As a seamstress' illegitimate daughter, young Catherine Simon's future isn't rosy. But in the single-minded woman slumber unsuspected talents. At 17 she makes her debut as an actress at the Berlin Lessing Theatre, with unexpected success. The world is at her feet and dreams start to jell as she meets prominent artist Max Kruse at a premiere party. The two become a pair, but the newly-divorced sculptor isn't yet ready to remarry, not even when Käthe is expecting his child. They spend two happy years together without a marriage certificate, but her illegitimate cohabitation does not correspond to the morals of the fine Berlin society. Then destiny knocks again when she starts making rag dolls for her daughters.
—Bob Buckingham