| Frau Engel | |
|---|---|
| Wolfenstein character | |
 Render of Frau Engel for Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus | |
| First appearance | Wolfenstein: The New Order (2014) |
| Last appearance | Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (2017) |
| Created by | Tommy Tordsson Björk |
| Voiced by | Nina Franoszek |
| Motion capture | Nina Franoszek |
Irene Engel, better known as Frau Engel, is a fictional character from the Wolfenstein video game series. She first appears in Wolfenstein: The New Order, a 2014 title developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks. A member of the Wolfenstein series' staple enemy faction, a fictional version of the German Reich which won World War II instead of the Allies, Engel is depicted as a cruel and fanatical high-ranking officer of the Nazi German regime who exhibits an extraordinary amount of apathy for the human condition. She is one of the major antagonistic figures of The New Order, and is presented as the main villain of the 2017 sequel Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus.
Engel is portrayed by German actress Nina Franoszek through performance capture. Although Franoszek drew from her research into the historical atrocities committed by the Nazi regime, the role of women in Nazi Germany, and her own cultural background to prepare for the character, she initially struggled to rationalize Engel's sadistic behaviour. She later had a moment of clarity about Engel and came to understand her as a power mad individual, who indulges in the excitement she experiences in the midst of a power trip without any inhibitions or fear of reprisal, and that judging Engel with her own moral compass inhibits her ability to portray the character effectively. Franoszek was also inspired by publicized allegations of sex crimes committed by men in positions of power against vulnerable female targets, which informs Engel's sexually aggressive behaviour during the character's interactions with series protagonist B.J. Blazkowicz.
A scene featuring an encounter between Engel and Blazkowicz on a train car was featured in initial previews and demos of The New Order, which generated a positive response as well as sustained interest in the character from media outlets. Engel's appearances in the Wolfenstein series were generally well received, with several critics highlighting the effectiveness of her overall depiction as an intimidating and memorable villain.