Esther Zimmering, born January 6, 1977, in Potsdam, attended actor's training at Berlin's Schauspielschule Ernst Busch from 1996 to 1998. She then started her stage career at Staatstheater Cottbus and Landestheater Anklam, among others. In 1999, Zimmering became a cast member of "Neue Bühne" in Senftenberg. After several appearances in short films, Zimmering caused a stir with her first leading roles on TV. Her performance as a young dropout in the three-part TV movie "Der Liebe entgegen", and her portrayal of a woman who is terrorized by a psychopath in the TV thriller "Der Fußfesselmörder" ("Unforgiven", both 2002) won Zimmering the German TV award.

Zimmering then starred in the multiple award-winning TV drama "Kleine Schwester" before she made her movie debut in a supporting role in the drama "Gisela". After several movie and TV appearances, for instance in Eoin Moore's comedy "Im Schwitzkasten" ("No Sweat"), Zimmering played her first leading role in a movie in Angelina Maccarone's drama "Vivere" (2007) alongside Hannelore Elsner.