukölln-born Wolf Teichert (53) is Diana’s (52) husband and Kira’s (22) father. On March 10th and 11th, Sheila will once again enchant her audience in the winter garden with an exquisite burlesque show. Before that, the somewhat different family gave a joint interview for the first time.
BZ: How did you meet?
Sheila Wolf: I was 21 and lying in bed next to my girlfriend at the time who was sleeping when my mother came to me with a note and said: Call her, she’s great. When we first met Diana was in one of those 80’s stretch dresses and amazing snakeskin heels and I had an instant crush.
You too Diana?
No! He was very charming, but it took me like 14 days to get started. His mother spotted me at the soccer ball and approached me. That was 32 years ago now.
And how long have you been married?
Sheila: We got married 25 years ago at New York City Hall on July 31st and now we want to celebrate our silver anniversary there again.
Is there anything that doesn’t work in a relationship?
Diana: When I’m no longer valued. I would like to have my confirmation as a woman even after so many years.
Sheila: Infidelity
Such a long marriage isn’t always just joy, is it?
Sheila: Absolutely not. We had jubilantly cheered and saddened to death. Diana says I’m her home. It’s almost impossible to rebuild something like that. She is a person I can tell everything to, who I love and with whom I can go through thick and thin. However, a good marriage always consists of many compromises and sometimes comes up against limits.
Have you ever hit a limit?
Diana: The first year when Wolf reinvented itself was very hard for me. I didn’t know where this was going or what was happening to him. Everything went haywire. But somehow we managed it.
How did it all begin?
Diana: 19 years ago. I came back from a girlfriends vacation and Wolf said we need to talk, he’d discovered a more feminine side. It was a shock for me and I asked myself: Will he have an operation or will he then like men?
Sheila: I had found a blog on the internet that wrote about experiences with such transformations and I wanted to give it a try and asked them to help me.
Why did you want that?
Sheila: I’ve always been a curious person. As a teenager I was rockabilly with a huge quiff, lots of earrings and an extroverted demeanor. The hair then became less, but not the urge to attract attention – I missed that. But I never really wanted to be a woman, I just wanted to slip into the role of a woman. It was important to me to do it as authentically as possible and never come across as cheap. And apart from that, performing in public gave me the same adrenaline rush that surfing used to give me when a perfect wave came along. But that has subsided today.
Diana: But if you had done it every day and if it hadn’t gone into culture, I wouldn’t have accepted it in the long run. Then Wolf would certainly still be my best friend and I would always love him, but he wouldn’t be my husband anymore.
When he’s not Sheila Wolf, Wolf Teichert works at his printmaking agency Photo: Stefanie Herbst
What was it like seeing him as a woman for the first time?
Diana: He just looked awful in that leopard outfit. Almost pathetic. First I had to show him how to draw a proper eyeliner. Men also have such a strange idea of a sexy woman, preferably with a mini skirt and fishnet stockings, creepy. Now he knows and owns 14 pairs of Louboutin pumps, more than I do.
How was that for you, Kira?
I was about five when my father showed me photos of himself wearing feminine clothes. I just said: Oh yes, fine. Because I was completely value-free as a child. At first I only told my closest friends, but otherwise it was completely normal for me.
What did friends and family say?
Diana: All my friends said it wasn’t possible, many still can’t understand how I deal with it, but I’m a very tolerant and free spirit and that’s probably the solution.
So is he Sheila or Wolf now?
Diana: Always wolf, always my man!
Kira: For me he is always dad, I can’t think of a better one. My parents are always there for me.
What do your friends say about Sheila?
Kira: All the friends I’ve told have responded positively. Some are even jealous when I go to galas and stand there on the red carpet. Some even help out with the cabaret shows.
Diana: We have always left it up to her whether or who she wants to tell, because children can also be cruel.
Kira: I like to tell it on dates because it’s a good test. Many know him from Tiktok or Instagram.
Sheila: See Hasi and you always don’t want to believe that I’m a celebrity.
Diana: To me, you’re my man who takes out the garbage and does as I say. If the woman is happy, the man is too.
Sheila (laughs): And that’s exactly why I like to transform, so I don’t take out the trash.
Are you also a role model for other men?
Men keep coming to me who tell me that they would also like to explore their feminine side. Recently in the conservatory, it was a firefighter wearing a tie and collar at the top and a skirt and high heels at the bottom.
Does it also have an erotic aspect for you?
Sheila: Wearing skirts or stockings is erotic for a lot of men. My fetish is more the red soles from Louboutin, but absolutely not sexual. I find it sexy when 50 photographers call my name on the red carpet.
Do you find Sheila erotic?
Diana: Nah, if I was into women, I would be with one.
Sheila: Aside from the fact that it doesn’t turn me on either, any “erotic” mood would be ruined just by taking off the eternal layers of fabric – which provide a certain femininity in the crotch area.
10. and 11.3. 2023, winter garden, 11 p.m., 68-73.50 euros, ☎ 588 433