Elsa Van Damke: Why Getting Angry is the New Brave

It was early morning in Berlin when Elsa Van Damke answered the call from her kitchen. Juggling her new MacBook with a laugh, she recounts a chaotic start to her day: locked out of her apartment, wandering Ostkreuz in flip-flops and sweatpants. Between sips of coffee and candid humor, Elsa radiates the unfiltered energy of a storyteller who finds inspiration in societal realities.

Fresh off a binge of what she playfully calls “elf porn” fantasy novels, Elsa is not just a feminist and creative visionary but also a two-time Grimme Prize winner, thanks to the critical acclaim of her series “Angemessen Angry.”
The series centers on Amelie, portrayed by Marie Bloching, a hotel maid whose anger after experiencing sexual violence manifests as extraordinary telekinetic powers. What begins as a deeply personal struggle evolves into a sharp critique of societal norms.

“Angemessen Angry” dismantles deeply ingrained beliefs about gender, trauma, and resilience, presenting a narrative that defies convention. As Elsa aptly describes it, a story of an “anti-hero”.

SLEEK: Let’s talk about the title of your series, Angemessen Angry. How did you land on it?

Elsa Van Damke: The alliteration definitely makes it stand out, Angemessen Angry just rolls off the tongue. Plus, it reflects me, us, our generation, really. Language evolves and integrating English into the title felt right. It was a debate, though. But I thought, if my grandma knows what Angry Birds is, people will get it [laughs].

S: Bringing a topic like sexual violence to the screen is a courageous choice. Did that feel like a difficult decision for you?

EVD: Not at all. But looking back, I can’t help questioning how wise it was to dedicate so much of my life, so intimately, to something so heavy. This topic became my constant companion, shaping my days and nights over the past few years. Given my own experiences with sexual violence, both in my youth and as I navigated womanhood, this isn’t a subject I can easily distance myself from. It’s everywhere, like a radar constantly scanning, coloring how I see and experience the world. Spending nearly three years completely immersed, working, eating, and almost sleeping with this subject, I’m only now beginning to understand how deeply it’s impacted me.

S: How has this experience shaped your perspective?

EVD: It’s left me feeling bitter in some ways. After the series was released, I became a walking encyclopedia, constantly expected to educate everyone. What’s maddening is that the information is already out there. Statistics, studies, police reports, they’re all easily accessible. Yet here I am, explaining why the lived experiences of survivors, especially women, are worlds apart from those of men, who often move through life with a kind of ease that doesn’t demand a second thought.

S: Was there any backlash to the series?

EVD: Oh, absolutely. Men accused me of promoting violence and hating them, without even watching the show. It’s clear how deeply some people resist questioning their own privilege. But what’s kept me going is the conviction that this story needed to be told. It’s raw and uncomfortable, yes, but that’s the reality for so many. And it’s not just about highlighting the problem, it’s about opening a dialogue and forcing people to confront these truths.

What’s wild is how intentional we were in building the protagonist. She’s not a perfect hero, more of an anti-hero, really. She struggles, makes mistakes, and even crosses the line. She faces pushback from her own family and friends. We wanted to make it clear that you can’t fight violence with violence, but that’s a message you only grasp if you stick with the story.

S: When you talk about violence, I think the show explores not only the destructive aspects of anger but also its positive, liberating side. Was that something you were consciously trying to express?

EVD: Absolutely. Anger is an emotion we’ve been conditioned to suppress, especially women. It’s powerful, dynamic, and loud. It’s not just about shouting; it’s an energy that demands space, insists on being seen, like an electric charge surging through you.

For women, though, the act of taking up space, of embracing anger, has been systematically stripped away. We’re taught to swallow it, to be the rational ones, the peacemakers, to hold everything together. But in silencing our anger, we’ve denied ourselves something vital, a raw, transformative power that can ignite change. And when shared in a collective, it’s even more powerful.

S: Has this exploration of anger also changed your perception of that emotion, how do you feel, as a women, being angry?

EVD: For me, reclaiming anger has been life-changing. There’s a profound power in finding your voice, in allowing yourself to take up space, metaphorically banging on the table and declaring, ‘This is not okay.’ But it’s far from easy. Every moment of resistance comes with a mental calculation: ‘Am I putting myself at risk?’

S: Let’s delve into the protagonist, her costume certainly deserves mention. How did you go about conceptualizing the design of her uniform?

EVD: We wanted to break away from the usual superwoman trope of tight, figure-hugging, and impractical outfits. Our goal was to design something unsexy yet protective. The corset stood out to us because of its historical significance. While restrictive, it also provided support. Initially, we considered pairing it with a large puffer jacket to create a bulky silhouette, but it quickly became clear that would’ve been a total sweat fest. Instead, we opted for a big leather coat. For the pants, we chose a cargo style with plenty of pockets.

S: When it comes to superhero outfits, I’m always curious, do you have a piece of clothing or an outfit where you actually feel like a hero?

EVD: Oh, absolutely. For me, it’s all about counteracting being really small. That’s why I often wear my hair in a bun, to add height, plus these super high platform shoes with thick soles, so I can stand and walk comfortably while instantly gaining about 10 centimeters. I’m also obsessed with shoulder pads and big blazers. After two years of pitching, interviewing, and presenting on stage, this has become my go-to power outfit. Honestly, it feels like it triples my ovaries or something [laughs].

S: When you dive so deep into the topic of sexual violence, did you have rituals or routines to distract or protect yourself? Like, ways to shield your mind?

EVD: Totally. My latest distraction hack is elf porn [laughs]. So, right now, I’m escaping through reading novels or playing PlayStation. It’s like a little exit hatch for my brain. I love coloring mandalas or paint-by-numbers, it’s oddly soothing. Being with friends. Also scrolling on TikTok for hours. Just brain rot.

S: How did you experience the months following the release? What stood out to you, or which reactions have stuck with you?

EVD: In recent months, we’ve received countless touching messages from women on Instagram and email. One of the most special moments was when my best friend told me after a screening, “Now I finally understand that women live in a completely different world, that they experience and see things differently.” Talking about it is one thing, but I think we really managed to visualize it, giving it a whole new dimension.

Some girls shared that watching it with their partners opened up conversations they’d never had before, like, “Was it okay when I kissed you then?” That kind of response gives me goosebumps. It’s deeply moving.