1. Overview
Prince August Fredrik zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (August Fredrik Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-BerleburgGerman), professionally known as August Wittgenstein, is a German-Swedish actor born on January 22, 1981. He is a member of the princely House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, an ancient German noble family. Wittgenstein holds dual German and Swedish citizenship, stemming from his upbringing in a multilingual environment. Throughout his career, he has appeared in a diverse range of films and television series produced in English, German, and Swedish. He is particularly recognized for his roles as Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse in The Crown, Count Alfred Eckbrecht von Dürckheim-Montmartin in Ludwig II, Karl Tennstedt in Das Boot, and Andreas Wolf in Deadwind.
2. Early life and education
August Wittgenstein was born on January 22, 1981, in Siegen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He belongs to the House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, an old German noble family with a rich history. He is the younger son of Prince Ludwig Ferdinand of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Countess Yvonne Wachtmeister af Johannishus, who is a member of the Swedish nobility. His paternal grandparents were Prince Ludwig Ferdinand of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Friederike Juliane of Salm-Horstmar. Furthermore, he is the great-grandson of Richard, 4th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Madeleine of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg.
Wittgenstein grew up in a bilingual household, speaking both German and Swedish, which contributed to his dual citizenship. He is also the brother of journalist and writer Princess Anna of Bavaria and Princess Theodora zu Wittgenstein. At the age of fifteen, he attended a boarding school in Sweden. After completing his schooling, he lived in various international cities including the United Kingdom, Paris, and Australia. He later pursued higher education, graduating from Georgetown University in the United States. From 2005 to 2007, he further honed his craft by studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
3. Career
August Wittgenstein's professional journey as an actor began in the late 2000s, leading to a variety of roles in both film and television across different languages and international productions.
3.1. Career beginnings
Wittgenstein commenced his acting career in 2008 with several roles in short films. His first notable appearance in a major feature film was in 2009, when he played a Swiss Guard in the mystery thriller Angels & Demons. In 2010, he appeared in the film Grave Dawn. The following year, in 2011, he took on a supporting role in the Swedish drama Avalon.
3.2. Major roles and works
Wittgenstein's career gained significant momentum with his portrayal of Count Alfred Eckbrecht von Dürckheim-Montmartin in the 2012 German feature film Ludwig II. In 2013, he played the character of Travis in the science fiction drama The Congress. That same year, he secured his first starring role in the German television movie Wüstenherz - Der Trip meines LebensGerman, also known as Open Desert.
He has since taken on numerous significant roles in both film and television. His notable television appearances include playing Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse in the historical drama series The Crown, Karl Tennstedt in Das Boot, and Andreas Wolf in Deadwind.
His extensive filmography and television credits include:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Angels & Demons | Swiss Guard | Feature film |
| 2010 | Grave Dawn | Feature film | |
| 2011 | Avalon | Supporting role in Swedish drama | |
| 2012 | Ludwig II | Count Alfred Eckbrecht von Dürckheim-Montmartin | Feature film |
| 2013 | The Congress | Travis | Science fiction drama |
| 2013 | Wüstenherz - Der Trip meines LebensGerman (Open Desert (film)) | Television film, first starring role | |
| 2017 | Shelter | Feature film | |
| 2017 | The Mouse | Feature film | |
| The Crown | Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse | Television series | |
| Das Boot | Karl Tennstedt | Television series | |
| Die Schlikkerfrauen | Television film | ||
| Ein starkes Team: Späte Rache | Television series | ||
| In Your Dreams | Television series | ||
| Notruf Hafenkante | Television series | ||
| Deadwind | Andreas Wolf | Television series | |
| Leipzig Homicide | Television series | ||
| Cologne P.D. | Television series | ||
| SOKO München | Television series | ||
| Nord bei Nordwest | Television series | ||
| Ein Lächeln nachts um vier | Television film | ||
| Ku'damm 56 | Television series | ||
| Jenny - echt gerecht | Television series | ||
| Josephine Klick - Allein unter Cops | Television series |
4. Personal life
In 2021, August Wittgenstein announced his engagement to Austrian psychologist and podcaster Mia Rohla. Mia Rohla is the daughter of Austrian businessman and television personality Martin Rohla. The couple married on September 3, 2022, in Vienna, Austria.