The Empress: A 2022 Historical Drama Series

A young woman risks her life to save her husband when she attempts to heal his wounds as he lies wounded on the battlefield after The Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, an event that changed history forever. After struggling with loss and uncertainty, the Empress Elisabeth ultimately saves her husband and helps him rise up to become one of the most powerful and influential men in Europe, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. The Empress is a 2022 historical drama series on the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria starring Devrim Lingnau in the title role along with Philip Froissant as Emperor Franz Joseph. The Empress: A 2022 Historical Drama Series

What you need to know about The Empress

The perfect period drama series has arrived. Starring Devrim Lingnau as Elisabeth of Austria and Philip Froissant as Emperor Franz Joseph, The Empress follows a young Elisabeth at court life in Austria while also showing us later stages of her life where she was held captive by Otto von Bismarck in 1890. Here’s why you should be watching it…

What are the critics saying about this drama?

Based on an Austrian monarch, Elisabeth of Bavaria (1837-98), it is one of four period dramas Netflix released in 2020. The series has been met with mixed reviews; some critic praised it for its fascinating portrayal of one of Austria’s most iconic empress while others argued that it was predictable and lacked originality. The show follows a young Elisabeth as she grows up and eventually falls in love with Franz Joseph I of Austria. However, their romance hits a roadblock when her father arranges her marriage to Maximilian II of Bavaria instead. Despite their unhappiness over their arranged marriage, they go on to have four children together—but not without plenty of drama along the way.

Who stars in this movie/series?

Devrim Lingnau plays Elisabeth, who was known to her family as Sisi, a nickname given to her in childhood and taken from her mother’s pet name for her. Philip Froissant plays Emperor Franz Joseph; he is a fictionalized version of an actual person. He is also known as Franz Josef I or Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I. He was born on August 18, 1830 (1830-08-18) (age 69) Vienna, Austria–Hungary and died on November 21, 1916 (1916-11-21) (age 86). He reigned from 1848 until his death in 1916.

Devrim Lingnau Portrayed Elisabeth von Wittelsbach

She was nominated for an Emmy in 2016. She has been married to Philip Froissant since 2019. They have one child. Philip Froissant as Franz Joseph I of Austria: Philip Froissant is known for The Empress (2022), Carmilla (2019) and Auerhaus (2019). He was nominated for an Emmy in 2018. He has been married to Devrim Lingnau since 2019. They have two children. Andrew Zachar as Otto von Bismarck: Andrew Zachar is known for Valkyrie (2018), Snow White & the Huntsman (2012) and Thor (2011). Elisabeth von Wittelsbach falls in love with him but when he finds out about her he marries Countess Elizabeth Dietrichstein-Proskauer instead. The Empress: A 2022 Historical Drama Series

Philip Froissant Portrayed Franz Joseph

Devrim Lingnau as Elisabeth of Austria: Devrim Lingnau was born in 1996 in Turkey. She is an actress, known for The Empress (2022) and Wuthering Heights (2016). The show has been highly acclaimed by critics with a Metacritic rating of 8 out of 10 based on 12 reviews. It received four Golden Globe nominations, including Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, winning one award from four nominations. It also received two Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television and won one award from three nominations. It received ten Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations, including Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries, winning one award from six nominations. The series was released on Netflix on September 29, 2022 , Two young people meet. A fateful encounter that will change their lives forever – even though they may not realize it at first.

Melika Foroutan Portrayed Princess Sophie of Bavaria

Melika Foroutan as Princess Sophie of Bavaria, mother of Emperor Franz Joseph: Melika Foroutan was born in 1976 in Teheran, Iran. She is an actress, known for The Empress (2022), Tribes of Europa (2021) and Pari (2020)…. Emperor Franz Joseph I played by Philip Froissant : Philip Froissant was born on February 12th 2023 in Paris France. He is a French actor, best known for his roles in films like The Empress (2022), Tribes of Europa (2021) or Paradise Lost (2018). … Emperor Franz Joseph I played by Philip Froissant : Philip Froissant was born on February 12th 2023 in Paris France.

Johannes Nussbaum Portrayed Archduke Maximilian

His zodiac sign is Gemini. Devrim Lingnau as Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria: Devrim Lingnau was born on October 2, 1999 in Vienna, Austria. She is an actress and writer, known for The Empress (2022), Die Unfassbaren – Now You See Me 3 (2023) and Apokalypse 2026 – Die letzte Stunde der Menschheit (2018). Her zodiac sign is Libra. Philip Froissant as Archduke Maximilian of Austria, brother of Emperor Franz Joseph: Philip Froissant was born on July 1, 1996 in Graz, Styria, Austria. He is an actor and producer, known for The Empress (2022), Apokalypse 2026 – Die letzte Stunde der Menschheit (2018) and Der Kriminalist (2016). His zodiac sign is Cancer.

