Friederike Sophie Seyler

Who was Friederike Sophie Seyler?

Friederike Sophie Seyler or F.S. Seyler, formerly Friederike Sophie Hensel, was a German actress, playwright and librettist. Alongside Friederike Caroline Neuber, she was widely considered Germany's greatest actress of the 18th century. Her libretto for the Singspiel Hüon und Amande was a major inspiration for the opera The Magic Flute. She was briefly married to actor Johann Gottlieb Hensel and then married famous theatre director Abel Seyler. As an actress, she was known for portraying passionate and tragic characters. She was part of Konrad Ernst Ackermann's troupe and performed at the Vienna Burgtheater, before joining the Hamburgische Entreprise and the Seyler theatrical company. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing lauded her and mentioned her numerous times in his Hamburgische Dramaturgie.