The Gordana Kosanović Acting Award was established in 1986 by the Friends of the Theater an der Ruhr. It is intended to honour the memory of the outstanding actress and co-founder of the Theater an der Ruhr, who died tragically young at the age of 33.

Since the 2020/21 season, the Friends of the Theater an der Ruhr have been awarding the prize, worth €3,500, annually as part of the Mülheimer Theatertage. It honours actors from visiting companies who have distinguished themselves through exceptional performances. The selection is made by a member of the selection committee; in 2026, Sarah Heppekausen is the sole judge. The decision is announced on the final day of the festival.

2025 Barbara Nüsse in Elfriede Jelinek’s „Ashes“ at the Thalia Theatre, Hamburg
 

2024 Dimitrij Schaad in the world premiere of Falk Richter’s „The Silence“ at the Schaubühne Berlin
 

2023 Vidina Popov in Sivan Ben Yishai’s „Bühnenbeschimpfung (Liebe ich es nicht mehr oder liebe ich es zu sehr?)” at the Maxim Gorki Theatre
 

2022 Julia Wieninger in Elfriede Jelinek’s „Lärm. Blindes Sehen. Blind People See!” in the world premiere at the Deutsches SchauSpielHaus Hamburg
 

2017 Michael Maertens

2013 Kristof Van Boven

2009 Herbert Fritsch

2006 Karin Neuhäuser

2003 Sabah Bouzouita

2001 Narges Hashempour, Anna Mele

1999 Slobodan Beštić

1996 Angela Winkler

1994 Alexander Mesenzew

1991 Kirsten Dene

1989 Miki Manojlović, Veronica Drolc

1987 Ulrich Wildgruber