Hansi Knoteck was a singer, stage and film actress. Her great aunt was actress Katharina Schratt (1855-1940). She originally trained as a ballet dancer, then later studied at the Academy of Music and Art in Vienna. Her first engagement was in Mährisch-Ostrau, Marienbad and Leipzig.

She first appeared in the cinema while living in Berlin, and altogether featured in more than 36 movies. She was married to Viktor Staal from December 24, 1940 until his death in 1984. They had one son (Hannes, 1942).

During WWII, she and her husband were members of the anti-Nazi German-Austrian underground.