An electromechanical brake actuator (102, 202, 302, 402) for a brake has a cam disc (108, 108, 108, 208, 308, 408) and a brake plunger (114, 214, 314) for actuating a brake lever (358). The cam disc (108, 108, 108, 208, 308, 408) and the brake plunger (114, 214, 314) have contact surfaces in contact with one another for directly transmitting a drive torque. The contact surface of the cam disc (108, 108, 108, 208, 308, 408) extends at a distance r about the pivot point D, which is defined as a function r() with a change rate r() and depends on the angular position of the cam disc (108, 108, 108, 208, 308, 408). The contact surface is configured to effect non-linear transmission between the drive torque of the cam disc (108, 108, 108, 208, 308, 408) and the force transmitted to the brake plunger (114, 214, 314).

A brake actuator is disclosed for an electromechanical vehicle brake, comprising an electric motor for actuating the vehicle brake, a blocking assembly for selectively rotationally blocking an output shaft of the electric motor for the purposes of implementing a parking brake function. The blocking assembly comprises a blocking module, which is mounted so as to be movable linearly between an arresting position and a release position, and a drive for moving the blocking module. The brake actuator further includes an electronic detection device for detecting the arresting position and/or the release position of the blocking module. Also specified is a method for operating a brake actuator.