The Empress

THE EMPRESS is an episodic historical drama about the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Princess Ludovika of Bavaria (Jördis Triebel), with the support of her sister, Archduchess Sophie (Melika Foroutan), had planned for her eldest daughter, Helene von Wittelsbach (Elisa Schlott), to marry the Archduchess' son, Emperor Franz Joseph I (Philip Froissant). But when the time comes, the young emperor chooses Helene's younger sister, 15-year old Princess Elisabeth or "Sissi" (Devrim Lingnau), a headstrong, independent young woman who speaks her mind. As Empress Elisabeth learns to navigate her new role in the Habsburg court, she must deal with the schemes of her domineering aunt/mother-in-law, and her brother-in-law, Archduke Maximilian (Johannes Nussbaum). There are many who want to bring the young emperor and empress down, but the couple is determined to rise above and maintain their power.