Barbara Gräftner is a doctor. She was a biology student from 1982 till 1983. In 1984 she started studying medicine and became a doctor in November of 1995. She continues to work on her education and has specialized in various areas of medicine. In 1996 she started the study of dramaturgy, and in 1997 she also took on film directing. In 2001 she and three of her colleagues started a film company, Bonusfilm, of which she is director.