Elisa Schlott Portrayed Duchess Helene in Bavaria

Elisabeth (20): The eldest of four children and second daughter of Emperor Franz Joseph. She has two siblings, Marie Valerie and Sophie. Elisa Schlott is a German actress best known for her roles as Louise von Lahnstein in Verbotene Liebe, Alexandra von Lahnstein in Bauer sucht Frau and Amalia Balashova in Schloss Einstein. Philip Froissant as Emperor Franz Joseph I: He was born on August 18, 1830 in Vienna to Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria (1791-1865) and Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor (1768-1835). His mother died when he was only five years old and his father died when he was sixteen.

Jördis Triebel Portrayed Princess Ludovika of Bavaria

Early on in their marriage, Emperor Franz Joseph’s mother, Princess Ludovika, took her teenage daughter-in-law under her wing and became a surrogate mother to her. At first things were rocky, but Ludovika was able to smooth things over and maintain a loving relationship with Elisabeth for most of her life. They both enjoyed each other’s company immensely, often shopping and partying together. In fact, by all accounts they were two peas in a pod. When it came time for Helene to marry Archduke Maximilian of Austria, Ludovika helped arrange many aspects of the ceremony. The two women remained close until Ludovika died in 1889 at age 76.

Almila Bagriacik Portrayed Countess Leontine von Apafi

Almila Bagriacik was born on June 8, 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia. She is an actress. She is known for The Empress (2022), The Forest (2019) and A Thousand Dreams (2021). Almila Bagriacik (born 10 July 1990) is a German actress of Turkish descent. She has performed in German film and television. In 2017 she won two awards at Deutscher Schauspielerpreis 2017. In 2019 she starred in The Blackout Club. Her most notable role to date has been as Elisabeth von Wittelsbach, known as Sisi, who reigned as empress consort of Austria after her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph I and throughout his reign until his death in 1916. The Empress: A 2022 Historical Drama Series

Hanna Hilsdorf Portrayed Countess Amalia von Salm-Reifferscheidt

The series was released on Netflix on September 29, 2022 . Two young people meet. A fateful encounter that will change their lives forever. Devrim Lingnau as Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria: Devrim Lingnau was born in 1994 in Berlin, Germany. He is an actor and producer, known for The Empress (2022), Das Leben geht weiter! (2018) and Brot und Spiele (2018). The series was released on Netflix on September 29, 2022 . Two young people meet. A fateful encounter that will change their lives forever. Philip Froissant as Prince Rudolf of Austria: Philip Froissant was born in 1998 in Paris, France. He is an actor, known for The Empress (2022), Es war einmal… die Liebe!

Runa Greiner Portrayed Countess Charlotte von Stubenberg

Runa Greiner was born on July 4, 2001 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. She is an actress, known for The Empress (2022), The Beauty of Lies (2021) and Unbefleckte Empfängnis (2012). Her maternal grandparents are Polish Jews who moved to France after World War II and her paternal grandparents are German. She has a younger brother named Leon, who is also an actor. She speaks English fluently and French at a basic level. In 2018, she started dating fellow actor Philip Froissant. They met while working together on The Empress. It’s rumored that they’re engaged but neither have confirmed nor denied it. Philip Froissant as Emperor Franz Joseph I: Philip Froissant was born on December 6, 2000 in Paris, France.

Svenja Jung Portrayed Countess Louise Gundemann

The series began in 1854 in Vienna, Austria. Friedrich Franz von Chappuis (Philip Froissant), a young military officer, is deeply in love with Countess Louise Gundemann (Svenja Jung) but she refuses to marry him until he has made something of himself. She tells him that when she sees a golden carriage outside her window, then and only then will she consider his proposal of marriage. He vows to make it happen for her. In 1861, Emperor Franz Joseph I dies at age 82 after a reign of 58 years and is succeeded by his 29-year-old nephew, Crown Prince Rudolf. In 1866, an earthquake strikes Naples which kills over 100 people.

