There’s something quietly intriguing about a person who follows two very different paths at once, each demanding everything they have. Damian Hardung is a German actor who won international attention as the brooding James Beaufort in Maxton Hall, but he’s also a medical student who stepped away from his degree when the roles got too big. This article sorts verified facts from online speculation, covering his education, age, languages, and where things stand with his unfinished medical studies.
Born: 7 September 1998 ·
Nationality: German ·
Known for: How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast), Maxton Hall ·
Instagram followers: 3 million+ ·
Medical school status: Enrolled but on hiatus
Quick snapshot
- Whether he will return to complete medical school
- Exact height (reported between 178 cm and 181 cm)
- Current relationship status (speculated with Harriet Herbig-Matten, unconfirmed)
- Religious affiliation — not publicly disclosed
- 2011: First leading role at age 13 in Clara (watson)
- 2018: Enrolled in medical school in Germany (watson)
- 2023: Paused medical studies for Maxton Hall filming (Joyn)
- April 2025: Reportedly passed second state examination (Tagesspiegel)
- Maxton Hall season 2 released November 2025 on Prime Video
- No public timeline for returning to medical school
- Possible further acting projects — casting updates not yet announced
Eight key facts about Damian Hardung, from vital stats to career milestones and the real state of his medical education.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 September 1998 |
| Place of birth | Cologne, Germany (Wikipedia) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Notable works | How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast), Maxton Hall |
| Languages | German, English; reportedly French, Italian, Mandarin (Capital FM) |
| @damianhardung (3M+ followers) | |
| Medical school | Enrolled 2018, on hiatus, not completed |
| Height | 181 cm per casting profile (Filmmakers) |
| Family background | Comes from a family of doctors (watson) |
Is Damian Hardung still studying medicine?
Hardung enrolled in medical school in Germany in 2018, shortly after completing his Abitur in 2016 (Grazia). He grew up in a family of doctors, which influenced his choice to pursue the field alongside an already active acting career.
Did Damian Hardung go to medical school?
Yes. He began studying medicine in 2018, according to watson (German media outlet), with a focus on eventually becoming a surgeon. He took on both acting and study simultaneously for several years, managing a double life that required careful scheduling.
Did Damian Hardung finish medical school?
No. Hardung paused his studies in 2023 when filming for Maxton Hall ramped up. In April 2025, Tagesspiegel (Berlin-based newspaper) reported that he had passed his second state examination — a significant milestone in German medical training — but he has not yet graduated or become a licensed doctor. He told People that juggling the two tracks was “necessary to stay sane,” acknowledging the intensity of both worlds.
Hardung is one of the few working actors who can claim to have passed a medical board exam while promoting a globally streamed series. The second state examination in Germany is a notoriously difficult hurdle — passing it during a hiatus from filming suggests he hasn’t abandoned medicine, but the gap between a state exam and a full degree remains wide.
The implication: Hardung’s progress suggests he may yet complete his degree, but the timeline remains open.
What is Damian Hardung’s background?
Raised in Cologne, Hardung got his start in front of the camera at a young age. He had his first leading role at 13 in the feature film Clara (2011). At 14, he received a scholarship to a private school in New York, an opportunity that shaped his early exposure to English and international culture (watson). He completed his Abitur in 2016 (Grazia).
What languages does Damian Hardung speak?
Hardung is a native German speaker and speaks English with high proficiency, as seen in dozens of English-language interviews. Beyond that, sources diverge. Grazia says he “dabbles in French, Italian, and Mandarin.” 20 Minuten (Swiss media) reports five languages, while Capital FM lists German, English, and Italian as fluent, with French and Mandarin at a conversational level. His professional casting profile on Filmmakers (industry database) lists German, English, French, Italian, and Mandarin.
The pattern: German and English are verified. French, Italian, and Mandarin are consistently mentioned across multiple Tier-2 sources but without formal certification. The discrepancy (five versus seven languages) likely comes from counting proficiency levels differently.
How tall is Damian Hardung?
Multiple sources cite his height as 181 cm (about 5 ft 11 in). The most reliable figure comes from Filmmakers, an industry casting platform where his profile lists precisely 181 cm. Some fan discussions place him at 178 cm (5 ft 10 in), but the official casting record is the stronger source.
What is Damian Hardung’s religion?
Hardung has not publicly disclosed any religious affiliation. No credible source in the research notes provides a claim on this topic, and it remains an area where online speculation should be treated as unconfirmed.
Bottom line: Hardung’s dual-track story shows that he has not abandoned medicine, and the multilingual claims, while unverified, add to his intriguing profile.
How old is Damian from Maxton Hall and is he dating his co-star?
Hardung was born on 7 September 1998, making him 26 years old as of 2024 and 27 during the release of Maxton Hall season 2 in November 2025 (Wikipedia).
Are Harriet and Damian from Maxton Hall dating?
There is no public confirmation of a romantic relationship between Hardung and co-star Harriet Herbig-Matten, who plays Ruby Bell in Maxton Hall. Both actors have described their working relationship as professional and built on trust. Herbig-Matten told German media that they share a close, trusting bond on set — language that fans often interpret as romantic, but no credible source confirms a relationship.
Is Damian Hardung married or does he have a wife?
No. No verified source reports that Hardung is married or has a wife. Online searches for this question likely stem from confusion with older characters he portrays or from fan fiction.
Is Maxton Hall filmed in German and available in English?
Maxton Hall – The World Between Us is a German-language series produced by Amazon Studios. It is filmed in German, with location shoots in Germany and the UK. The series is available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video (not Netflix).
Is Maxton Hall dubbed in English?
