From 1992 to 1995, Franziska Petri studied at the renowned Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Art in Berlin. Her cinema debut was a part in Das Mambospiel (1998) by Michael Gwisdek in 1997, which opened the 48th Berlin International Film Festival. With her first leading role in in the award-winning Vergiss Amerika (2000) she attracted both critics' and audiences' attention. After leading roles in the most diverse cinema productions like the historic drama Leo und Claire (2001) by Joseph Vilsmaier, the quirky comedy Max and Moritz Reloaded (2005) by Thomas Frydetzki , the gloomy thriller The Heart Is a Dark Forest (2007) by Nicolette Krebitz, the political drama Long Shadows (2008) by Connie Walter or the psychological drama Der Tag, an dem ich meinen toten Mann traf (2008) by Matthias Luthardt, she appeared in the psycho-thriller Für Miriam (2009) by Lars-Gunnar Lotz. For her outstanding performance in Für Miriam she was awarded Best Actress at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival 2009 (Perspektive Deutsches Kino), Best Actress at La Cabina. Festival Internacional de Mediometrajes de Valencia, Spain 2010 and Best Actress at the 11th Aubagne International Film Festival, France 2010. In 2011 she played the starring role in Kirill Serebrennikov's dark tale of love Betrayal (2012), which premiered in the official competition of the Venice Film Festival 2012. For her impressive performance she was awarded Best Actress at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Film Festival.