For nearly two decades, Dirk Galuba has stood as a towering figure in Sturm der Liebe, captivating audiences as the suave and shrewd hotelier Werner Saalfeld. Since his first appearance in the series’ 2005 pilot episode, Galuba has become more than just a familiar face—he’s a symbol of continuity and complexity, with a character arc woven through betrayals, reconciliations, romantic entanglements, and familial strife.

Yet while Werner Saalfeld’s personal life has been a rollercoaster of passion and power struggles within the fictional halls of the Fürstenhof, Dirk Galuba’s off-screen love story has been equally rich in emotion, surprising turns, and the kind of revelations that fans of the telenovela would instantly recognize as dramatic gold.

A Legend on Screen, A Survivor in Love

Dirk Galuba, now 84, has portrayed Werner Saalfeld with a blend of gravitas and charisma that has made him one of Sturm der Liebe’s most enduring icons. The character’s marriage to Charlotte Saalfeld (played by Mona Seefried) formed the backbone of many early storylines—an emotionally fraught relationship marked by power battles, betrayals, and moments of tender reconciliation. The chemistry between the two actors was undeniable, and their fictional ups and downs mirrored the kind of bittersweet realism that defines the telenovela genre.

Behind the camera, Galuba’s own romantic journey has been no less dramatic—marked by deep connections, devastating disappointments, and, ultimately, an unexpected love that changed the course of his life.

A Love That Defied the Odds

In 2019, Galuba made headlines when he married Enrica Casalino, a strikingly poised Italian woman 41 years his junior. Their wedding, held in the romantic landscape of South Tyrol, was more than just a union—it was a powerful symbol of rediscovered hope and enduring passion. Enrica, who once lived in Genoa and was a devoted fan of Sturm der Liebe (or Tempesta d’Amore, as it’s known in Italy), first reached out to Galuba through a fan letter, hoping for a spot at a fully booked fan event. That simple gesture set off a chain reaction neither of them could have anticipated.

Their first meeting in 2017, as Galuba would later recount, felt like destiny. “A year later,” he revealed in a candid interview, “she drove from Genoa with her entire life packed into a tiny Fiat. She had organized everything perfectly—that’s one of her greatest strengths.”

In Enrica, Galuba found a partner who not only admired him for the role that made him famous but also accepted and loved the man behind the character. He described her as the person who “completely has my back,” adding with heartfelt certainty, “Enrica is my third and my last wife. She is the love of my life. After her, there’s nothing more.”

Echoes of the Past

But this happily-ever-after came only after years of emotional turbulence. Galuba’s previous marriage to Natascha, 28 years his junior, lasted two decades and was filled with both hope and heartbreak. The couple struggled intensely with infertility, pursuing hormone therapies and artificial insemination in their desire to become parents. The emotional toll proved too much. In a brutally honest admission after their separation, Galuba confessed that he felt his wife had “lost her sexual appeal” to him—an admission that triggered controversy but also underscored the raw vulnerability of a relationship in decline.

Despite the painful parting, time healed some of the wounds. By 2015, Galuba said of his ex-wife: “Our relationship now is better than it was during the marriage.” The two remained connected through their beloved dog, Mira, and shared a quiet companionship built on mutual respect and memory, if not romance. They officially divorced in January 2010.

Before Enrica, Galuba also shared a brief but intense romance with Maria Klose, a theater student who, like his current wife, was 41 years younger. Their connection, too, had the spark of something fated—“I felt 26 again,” Galuba confessed—but the whirlwind soon settled into a more platonic bond. “Our love turned into friendship,” he told Bunte in 2018, two years after the split.

Real-Life Drama Meets Fictional Complexity

Dirk Galuba’s real-world romantic odyssey mirrors the same narrative beats that make Sturm der Liebe so compelling: love born out of chance encounters, partnerships tested by time and tragedy, and the ultimate triumph of an enduring bond. For fans who’ve followed Werner Saalfeld’s tangled romantic life—with its mix of grand declarations, messy affairs, and painful goodbyes—there’s something profoundly resonant about Galuba’s own experience.

The ripple effects of his personal life have quietly influenced his performance. When he speaks about love onscreen, there’s an authenticity that only someone who has lived through the ecstasy and agony of relationships can bring. The subtle shift in his portrayal of Werner—from sharp-edged businessman to emotionally scarred romantic—has mirrored the maturation of a man who has learned to navigate both public admiration and private loss.

Living in the Moment

Now living in Munich with Enrica, Galuba radiates peace and contentment. The couple often appears arm-in-arm at public events, smiling warmly for the cameras, their connection undeniable. One such appearance at the 2024 premiere of Die Kehrseite der Medaille in Munich’s Komödie im Bayerischen Hof drew considerable attention—not just for their elegant presence, but for the visible joy they shared. For Galuba, the glamour of celebrity has long taken a back seat to the simple happiness of companionship.

Their story is a testament to the idea that love has no age limit, and that new beginnings are possible even when the past is shadowed by heartbreak.

The Final Act?

As Dirk Galuba continues to portray Werner Saalfeld, fans wonder how much longer the beloved actor will remain a fixture at the Fürstenhof. Though he shows no signs of slowing down, the emotional arc of his life—on and off screen—suggests a man at peace, whose greatest roles may now be behind the scenes: husband, friend, survivor.

But in true Sturm der Liebe fashion, one thing remains certain—whether it’s in the fictional world of the telenovela or the real-life pages of his own love story, Dirk Galuba knows how to keep hearts beating and fans guessing.