You’ve seen the TikTok edits. You’ve probably felt the secondhand anxiety of a scholarship student trying to survive the shark tank of elite German wealth. Honestly, when Maxton Hall — Die Welt zwischen uns dropped on Prime Video, nobody expected it to become the massive, record-breaking global juggernaut it is today. But here we are in 2026, and the obsession with the cast of Maxton Hall The World Between Us hasn't slowed down an inch.
Why did this show work when so many other "rich boy meets poor girl" stories fail? It’s the faces. It’s the way Damian Hardung looks at Harriet Herbig-Matten like she’s the only person in a room full of millionaires.
If you’re wondering who these people are outside of their school uniforms, you’re in the right spot. Let's get into the actual humans behind the Beaufort and Bell drama.
The Magnetic Duo: Ruby and James
At the center of everything is Ruby Bell. She’s played by Harriet Herbig-Matten, and if she looks familiar, it’s because she’s been a staple in German cinema for a bit, even though this was her massive international breakout. Born in 2003, Harriet brings a grounded, almost weary intelligence to Ruby. You believe she wants Oxford. You believe she’s annoyed by the wealthy idiots surrounding her. She isn't just a "strong female lead" trope; she's someone who actually feels like she has a life outside of her romance.
Then there’s James Beaufort. Damian Hardung is, quite frankly, a bit of an overachiever. He’s 26 now, but he’s been acting since he was 12. Most people recognized him from How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) or The Red Band Society, but James Beaufort required something different. He had to be a jerk you somehow wanted to root for.
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Hardung has this weirdly impressive real-life resume. He actually received a scholarship for gifted students when he was 14 and has been balancing a serious acting career while studying medicine. Yes, he’s basically a real-life genius who happens to look like a brooding aristocrat on screen. It makes the "clash of worlds" between Ruby and James feel much more authentic because both actors bring a lot of intellectual weight to their roles.
The Chemistry Rumors
Let's address the elephant in the room. The chemistry between Harriet and Damian is so intense that the internet basically exploded with dating rumors. They’ve done chemistry tests on camera that have millions of views. But, in a move that broke a thousand hearts, Harriet actually addressed this on the G Spot podcast and in interviews with US Weekly. She was pretty blunt: they aren’t together. They are just very, very good at their jobs.
The Beaufort Family: Power and Pain
The show wouldn't work without the suffocating pressure of the Beaufort legacy. Sonja Weißer plays Lydia Beaufort, James’s twin sister. She’s perhaps one of the most complex characters because she’s trapped in the same golden cage as James, but with the added weight of being a woman in a patriarchal business dynasty. Sonja, who is about 22, plays Lydia with a fragile sharpness that makes you want to give her a hug and a lawyer at the same time.
And we have to talk about the villain you love to hate: Mortimer Beaufort. Played by Dutch actor Fedja van Huêt, Mortimer is the ultimate "chess master" father. Fedja is a veteran in the industry—you might know him from the 2022 horror hit Speak No Evil. He brings a cold, calculating energy that makes every scene he’s in feel dangerous.
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Clelia Sarto plays Cordelia Beaufort, the mother who seems to be the actual "blood" Beaufort in the family. She provides a softer, albeit still complicated, contrast to Mortimer’s rigidity.
The Students and the Scandal
Maxton Hall is a small world, and the supporting cast fills it out perfectly.
- Andrea Guo as Lin Wang: Ruby’s best friend. Lin is the "wealthy but grounded" bridge between the two worlds. Andrea, an Austrian actress, gives Lin a wit that keeps the show from getting too melodramatic.
- Justus Riesner as Alistair Ellington: James’s best friend. His relationship with Keshav Patel (Govinda Gabriel Cholleti) provided some of the most genuinely sweet moments in the first two seasons, offering a glimpse of what love looks like when it isn't a constant power struggle.
- Ben Felipe as Cyril Vega: The friend who is always there but often makes things worse. Ben Felipe plays Cyril with that classic "privileged kid who doesn't know any better" energy.
- Eli Riccardi as Elaine Ellington: Every drama needs a foil, and Elaine is it. She’s Alistair’s sister and has a one-sided obsession with James that causes... well, significant problems in Season 2.
The Bell Family: The Heart of the Show
While the Beauforts are all about marble and silence, the Bells are about chaos and love. Runa Greiner plays Ember Bell, Ruby’s fashion-obsessed sister. Runa is 29 in real life, making her a bit older than her character, but she brings a protective, vibrant energy to the Bell household.
Then there’s the parents. Martin Neuhaus plays Angus Bell, Ruby’s father, who uses a wheelchair following a tragic accident. Julia-Maria Köhler (and later Gina Henkel) plays Helen Bell. Their relationship is the blueprint Ruby uses to realize that James’s world is actually quite empty compared to hers.
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Why the Cast of Maxton Hall The World Between Us Stays Popular
The second season, which wrapped up its release in late 2025, pushed these actors even further. We saw James spiraling after family tragedy and Ruby trying to maintain her sanity while her heart was being stepped on. The "angst" was turned up to eleven.
What makes this group special is that they don't feel like "Hollywood" versions of teens. They feel German. They feel European. There is a specific gloom and weight to the performances that you don't always get in American YA dramas.
What’s Next?
With Season 3 already confirmed as the final chapter (following the third book, Save Us), the cast is currently gearing up to say goodbye to these characters. For most of them, especially Harriet and Damian, this show is a launching pad into much bigger international projects.
If you want to keep up with them, Damian is quite active on Instagram (where he has over 2 million followers), often posting about his environmental work in the Amazon and Antarctica. He’s more than just a pretty face; he’s actually trying to do something with his platform.
Practical Steps for Fans
- Watch the Interviews: If you think the show is intense, watch the "Chemistry Test" videos on the Prime Video YouTube channel. It shows just how much work went into the Ruby/James dynamic.
- Read the Books: The series is based on Mona Kasten’s trilogy (Save Me, Save You, Save Us). If you can't wait for Season 3, the answers are already there in print.
- Check their Filmography: Don't just stop at Maxton Hall. Look into How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) for more Damian or Bibi & Tina for early Harriet. It gives you a better appreciation for their range.
The cast of Maxton Hall The World Between Us succeeded because they treated a "teen romance" with the same gravity as a Shakespearean tragedy. That’s why we’re still talking about them.