British actor Stephen Fry ‘so proud’ to get Austrian citizenship

Stephen Fry has shared his delight over receiving Austrian citizenship ahead of the country’s upcoming election.

In 2019, the Austrian parliament made it possible for descendants of Austrians who fled the country under Nazi rule to apply for citizenship.

QI star Fry, 67, dubbed the move a ‘noble gesture’ and revealed in a video on social media he had obtained citizenship because he had grandparents from Austria and his great-grandparents died in the Holocaust.

‘I am so proud to be Austrian’. he said, addressing the change in law which allows him to vote in the September 29 parliamentary election.

The actor said that becoming an EU citizen enabled him to ‘stick his tongue out at Brexit’ (per Der Standard).

Opinion polls ahead of the election show that the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) is running ahead of the ruling Austrian People’s Party (OVP) with no party expected to win an outright majority.

A new bill in Austria means those whose relatives fled Austria under Nazi rule can apply for citizenship (Picture: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Warner Bros)

While Blackadder star Fry did not reveal who he would be voting for, he did speak about the rise of right-wing support in the country.

‘You hear that right-wing forces are growing again in Germany and then wonder whether Austria is also moving in the same direction,’ he continued. ‘It’s a story that’s being watched all over the world.’

It comes as Fry ‘confirmed’ he would be joining a celebrity version of The Traitors.

The Hobbit star was approached for Celebrity Traitors because he was at the top of 52-year-old presenter Claudia Winkleman’s wish list, it has been claimed.

A source told The Sun: ‘Claudia put Stephen right at the top of celebs she’d want on The Traitors and Stephen has made it clear he’d be game.

It means Fry will be able to vote in the September 29 parliamentary election (Picture: John Nacion/WireImage)

‘Stephen is a fan of the show and Claudia was desperate for him to be in it.

‘No contracts have been signed yet — but he told the show’s bosses to name a time and date and he’ll be there.’

It’s not the only exciting cast rumour this year for Fry as it has been speculated hit comedy Blackadder could return – but not as you might think.

‘A Blackadder play, if Richard was keen on it, I’d be interested. Not an adaptation of episodes, it would be an original play,’ creator Ben Elton told The Sun.

‘When I wrote Upstart Crow, I did three series and three Christmas specials for TV, which was a load of writing, but I’m proud of the fact I then did an original play. If we were to do that with Adder it would be the same.’

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