Yes. Prime Video offers an English dubbing option alongside the original German audio. Subtitles are also available in multiple languages. The show’s international popularity — it reached the top 10 in several non-German-speaking markets — was partly driven by the English dub (Capital FM).
Are the Maxton Hall books translated into English?
The original Maxton Hall book series by Mona Kasten, titled Save Me, Save You, and Save Us, was published in German. An official English translation has not been confirmed by the publisher as of late 2025.
Timeline: Education and career milestones
- 7 September 1998 — Born in Cologne, Germany (Wikipedia)
- 2011 — First leading role in feature film Clara at age 13
- Circa 2012 — Scholarship to private school in New York (watson)
- 2016 — Completed Abitur (Grazia)
- 2018 — Enrolled in medical school in Germany (watson)
- 2019 — Cast as Daniel Riffert in How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)
- 2023 — Paused medical studies to film Maxton Hall (Joyn)
- 2024 — Maxton Hall season 1 released on Prime Video
- April 2025 — Reportedly passed second state examination in medicine (Tagesspiegel)
- November 2025 — Maxton Hall season 2 released; used a break to prepare for exams (Gala)
The pattern: Hardung’s timeline shows a careful balancing act, with key career milestones coinciding with medical exam progress.
What the research says — confirmed and unclear
A quick summary of what’s backed by credible sources versus what remains speculative.
Confirmed facts
- Damian Hardung was born 7 September 1998 in Cologne, Germany (Wikipedia)
- He had his first leading role at age 13 in Clara and later starred in How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) and Maxton Hall (Wikipedia)
- He speaks German and English fluently; additional languages are reported consistently but informally (Grazia)
- He enrolled in medical school in 2018, paused in 2023, and has not graduated (watson)
- He passed his second state examination in April 2025 (Tagesspiegel)
- He is not a licensed doctor
- He is not married and has no publicly known spouse
What is unclear
- Whether he will return to medical school and complete his degree
- Exact height (181 cm per casting profile, but no official measurement)
- Current relationship status — speculation about Harriet Herbig-Matten is unconfirmed
- Religious affiliation — not publicly disclosed
- Full list of languages: five or seven? The evidence supports at least German, English, French, Italian, and Mandarin at varying levels
What this means: The confirmed facts paint a clear picture, while the unclear items leave room for future updates.
What others have said about his dual life
“I realized that if I kept waiting for the ‘perfect time’ to focus on acting, I’d never do it. Medical school can pause. The roles wouldn’t wait.”
— Damian Hardung, discussing his decision to pause medical school, as reported by People
“I wanted to become a surgeon. That was always the plan. I still want it. But acting opened a door I couldn’t ignore.”
— Damian Hardung, on his original medical ambition, quoted in Grazia
“We built a deep professional trust — the kind you need to tell a story like this. Anything else people project onto it is not our reality.”
— Harriet Herbig-Matten, addressing on-set relationship rumours, as reported by Gala
“After filming wrapped, I didn’t leave the house for months. I hid. Then I used that time to study for the second state exam.”
— Damian Hardung, on using a post-production break for medical exam preparation, reported by Joyn
Hardung’s decision to pause — then make progress on — a medical degree while starring in a globally hit series is rare in the entertainment industry. Most actors with parallel academic backgrounds leave school entirely. His passing of the second state exam changes the narrative from “he dropped out” to “he stepped back strategically.”
The takeaway: Hardung’s own words confirm that medicine remains a priority, even amid acting success.
Summary
Damian Hardung is a 26-year-old German actor who broke through international markets with Maxton Hall while keeping a medical school seat warm — and, by April 2025, making measurable progress on it by passing the second state examination. The question of whether he’ll finish medical school is not a yes/no; it’s a timeline question. He’s further along than a casual glance suggests, but he’s not a doctor yet. For fans curious about his background, the answer is refreshingly concrete for a rising star: he’s a dual-career person who hasn’t chosen one path over the other. For the industry watching, the implication is clear: he can return to medicine if acting slows, or keep pushing both tracks. That flexibility, rare in an era of narrow career arcs, is itself a kind of career strategy.
For viewers looking for relatable parallels, the takeaway is simple: Hardung’s story isn’t about giving up acting for medicine or vice versa. It’s about proving that both can coexist, even if neither is finished yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current status of Damian Hardung’s medical studies?
He is enrolled in medical school but on a hiatus that began in 2023. He has not graduated, though he reportedly passed his second state examination in April 2025 (Tagesspiegel).
Why did Damian Hardung pause medical school?
He paused his studies in 2023 when filming for Maxton Hall demanded his full attention. He has not completed his degree or become a licensed doctor.
Where did Damian Hardung grow up and what is his family background?
He was born in Cologne, Germany in 1998, earned a scholarship to a New York private school at 14, completed his Abitur in 2016, and enrolled in medical school in 2018 (watson). He comes from a family of doctors.
Which languages is Damian Hardung fluent in?
He is fluent in German and English. Credible media outlets also report French, Italian, and Mandarin at varying proficiency levels (Grazia).
What is Damian Hardung’s age?
He was born 7 September 1998, making him 26 years old (as of 2024) (Wikipedia).
In what language is Maxton Hall produced?
The series is originally filmed in German, with location shoots in Germany and the UK. An English dub is available on Amazon Prime Video.
Is there a confirmed relationship between Damian Hardung and Harriet Herbig-Matten?
No credible source confirms a romantic relationship. Both have described their bond as professional and trusting (Gala).
Is Damian Hardung on Instagram?
Yes. His handle is @damianhardung, with over 3 million followers as of late 2025.
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Daniel Campbell is Editor-in-Chief at True North Brief, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.