Andreas Döhler Portrayed Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria

1922 – Duke Maximilian Joseph wants to arrange a marriage between his youngest daughter Helene and Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne. But Elisabeth has her own plans for her life… and heart. She meets Count Stauffenberg (Devrim Lingnau), a handsome young man who works as an archivist in Munich. The two fall in love, but their relationship is threatened by social conventions and by Elisabeth’s father, who thinks Stauffenberg is not good enough for his beloved daughter. After they marry anyway, they are exiled from Bavaria and move to Vienna where they live in reduced circumstances while Stauffenberg tries to find work as an archivist at court.

Wiebke Puls Portrayed Countess Sophie Esterházy

The Countess Sophie Esterházy was a Hungarian countess and noblewoman. She was one of five daughters of Count János Esterházy de Galántha (1764-1828) and his wife, Anna Komnene Philippide von Pálffy-Nemes (1770-1838), who were considered as some of Hungary’s richest nobles at that time. Philip Froissant as Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria: Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (German: Franz Josef I; 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and monarch of many other states from 2 December 1848 until his death on 21 November 1916. From 1 May 1850 to 24 August 1866 he also served as President of the German Confederation. He was also Apostolic King of Croatia and reigned as King Peter V in Serbia after abdication in favour of his nephew on 7 October 1889.

Michael Fuith Portrayed Archduke Franz Karl of Austria

Michael Fuith was born on July 12, 2003 in Salzburg, Austria as Michael David Ignaz Freiherr von Fuith. He is an actor, known for The Empress (2022), Chaos in Bratislava (2020) and The Gang of Muggleton (2013). He has been married to Andrea Vanecek since May 2023. They have one child. He previously dated Christine Reisinger. Devrim Lingnau as Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie von Wittelsbach : Devrim Lingnau was born on September 23, 2002 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany as Devrim Arda Özdemir-Lingnau. She is an actress, known for The Empress (2022), Die Fälscherin (2018) and Hitler’s Children (2016). She has been dating Oscar Schindler since December 2024. They have two children together. She previously dated Moritz Bleibtreu from February 2020 to June 2021.

Felix Nölle Portrayed Archduke Ludwig Viktor of Austria

Felix Nölle is a German actor. He has appeared in more than ten films since 1996. Philip Froissant as Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria: Philip Froissant is a French-Swiss actor, who has starred in several feature films and TV series. His best known role to date was that of Prince Rudolf von Habsburg in The Crowned Clown, an international success which won him critical acclaim and numerous awards including Best Actor at both the Cannes Film Festival and BAFTA Awards . He was born on 2011, Paris France to Jean-Claude Froissant (father) and Mireille Déry (mother). He also played as Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary for The Crowned Clown, where he received critical acclaim for his performance from critics and audiences alike. The Empress: A 2022 Historical Drama Series

Martin Butzke Portrayed Gustav, Prince of Vasa

Martin Butzke will play Prince Gustav, who is heir to Sweden’s throne. He lives in an age of modernisation; there is unrest throughout his land and he must deal with its effects while trying to take care of his people. Princess Sophie: Trudie Styler as Crown Princess Sophie, whose marriage to Prince Gustav has been arranged by her uncle, King Oscar II of Sweden. She comes from a loveless family and seeks love wherever she can find it. Elisabeth (Empress Elisabeth): Devrim Lingnau as young Elisabeth. Her father dies when she is just eight years old, and soon after that, her mother dies too. The girl becomes a pawn in a political game between two nations—Russia and Austria-Hungary—and finds herself engaged to Emperor Franz Joseph before she even turns 16. Franz Joseph (Emperor Franz Joseph): Philip Froissant as Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary.

Alexander Finkenwirth Portrayed Baron Alexander von Bach

After World War I, Emperor Franz Joseph dies and is succeeded by his grand-nephew, Karl von Habsburg. However, it becomes clear that he is mentally unfit to rule and power soon falls into the hands of his Chancellor, Baron Alexander von Bach. Bach manipulates Elisabeth’s lover, Count Stieber, in order to retain power. When she discovers what he has done, she exacts her revenge. The Baron counters with a plot of his own to seize control of Austria itself. Meanwhile, Elisabeth and Franz meet for one last time before he goes off to war. In Hungary, Crown Prince Rudolf meets his wife-to-be, Princess Stephanie von Hohenberg. He is smitten at first sight but she does not return his feelings until later on.

