See 'Maxton Hall' Costars Harriet and Damian's Sweetest Friendship Moments

Damian Hardung and Harriet Herbig-Matten became close friends while playing love interests — James and Ruby — on Maxton Hall. The Prime Video series, which debuted in May 2024, is based on Mona Kasten's Save You book series. The six-part German-language TV drama introduced viewers to an unlikely enemies to lovers romance between private school classmates Ruby (Herbig-Matten) and James (Hardung). Maxton Hall quickly found record-breaking success by being the most-watched non-U.S. title during its first week on Prime Video. It was renewed for a second season one week after its debut. After filming the series in 2022, Hardung and Herbig-Matten formed a bond as they waited for fans to finally see their hard work come to life two years later. The pair later revealed that their first interaction didn't immediately result in a friendship. "I think in our first audition, he had come into the room and he had this suit on and I was like, 'Who's this arrogant boy there?' But in our second and last audition, it just clicked and we had tension," Herbig-Matten exclusively told Us Weekly in June 2024. "So we had chemistry, we just didn't see that." Hardung also recalled building trust with Herbig-Matten as they worked on the show together, adding, "We had a very interesting dynamic while shooting. Because we were literally just going through everything that the characters were going through." He continued: "Whenever we knew the next day we're gonna have a shoot where we hate each other, we literally didn't talk the night before. If we knew the next day we're gonna be best friends then we went out for dinner together." Keep scrolling to see the sweetest moments from Hardung and Herbig-Matten's friendship as they continue to film season 2 of Maxton Hall:

Hardung uploaded a photo of him and Herbig-Matten hanging out outside of the set. 

"To dream of what he wants. To be who he wants to be. To love whom he wants. @damianhardung I am happy to finally announce that we will be portraying @monakasten and I, Ruby and James in Save Me from @damianhardung," Herbig-Matten captioned an Instagram photo of her and Hardung goofing off while playing basketball. "I'm looking forward to the time."

After filming the first season of Maxton Hall, Hardung and Herbig-Matten posed for photos at an appearance for Prime Video. 

"You’re at work and suddenly SHE walks in 🥹," Hardung wrote alongside an Instagram video of him reuniting with Herbig-Matten.

Hardung and Herbig-Matten color coordinated in matching black looks at an event for their show. 

Hardung and Herbig-Matten documented their trip overseas to California ahead of Maxton Hall's release on Prime Video.

The costars were all smiles at a red carpet event in the U.S.

"That was my first time playing a love story that has these intense emotions. And as I said, it was really easy with Damian and I," Herbig-Matten told Us. "We are two different people and we are good friends and we have a good connection. It's really important to treat your connection [well] but to set boundaries as well as an actress and an actor."

Hardung, meanwhile, broke down the commitment that went into portraying James and Ruby's relationship, saying, "That chemistry, it has to be felt. It's really just about taking every emotion seriously. You have got to be honest about those emotions and I love that."

Outtakes from Maxton Hall season 1 featured Hardung and Herbig-Matten having fun filming various scenes together. 

The Prime Video costars had fun during an outing in between filming the second season of Maxton Hall. 

During an episode of the "G Spot" podcast, Herbig-Matten was asked about the fan rumors concerning her and Hardung to which she replied, "It was difficult. We are not together and we weren't together either. It was a crazy experience and it is also clearly such a love story [on the show] and you promote that. But I think I really underestimated it and I think I was also a bit naive. Because I didn't really know where it was going."

She continued: "When you always read these comments about how we are so together, I started to get pressure that it had to be true. So I was like, 'Only when that is the case, I will do people justice and then they will be happy.' I thought that for a long time. Then over the course of time, I had to learn to distance myself from this version."

The costars reunited to celebrate season 2 of Maxton Hall.