Katharina Blum
Katharina is the main character in the film, a young woman living in Germany and working as a maid for a wealthy family. In her free time, Katharine likes to party and during one of those parties she meets a man named Ludwig, with whom she spends a night together with. The night in which Katharina met Ludwig changed the rest of her life drastically because the night she spent with the man made her a suspect in the eyes of the policemen who thought Katharina was a terrorist just like Ludwig was. Hunted by the press, Katharina becomes willing to do everything she can to save her image, even killing the reporter and the photographer who ruined her life.
Inspector Beizmenne
One of the major antagonists in the film is Inspector Beizmenne, a stern and violent man working for the police. Inspector Beizmenne is obsessed with the idea of catching Ludwig and he is willing to do everything he can to do so. His methods of interrogating Katharina are less than moral and he proves his shady character by feeding confidential information to the press even when he was not supposed to do so. He shows no remorse when he is told how much he had affected Katharina's life and claims instead she is a sacrifice worth making if it means catching Ludwig. He is the one who arrests Katharina after she killed Werner Tötges.
Werner Tötges
Werner Tötges is the reporter who, through his articles, brings Katharina to the edge of madness. Werner Tötges is a man who does not care about who he hurts through his writing as long as he puts out an article which will capture the minds of the public. He is also someone who is not afraid to pursue after women sexually and who proposed even to Katharina a sexual relationship. He is killed at the end of the film by Katharina in her own apartment.
Ludwig Götten
Ludwig is the man hunted by the police force throughout the movie. He is a calm and collected man who manages to escape the police over and over again. He is accused of being a terrorist and a bank robber but in the end it is revealed he was only a deserter. He is caught at the end of the film and he has one final chance to to see Katharina before he is locked away.
Alois Sträubleder
Alois is a political man and a university professor with whom Katharina had a brief adventure with. His house is used by Ludwig as a hideout as Katharina gave the key to that house to him. Alois is madly in love with Katharina but she confesses to him she has no feelings for him at all.
Moeding
Moeding is another inspector in the police force. In comparison with the others, Moeding is interested in Katharina's well being and it is suggested by the others that Moeding is attracted by Katharina.
Hubert Blorna
Hubert Blorna is the man for whom Katharina works for. He is a well respected layers who, for the most part in the film is away on holiday with his wife. Hubert Blorna became attached to Katharina, helping her financially and being by her side. When he and his wife found out about the troubles Katarina found herself in, they returned home at ones to try and help her as best as they could.
Trude Blorna
Trude is Hubert's wife, another person who was extremely attached to Katharina. She refused to believe Katharina was capable of doing what the newspapers accused her of and chose instead to stand by her side.
'Scheich' Karl
Karl appears briefly in the beginning of the film at the party where Katharina and Ludwig met for the first time. He is the person who is responsible for Katharina being accused of colluding with a terrorist.
Else Woltersheim
Else is Katharina's aunt and the person who hosted the party at which Katharina and Ludwig met for the first time. Elsa and her husband continue to stand by Katharina's side throughout the whole ordeal and to take her side. Else even goes as far as to agree of being interrogated so she could help her niece better.
Staatsanwalt Hach
Hach is one of the major investigators in Katharina's case. He is just as cruel as Beizmenne but a lot more controlled when compared to him. Hach tries to pursue Katharina to cooperate with the police over and over again.
Mr. Woltersheim
While Katharina's uncle remains unnamed, he is always by his niece's side, offering his help and trying everything in his power to protect the young woman. His efforts prove to be pointless at the end.
Brettloh Wilhelm
Wilhelm was a man to whom Katharina was briefly married. He appears only once, when he is interviewed by Werner Tötges. The reason why he and Katharina divorced remain uncertain.
Katharina's mother
Katharina's mother is an elderly woman who, according to the tales told by others, was an alcoholic. She is shown in a hospital bed, unable to fend for herself and talk. Towards the end of the film, she dies from her illness.
Katharina's brother
Katharina's brother is also mentioned briefly. He is in prison for something which is not mentioned. Katharina sends him money regularly to help him.