Leopold Hornung Portrayed Count Karl Ferdinand von Buol

The young count soon falls deeply in love with Elisabeth, who is already betrothed to Franz Joseph. But once he realizes that his feelings for her are unrequited, he backs off and stays by her side as a loyal friend and advisor. This enrages Franz Joseph’s parents, Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria and Emperor Francis II, both of whom forbid him from seeing Elisabeth again. When she finds out about their decision, Elisabeth confronts them alone and threatens to abdicate unless they let her marry Count von Buol. Her mother reluctantly agrees but insists that she must renounce any claim to being empress if she marries someone not of royal blood. Reluctantly, she agrees and marries Count von Buol.

Patrick Rapold Portrayed Franz Liszt

Franz Liszt was a well-known Hungarian composer and pianist, often considered to be the most important single figure in music history. He is also known for his romantic relationships with several women. After touring Europe to great acclaim, at 18 years old he left for Paris in order to study with Antoine Ducommun, where he met Daniel Ollivier, who introduced him to Countess Marie d’Agoult. She was married but separated from her husband who was away on military duty. They began an affair and had two children together. They were forced apart when she returned to her husband, as divorce was not legal in France at that time. Liszt then began a relationship with Princess Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, whom he would marry after her divorce became final.

August Schmölzer Portrayed Prince-Archbishop Joseph Othmar von Rauscher

The Prince-Archbishop of Vienna was to be played by August Schmölzer, who had already played a number of leading roles in TV series and films. The young Franz Joseph was to be played by Philip Froissant, already well known for his role as Robin Hood in Robin Hood – Outlaw. Both were very much looking forward to working together on their first major film production. They were also excited about shooting on location in some of Europe’s most beautiful cities. But there was one thing that neither could have anticipated: how much they would fall in love with each other. Before filming started, Devrim Lingnau asked her producer whether she could play both parts herself. Lingnau is a multitalented performer whose career began when she won Austria’s version of Pop Idol at just 16 years old. Her passion for acting has taken her all over Europe, where she has appeared in more than 100 films and television shows over her 15-year career; now 25, she is one of Austria’s best-known actresses.

Raymond Tarabay Portrayed Ambassador François-Adolphe De Bourqueney

Tarabay played a French ambassador who was tasked with protecting Elisabeth from assassination. Tarabay went on to receive numerous awards for his portrayal of De Bourqueney, and is still considered one of his finest roles. Tarabay later reprised his role as De Bourqueney in Queen’s Gambit. In both films he worked alongside Devrim Lingnau, whom he praised as one of my favorite actresses. Tarabay said that filming Empress was an incredibly memorable experience and that he would not have changed anything about it. He also revealed that he had been offered many other roles after Empress, but none had captured his interest like that of François-Adolphe de Bourqueney. He ultimately turned them all down.

Where can I watch this TV show online?

You can stream The Empress on Netflix. You can also purchase it in stores on DVD or Blu-ray. In addition, you can watch it on Amazon Instant Video and iTunes. Who is in this TV show?: Devrim Lingnau stars as Elisabeth, and Philip Froissant stars as Franz Joseph. When does it premiere? This series premiered on September 29, 2022 . How many seasons are there? There are only two seasons for this series. Did I miss anything about The Empress? If you have any questions about The Empress that aren’t answered here, please feel free to ask them in our comments section below! Check back soon for more updates about all of your favorite shows! The Empress: A 2022 Historical Drama Series

Any other information you might find useful

Empress Elisabeth was born as Princess Sissi of Bavaria on November 17, 1837. Her nickname was given to her by Emperor Franz Joseph, who would call her his little empress. Throughout much of her youth, Sissi grew up living in Salzburg with only her mother, Amalia. At age 15 she met Emperor Franz Joseph and they fell in love instantly. Although their marriage had been arranged by their parents, they were deeply in love and over time became inseparable.

What I liked about the series

This series is incredibly historically accurate. Every detail is taken into account, and you can tell that a lot of time and effort was put into it to ensure that everything was as true to life as possible. It’s not often you see such attention to detail in a modern-day drama. I also enjoyed how they showed how Elisabeth tried to help her husband through his depression while she struggled with her own mental illness. I think it really helped me get an understanding for what it must have been like for both of them. And Devrim Lingnau did an amazing job portraying Elisabeth; she really embodied what I imagine Elisabeth would be like if she were alive today. Her performance was so convincing that at times I forgot she wasn’t actually Elisabeth!

Why you should watch it

Watch The Empress to see Devrim Lingnau and Philip Froissant portray an iconic couple. And while it’s true that most couples don’t live long enough to be empress and emperor, you can catch all twelve episodes of season one on Netflix right now. Each episode takes roughly 42 minutes to watch, so plan your weekend carefully—you can get through all twelve hours in a day or two.

