Every once in a while, the universe delivers a man so distractingly handsome that the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum collectively freezes mid-scroll, clutches their pearls, and murmurs, “Oh. Hello.” And this time, that cosmic disruption came courtesy of Hardung himself — Damian Hardung, the face, jawline, and general existence responsible for breaking timelines and raising heart rates across the internet. In 2024, Hardung cemented his status as the breakout star of Amazon Prime Video’s steamy, addictive German romantic series Maxton Hall — The World Between Us, instantly turning “Damian Hardung” into the name everyone suddenly needed to Google, pronounce correctly, and obsess over.
If your algorithm has recently spiraled into a vortex of Maxton Hall edits, slow-mo locker room scenes, and James Beaufort mood boards, congratulations: you have excellent taste. And if you’re just joining us — buckle in. It’s time to meet the man behind the jawline.
A Hardung Hard Yes: Perfect Storm of Talent, Beauty, and German Efficiency
Born in Cologne on September 7, 1998, Hardung is the kind of overachiever who makes the rest of us reconsider our life choices. While most of us were figuring out how to use eyeliner correctly or crying over algebra, Damian was busy doing… everything.
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At 12, he made his acting debut. Not in a school play or a random YouTube short — no, Damian kicked off with short films like Der Magische Umhang and Die Könige der Straße. Then came roles in Transpapa, Unter Frauen, and Die Holzbaronin before landing his first major film role as Thomas in Clara and the Secret of the Bears.
By the time he hit his mid-teens, he was starring in the German TV hit Club der roten Bänder — a show that turned him into a household name. Meanwhile, his friends were probably worrying about exams, and Damian was deep in scripts.
And because that wasn’t enough, he also went to New York at 14 on a scholarship for gifted students. The rest of us were gifted a puberty crisis, not a passport to Manhattan.
Actor by Day, Med Student by… Also Day?
If you’re thinking “Surely this man sleeps,” the answer is: unclear. Because aside from acting, Hardung also studies medicine. Yes. Medicine. The thing with 30-hour shifts, swollen eyebags, and textbooks thicker than your weekly emotional baggage.
Not only that — he and his brother Leon (also a medical student, because apparently excellence runs in the family like good bone structure) were among the volunteers giving COVID-19 vaccinations during the pandemic.
Let’s pause for a second. This man can play a romantic lead, perform emotional scenes, then jab a syringe into an arm with perfect technique. The gays love a multitasker.
Damian Hardung Enters Maxton Hall
While Damian already had fans thanks to his roles in How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) and the epic The Name of the Rose, it was Maxton Hall — The World Between Us that launched him into internet boyfriend territory.
Adapted from Mona Kasten’s bestselling novel Save Me, the show blew up in 2024 — partly because of its intoxicating mix of drama, private-school snobbery, and forbidden romance, but mostly because Damian’s portrayal of James Beaufort was a perfect storm of smug, sensitive, and kissable.
The chemistry. The stare-downs. The slow touches. The unbuttoned uniforms. We were all goners.
And guess what? The show was renewed for season two in May 2024, so the thirst will continue.
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An Actor Who Actually Cares About the Planet
Adding another unexpected twist to Damian’s résumé: he’s a climate activist. He teamed up with Greenpeace, traveled to Antarctica in 2022, and used his platform to bring awareness to environmental issues. A man who looks like that and cares about the planet? Unfair. Rude, even, but we’ll forgive him.
Awards? He Has Those Too.
Damian’s not just pretty — he has trophies. He has won honors from the Subtitle Film Festival, Sarajevo Youth Film Festival, and earned the Günter Strack TV Award. Plus he scored a Best Actor nomination at the 2024 Deutscher Fernsehpreis for Maxton Hall. If he keeps going like this, he may need a separate shelf just for ego management.
What’s Next for Damian?
Damian’s upcoming projects include Corpus Delicti, Into the Deep Blue, and La variante de Luneburg. Translation: more roles, more drama, more content for TikTok edits.