**Christian Friedel** (born in Magdeburg, Germany, 1979) is a German actor acclaimed for his intense and often historical performances.

His film career gained momentum with the role of the schoolteacher in Michael Haneke's multi-award-winning *Das weiße Band – Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte* (The White Ribbon, 2009), where he demonstrated a remarkable ability to portray complex and enigmatic characters.

He then solidified his reputation by portraying Georg Elser, Hitler's assassin, in *Elser – 13 Minutes* (2015), a role that highlighted his dramatic depth and gravitas. More recently, he received widespread acclaim for his unsettling performance as Nazi commandant Rudolf Höss in Jonathan Glazer's Oscar-winning film *The Zone of Interest* (2023).

Friedel is known for his subtle yet incisive acting style, preferring introspective, morally ambiguous characters, or those who conceal a deep disquiet.