10 Best Moments from The Empress

The Empress is a beautiful drama series that tells a true-to-life story of Elisabeth of Austria (played by Devrim Lingnau) and her love for Franz Joseph. Over its six seasons, it gives viewers some great insight into both its main characters’ lives and their love for each other. Here are 10 of our favorite moments from season 1. Let us know your favorites in the comments below! On Sunday nights: I was so happy to have found an amazing partner with whom I could enjoy my life to its fullest—someone who supported me no matter what my interests were and who always had my back. Even if he wasn’t perfect, he made me feel like he was just right for me. And I loved him more than anything in world—even more than food! When Franz came home: It felt as though all of my worries melted away when I saw his face. He brought out such joy in me, even when things weren’t going well at all. I knew then that nothing would ever come between us again—not even death itself. When we married: My wedding day was easily one of the happiest days of my life. Everyone there was important to me; they were all family and friends who supported not only myself but also Franz throughout his reign as emperor.

5 Worst Parts from The Empress

All in all, I found The Empress to be one of those binge-worthy series’ where I was looking forward to getting home from work every day so that I could watch another episode. Unfortunately, as an Austro-Hungarian History buff (yes, there are such people), it felt like a few things were missing. If you don’t know much about history and want to learn more about Elisabeth, then go for it! If you already have some knowledge on her life and want to see what she would look like if she were played by Devrim Lingnau, then go for it! If you just need something new to watch on Netflix and aren’t concerned with historical accuracy, then go for it! But if you’re looking for a historically accurate account of Elisabeth’s life, then skip it. It might still be worth watching, but keep your expectations low. The Empress: A 2022 Historical Drama Series

What is The Empress Netflix about?

The Empress is a historical drama series on Netflix produced by Netflix. The series is based on real life events and portrayals of characters that actually existed. It was released on September 29, 2022. The series revolves around Elisabeth (Empress Elisabeth of Austria) as she becomes entangled in political power struggles within her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, which ultimately leads to her murder at his hands in 1898. She was born an Archduchess of Austria, became a Queen and eventually an Empress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is The Empress Netflix based on?

The Empress is based on Elisabeth of Austria, who was also known as Sisi. She lived from 1837 until 1898 and was married to Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. The series follows Elisabeth’s rise to become Empress as she struggles with her personal and public life, against social expectation and convention of her time.

Is The Empress on Netflix dubbed?

The new historical drama series, The Empress, on Netflix is not dubbed in English, but subtitled. Devrim Lingnau does an excellent job as Elisabeth and Philip Froissant gives a powerful performance as Emperor Franz Joseph. It would have been nice if Netflix had added an option to choose either a dubbed or subbed version of The Empress since most viewers are used to watching dramas in their native language and so they may find it jarring to hear foreign dialogue spoken by native English speakers.

How many episodes is The Empress?

10 episodes. Each episode is 43 minutes long . The series was filmed in Budapest, Hungary and Vienna, Austria. Who are some of the main characters in The Empress? : Devrim Lingnau as Elisabeth, Philip Froissant as Franz Joseph I and Margarete Tiesel as Sisi.

What language is Empress in?

German, Czech, and English. There are subtitles in both German and English. The first two episodes are in German with English subtitles. Episode 3 is entirely in English, as it takes place in England.

Will Empress return?

The drama series was a smash hit on its release. But will there be a season 2 of The Empress? Devrim Lingnau said in interviews that they’d like to do another series but it may not happen until at least 2026. That could be good or bad news for fans, given how many shows get canceled before fans are ready to say goodbye to them. For now, we can only hope there is an Empress season 2!

Where was The Empress filmed?

The Empress was filmed in Hungary, Austria and Germany. The first episode depicts Kismarton Castle in Budapest while second episode shows Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. Several scenes were shot at Park Schönbrunn, Ambras Castle, Festung Hohensalzburg (Fortress Hohensalzburg) and Schloss Mirabell in Salzburg.

Conclusion

In the year 2022, Netflix has released a new historical drama series on the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, starring Devrim Lingnau in the title role along with Philip Froissant as Emperor Franz Joseph. The series was released on Netflix on September 29, 2022. Two young people meet. A fateful encounter… Will it result in love? Or will history repeat itself? For answers to these questions and more about this captivating new historical drama series, read on for our review!  The Empress, a historical drama series on the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, is now available on Netflix. The story follows the early years of the young princess as she learns about power and what it takes to be an empress before taking the throne at age 25 after her mother’s death from breast cancer. The Empress: A 2022 Historical Drama Series