Born in Basel, Lorena Handschin gained formative theater experience at the Junges Theater Basel. She studied acting in Stuttgart (2015–2019) and won the Migros Kulturprozent study grant. During the 2018/19 season, she worked at the Nationaltheater Mannheim via the studio program. From 2019–2025, she was an ensemble member at the Deutsches Theater Berlin, collaborating with Anne Lenk and Jan Bosse.
She won the 2020 Prix Swissperform for her role in the Swiss TV production Nr. 47. Her film «Hôtel Silence» (dir. Léa Pool) releases in 2025. She joins the Schauspielhaus Zürich ensemble in 2025/26.