Netflix’s Empress cast guide and real-life characters

The Empress is a German-language drama series that was a huge hit on Netflix, telling the story of a young woman named Elisabeth who falls in love with Emperor Francis of Austria and later becomes his bride, bringing her deeply into the world of politics. The show is full of mystery and intrigue, exploring the less public side of the royal family that Elisabeth didn’t know before she let love bring her into this world. The Empress is inspired by real events that took place at the Austrian court in the 1800s and brings a lot of that intense realism to its story.

The Empress has an excellent cast which manages to make all this high-stakes politics feel extremely grounded, allowing the audience to identify with its characters and understand all the complex relationships at play. 2nd season of The Empress introduces even more interesting characters and subplots that elevate the series even further, giving even more weight to Elisabeth’s story and developing this world sideways with even more real-world inspiration for the story.

Devrim Lingnau as Elisabeth von Wittelsbach

Date of birth: November 17, 1998

Actor: Devrim Lingnau was born in Mannheim, Germany in 1998where he spent most of his early years learning dance and performing arts. She attended the Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts before her acting career took off with an appearance in the feature film File number XY… unresolved. The actress then got an important role on the children’s channel KiKAbefore breaking out internationally with the English film Carmilla alongside Jessica Raine and Tobias Menzies.

Notable movies and TV shows

Character: The character Elisabeth von Wittelsbach is the protagonist of The Empressa young noblewoman who falls in love with the Emperor of Austria. When the two are about to get married, Elisabeth’s life turns upside down. and she must learn to navigate the subtle politics of the Austrian court while at the same time pleasing her own family and her new relatives. She is a tenacious and independent character whose determination often causes problems for herself.

Philip Froissant as Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria

Date of birth: 1994

Actor: Philip Froissant is a German actor best known for his roles in the German TV series One trillion dollars and the miniseries Black Islandboth enjoyed moderate success in Germany and allowed Froissant to stand out before taking on his leading role in The Empress. The actor also appeared in a TV series called Die Macht der Kränkungwhich translates as The power of injury.

Notable movies and TV shows

Character: Froissant’s character in The Empress is loosely based on the real-life figure of the same namewho ruled the Austrian Empire in the second half of the 19th century. He was born in Vienna and is revered as one of the country’s most generous and beloved emperors of his time, which is reflected in the way Froissant portrayed him in the show. His romance with Elizabeth is a key feature of the story, and it’s this dynamic that drives much of the first two seasons.

If The Empress is renewed for a third season, their relationship is likely to get even more interesting in the future. The couple remained married until Elisabeth’s real-life death, though it’s unclear whether the series will stick as closely to the real events or take some creative liberties to give their dynamic some extra drama.

Melika Foroutan as Sophie, Archduchess of Austria

Date of birth: September 6, 1976

Actress: Melika Foroutan was born in Tehran in 1976, before moving to Germany at a young age and studying at the Berlin University of the Arts, before joining the acting academy in Leipzig. These studies helped Foroutan land his breakthrough role in the 2006 drama Anger, and in the same year, she adopted the popular role of Silvia Henke in the hit German series KDD.

Notable movies and TV shows

Character: In The EmpressForoutan plays the character of Sophie, the Archduchess of Austria and mother of Emperor Franz. She is one of the series’ most notable antagonists, as she is immediately hostile towards Elisabeth after her marriage into the family. The character strongly defends her royal and imperial values ​​and worries about the presence of another noble family within her own. These precautions trigger much of the political turmoil in the The Empress seasons 1 and 2 that make the show so exciting to watch, even if it’s at the expense of Elisabeth’s comfort in her new family.

Elisa Schlott as Duchess Helene

Date of birth: February 7, 1994

Actress: Elisa Schlott was born in Berlin in 1994, where she landed roles in several low-budget television productions, before receiving the Foerder German Film Prize for her main work in Draussen am See (losing balance). In 2015, Schlott gained even more recognition for his work on Strange Daughteranother critically acclaimed festival project. The Empress is his first international successand his only active project as of 2021.

Notable movies and TV shows

Character: In The Empress, Schlott plays the character of Duchess Helene, sister of the show’s protagonist, Elisabeth. She was originally engaged to Emperor Francis before he fell in love with her younger sister, which caused much unrest between the two families. She is a much more traditional and trustworthy member of the family, whose adherence to typical royal values ​​made her a safer choice for Franz’s bride before love got in the way.

Empress cast and supporting characters

Johannes Nussbaum as Archduke Maximilian: Archduke Maxillian is the brother of Emperor Franz, and their rivalry is the source of much tension within the Viennese royal family. He is the younger brother, but he firmly believes he is better suited to rule and often tries to upstage his brother. He is played by Johannes Nussbaum, a German actor for whom The Empress It’s his breakout role.

Jordis Treibel as Ludovika, Duchess of Bavaria: Ludovika is the mother of The Empress‘main character Elisabeth, and she is an important player in the series’ intricate politics. Although she wants the best for her daughter, she is also aware of the impact of marriage on her own family and wants to manipulate it in her best interests. She is played by Jordis Treibel, a stage actress best known for playing the beloved character Katharina Neilsen in the Netflix film. Dark.

Almila Bagriacik as Countess Leontine von Apafi: Although only a supporting role, Countess Leontine is undoubtedly one of the The Empress‘more interesting characters. She is a Viennese revolutionary who poses as a countess, using her status within Austria’s nobility to promote her political ideologies. The figure is played by Almila Bagriacik, best known for her roles in When we leave and 4 blocksboth shown at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Svenja Jung as Countess Louise Gundemann: Countess Louise is another important figure in The Empressas her previous romance with Emperor Franz causes a lot of conflict for Elisabeth within her new family. The presence of Franz’s former lover contributes greatly to the drama between the two main characters. The figure is played by Svenja Jung, a German actress best known for her role in Andreas Steinhofel’s film adaptation. The Center of the World.