Meet Damian Hardung, The German Actor Who We Think Can Conquer The World!
Damian Hardung, whose surname is a pleasing portmanteau of “hard” and “hung”, is a 26-year-old German actor who has become a global sensation thanks to Amazon Prime’s Maxton Hall: The World Between Us.
Before we go any further, yes, his surname is Hardung, and, yes, it sounds exactly like what you’re thinking.
Who is Damian Hardung?
Born in Cologne on 7 September 1998, Hardung started acting at 12 years old. His early work included short films like Der Magische Umhang and Die Könige der Straße. By his mid-teens, he landed the role of Jonas Neumann in Club der roten Bänder, a hit German television series that ran from 2015 to 2017. The show made him a household name in Germany.
At 14, Hardung received a scholarship for gifted students to study in New York. Before focusing on acting, he played football at SC Fortuna Köln’s youth academy. The man had options, and he chose all of them.
The Maxton Hall phenomenon.
While Hardung appeared in Netflix’s How To Sell Drugs Online (Fast) and the period drama The Name Of The Rose, it was Maxton Hall that launched him internationally. The series premiered in May 2024 and became an instant hit. Adapted from Mona Kasten’s bestselling novel Save Me, the show follows scholarship student Ruby Bell and wealthy heir James Beaufort. Their chemistry is electric. The tension is palpable. The slow-burn romance has viewers obsessed.
Amazon renewed the series for a second season in May 2024. Season two premiered in October 2025, and Hardung recently revealed that filming took an emotional toll. Speaking on the German Films podcast Short Take, he explained that the second season explores darker themes. “I had a really tough time shooting that, it really pushed me to a point where I’m like: ‘I don’t know if that’s healthy anymore,'” he said.
But wait, there’s more.
Hardung studies medicine in Cologne. Yes, medicine. During the covid pandemic, he and his brother Leon volunteered to give vaccinations to the German public. The man can memorise scripts and medical terminology. He can act and administer vaccines. The range is staggering.
He speaks German, English and Italian fluently. He can also communicate in French and Mandarin.
An activist with a conscience.
In 2022, Hardung partnered with Greenpeace and travelled to Antarctica to raise awareness about climate change. He shared his experience on Instagram, writing about the need to protect the environment. He also spoke at the re:publica conference in Berlin about fighting hate speech online.
His activism adds depth to an already impressive profile. Good looks? Check. Talent? Check. Actually caring about the planet and social issues? Double check.
The awards keep coming.
Hardung has won honours from the Subtitle Film Festival and the Sarajevo Youth Film Festival. He also received the Günter Strack TV Award. In 2024, he earned a Best Actor nomination at the Deutscher Fernsehpreis for his work on Maxton Hall. If he keeps going at this pace, he’ll need a bigger trophy cabinet.
What’s next for this rising star?
Hardung has several projects lined up. He’ll star in Love Sucks, a vampire series that early reviewers are calling Germany’s answer to Twilight. He’s also attached to Corpus Delicti, Into the Deep Blue, and La variante de Luneburg. More roles mean more content, which means more reasons to stay glued to your screen.
Here’s a fun fact. Hardung applied to Oxford University and was rejected. But thanks to Maxton Hall filming at Oxford, he got to spend time there anyway. Speaking to Stream Wars, he called Oxford his “personal highlight” of the production. “I had applied for a place at Oxford University and was rejected. That meant they didn’t want me and thanks to the series, I made it after all,” he explained.
Why everyone’s talking about him.
There’s something about Hardung that feels refreshingly genuine. He’s talented without being pretentious. He’s accomplished without making it seem effortless. He works hard, and it shows. Whether he’s performing an emotional scene, studying for medical exams, or speaking about climate change, he brings the same level of commitment.
His co-star Harriet Herbig-Matten recently addressed rumours that the two were dating in real life. On the G Spot podcast, she confirmed they’re just good friends. The speculation came from their undeniable on-screen chemistry, but Herbig-Matten set the record straight. “It was difficult. We are not together and we weren’t together either,” she said.
Damian Hardung represents a new generation of actors who bring substance along with star power. He’s not just a pretty face on your screen. He’s a medical student, a climate activist, and a genuinely talented performer. As Maxton Hall continues to dominate streaming charts and his upcoming projects generate buzz, one thing is clear. Hardung isn’t going anywhere.
