Eysteinn Sigurdarson on playing The Last Kingdom’s new baddie

Season 4 of The Last Kingdom was jam packed with new characters, but it was perhaps the season’s quietest newcomer who made the most noise. Icelandic actor Eysteinn Sigurdarson brought the cool and calculating Danish war leader Sigtryggr to life. He talked with us about his time on the show, from his epic first night of filming to where things might be headed between Sigtryggr and Uhtred’s daughter, Stiorra.

Beware: SPOILERS for the recently released fourth season follow.

“The production wanted Sigtryggr to be calm and calculating; lean and hungry,” Sigurdarson said. “Something about him made me think of the stray cats I saw prowling my neighbourhood when I was a kid. Some missing an eye, others a tail. Scarred but fearless. From reading the script I recognized Sigtryggr’s curiosity and emotional intelligence, analyzing people’s actions and seeking to understand their motives. I thought of lions too. Lions spend a large chunk of their day just lounging about but they can roar when they need to. Likewise, Sigtryggr has a calm demeanor but can be vicious.”

That’s easily one of the best character descriptions a performer has ever given about their character. Sigurdarson is spot on: Sigtryggr stalks around the screen with purposes, his intelligence matched only by his ferocity when roused. It was a refreshing take on what could have simply been another Danish warlord character.

Sigurdarson took a keen interest in his character on the set, too. “I told the show’s costume designer Molly Emma Rowe about these cat ponderings and she surprised me with a hammer to be worn around my neck, complete with two silver lions on either side,” he revealed. “I think Sigtryggr is a survivor. When we first meet him, he is reeling from the loss of his home in Ireland. I imagine him having had a violent life; having to fight for everything he got growing up. In [Bernard Cornwell’s books, The Saxon Tales], he has an older brother that I picture asserting physical dominance over Sigtryggr when they were young. Beating his kid brother up to harden him. Through overcoming obstacles in his life, Sigtryggr has learned to be cunning and fight with his mind as well as his sword.”

Sigurdarson sure did his homework. And the character’s intelligence isn’t lost on Uhtred’s daughter Stiorra (Ruby Hartley), another series newcomer. At the end of season 4, Stiorra leaves Wessex alongside Sigtryggr after the pair spend time together discussing the lay of the land in England. Is there a romantic relationship in the works between these two? “I think Sigtryggr respects Stiorra’s intelligence and strength,” Sigurdarson said. “He’s interested in her thoughts on what the future could hold, her insight and knowledge of Saxon and Dane relations are valuable to him. There are definitely layers to his interest in her.”

There’s yet another reason we can’t wait for season 5 to arrive.

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Anyway, anyone interested in Uhtred’s daughter better know how to fight. Sigurdarson participated in fight scenes, but they were tricky. “The fight scenes were tough. They required physical endurance and a high level of concentration and coordination between performers and crew. Going for take after take after take, chasing perfection. And in 30 degrees Celsius, that’s a lot for an Icelander!”

Happily, Sigurdarson wasn’t left to fend for himself, and was quick to praise the show’s stunt team. “I think what got me through it was just the awe I had watching Levente (Lezsák) and his stunt team work their magic. Their talent and surgical precision made me look like a badass. Levente had it all worked out: Sigtryggr is a leader of men. While swords go flying around him he keeps a low and steady heart rate, knowing that he’s surrounded by capable fighters, men that he trusts.”

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Let’s look forward to next season, assuming there is one, heaven help us. Is there anyone on the cast Sigurdarson would like to work with more? “Every single one,” he enthused. “You have seen their talent, but what’s more is they are ridiculously good people. Funny and caring, every last one of them.”

Among the cast members Sigurdarson would have good reason to work with in season 5, Sigurdarson thinks there’s a lot in store for Emily Cox (Brida). Brida ended season 5 betrayed by her fellow Danes, and Sigurdarson thinks Sigtryggr has more to fear from her than Uhtred.

"It was a joy to work with Emily on the relationship between Sigtryggr and Brida. I think we did a good job showing the mutual respect at the heart of their alliance from day one. We wanted Sigtryggr and Brida to stand side by side as equals, unafraid to seek council from one another, almost like brother and sister. So when Sigtryggr goes behind Brida’s back towards the end, we understand that this betrayal cuts deep. I think Sigtryggr did what he had to do. Brida’s growing thirst for revenge threatened to derail his plans. Regardless, he did her dirty and I expect she won’t take it lightly. I don’t think we’ve seen enough yet to know where Sigtryggr’s relationship with Uthred stands."

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Personally, I’d rather make an enemy of Uhtred. Either way, on a lighter note, Sigurdarson shared a hilarious story about his first night on set. “My first night of filming was the scene in which Sigtryggr’s men slaughter King Hywel and his Welsh soldiers,” he said. “At that point I hadn’t met the entire crew and cast yet, and naturally, I was a little nervous. An army of hardy stuntmen, some with decades of work in this industry under their belts, was waiting for me when I arrived on set. Standing in one long line on a big grassy field under a starlit sky, with swords and shields, bows and flaming arrows at the ready.”

"They were seeing me for the first time: their fearless Viking leader; the new baddy on the show. To get myself into character and work up some courage I walked down the line of men, pacing slowly and staring each and every one of them down. With every step my confidence grew. I felt commanding. In their eyes I thought I saw fear and respect. What I didn’t know at that moment in time was that I was still wearing the pink hair-net that the hair and makeup department puts on us actors to keep our hair from getting messed up when traveling to set. One of the stuntmen said in a kind voice: “Will we all get hairnets like yours?” And then we laughed. The scene went really well."

And that’s my new favorite story from set.

Finally, Sigurdarson revealed how he’s spending his time under quarantine as the world battles the coronavirus. “My girlfriend and I have just finished watching The Good Place. At first I thought it was just for laughs but then I got completely sucked in to it. These days I spend a lot of my time online just watching videos of dogs. Why are dogs so great? I love cooking and I’m somewhat of a sneakerhead. I’ve been trying my hand at restoring old sneakers: replacing the soles, stitching them up and repainting them. It may seem silly, but everybody’s got to have a hobby.”

We thank Sigurdarson for the time and look forward to seeing Sigtryggr again in season 5!

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