Who Is Hope Mikaelson Parents Novels & Stories

Hope Mikaelson's witch lineage is one of the most fascinating aspects of her character in 'The Originals' and 'Legacies'. She's a firstborn Mikaelson, which is significant because firstborn witches in that family often exhibit extraordinary power. Her mother, Hayley Marshall, had werewolf blood, and her father, Klaus Mikaelson, was a hybrid—part vampire, part werewolf. But witchcraft comes from her paternal grandmother, Esther Mikaelson, who was an incredibly powerful witch. That's where Hope's witch abilities originate.

What's wild is that she's also a werewolf due to Hayley's lineage and carries vampiric traits from Klaus, making her the first-ever tribrid. The show explores how her magic manifests early, almost instinctually, like when she unintentionally channels emotions into spells as a child. It's not just about genetics, though; her upbringing around powerful witches like Freya and Vincent probably honed her skills. The way her magic fluctuates with her emotions feels very true to the Mikaelson legacy—raw, untamed, and deeply tied to her identity.

I've been binging the whole vampire-werewolf-witch saga more times than I'd admit, and Hope Mikaelson is one of those characters I always root for. The actress who most people associate with Hope is Danielle Rose Russell — she took on the role as the central, older Hope for the spinoff series 'Legacies'. Before 'Legacies' began, Hope did appear as a baby and young child on 'The Originals', where the character was portrayed by a handful of child actresses in those early seasons. When the CW decided to build a new show around the next generation, they needed someone who could carry the lead and grow the character across episodes.

How she landed it is the kind of casting story that feels familiar if you've followed TV casting news: Danielle auditioned and went through the usual rounds — tape, callbacks, and chemistry reads with the producers and other core cast members. The showrunner wanted someone who could handle Hope's emotional weight: the fierce Mikaelson spirit, the vulnerability of a kid raised by monsters and the responsibility of being a tribrid. Danielle brought a mix of toughness and heart that convinced the creators she could be the face of the new series.

I loved watching how she evolved Hope across 'Legacies' — she balanced teenage angst, raw power, and moments of real tenderness. If you want a quick rewatch pick, start with the pilot and then jump to episodes where Hope faces her family legacy; you can see why the casting team chose Danielle in the first place.

Danielle Rose Russell, the talented and beautiful actress, played the character 'Hope Mikaelson' in the TV series "Legacies." She gracefully brought to life a tribrid character who is a cross between a vampire and werewolf, or witch.

With her strong acting, which embodies both Hope's strength and also a hint of weakness in face pain, the magnificence of the series rises to another level completely. Danielle is the soul of show, just spectacular.