Empress Elisabeth of Austria, who died on 10 September 1898, remains a figure of fascination 125 years on. Beautiful, tragic, powerful – it is easy to understand why the tale of this ill-fated royal beauty has captured the imagination. Indeed, Elisabeth, known as ‘Sissi’, has returned to the public consciousness in recent years thanks to two recent releases chronicling her life: Netflix's and the 2022 film, , with Vicky Krieps in the starring role.
Now, shooting has begun on the fourth season of Beta’s hit series ‘Sisi’ with new stills from the show released on in recent weeks. Born into the royal Bavarian House of Wittelsbach, Elisabeth enjoyed an informal upbringing, where her hands-on mother and father raised her to explore the countryside and enjoy creative musings. The young Sissi wed Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria at the age of 16, a marriage that thrust her into formal Habsburg court life, for which she was unprepared and found unpleasant.
Eccentric and educated in the values of creativity and adventure, the dullness of royal life was no match for Sissi. In an act of defiance, the empress took up smoking (ironic, considering her fear of ageing), riding and gymnastics during her marriage, which caused her to become a reluctant victim of gossip. Considered beautiful in her day, the royal’s good looks and elegant features were often credited with retaining a public interest in the Austrian court.
Elisabeth's mother-in-law, the infamous Archduchess Sophie,.
