The Last Kingdom cast previews the fifth and final season on Netflix

Mark Rowley talks Finan’s state of mind in The Last Kingdom season 5

What motivates your character?

He’s very supportive of Uhtred, no matter where Uhtred goes he will follow along beside him.
Throughout the whole season you see that. Finan is recently married, so he’s found love. With
that I think he wants a family and to settle down. Yes, he is a warrior at heart but he wants to
chill out and have a family, and be a loving husband.

What was it like working with Alexander Dreymon as a director?

Working with Alex as a director was just phenomenal. It really was something great. He would
give fantastic notes, he knows all the characters so well that he can give really accurate and
subtle notes as well. So, when you’re working with him, he’ll give you something and it’ll bring
a different energy shift into the scene. He would sometimes be doing a scene with you, and
he would be thinking as the actor and the director at the same time. And he would have the
monitor there, and he’s looking at the shot as well. Honestly, I think he’s some sort of robot.
He is a superhuman and a fantastic guy.

What has it been like working with the crew?

The TLK crew are so special because they don’t take themselves seriously. We all have a laugh,
we all make fun of each other, and we’re all one big, massive team. The mornings when you
have early pick-ups, sometimes it’s really had to get your energy right for the start of the day,
so we always put on loud music in the morning. I don’t know why but recently it’s been 80’s
music. Feels as if I could live my life again, be this age and be in the 80’s because the music is
absolutely dynamite. We all have a laugh in the morning, when it comes to the end of the day,
we have a laugh as well. It’s like from start of the day to the end of the day we try and be
positive.

How has The Last Kingdom affected your life?

The Last Kingdom has affected my life in many ways. Probably the biggest one is friends. The
friends I’ve made in this job, are made for life. So that’s the biggest thing for sure. That’s both
with my work and with my life. These people that have been with me throughout this time
have had such a profound effect on me as a person and have definitely helped me work wise
because I have definitely become a much stronger actor. When you’re surrounded by so many
great actors out there who have been brave like David Dawson [King Alfred] who’s
phenomenal, who’s very committed. He’s a lovely guy. You’re surrounded by people like that,
and Ian Hart [Beocca]. This show has affected me in many ways, positively.

What about The Last Kingdom’s fanbase?

The fans are so supportive, thank you so much. Because without you we would not be here.
Our fans are our proper army. The other army of Wessex. If anyone messes with them, oh my
heavens. We are coming after you. Shield wall, but with a brash of tweets.

Harry Gilby plays Aethelstan, King Edward’s son, who is training with Uhtred

Where do we find Aethelstan at the beginning of season five?

Aethelstan is with Uhtred, because Edward has told him to look after Aethelstan and take
care of him, and raise him as a child. I feel like the Aethelstan that you met in season four is
very different to this Aethelstan, because Aethelstan in season four was very timid and shy
and didn’t reveal much, and Uhtred sort of got that out of him, and made him a more
confident man. I think, from the beginning anyway, you see this sort of rebel side to him. He’s
a bit careless and doesn’t really know what he wants. And then as it goes on, he starts to become more mature and realises his destiny. You start to see glimmers of a prince and a
future king.

What was it like joining The Last Kingdom family?

I really wanted to get a part in this show, and when I did, I literally watched every single
behind-the-scenes video, every interview, every podcast that there was. So I already had this
idea in my head of what everyone would be like. And it was exactly how I imagined. I think
it’s very rare that all the cast get on so well on a show, literally everyone gets on, it’s like a
family. I’ve never made so many friends on a job as I have on this, which is really nice.

What’s driving Aethelstan in season five?

What’s driving Aethelstan this season is this constant need to impress Uhtred, because he
knows that, although he is the illegitimate son, one day he might be king, and that’s lingering
in the back of his head. He just wants to prove himself as this worthy leader who is going to
take over England, and yes, be this ruthless, powerful man.

Were there any challenges of joining The Last Kingdom?

To jump straight into it was quite nerve racking, because a lot of the cast have done this for
four or five years, and they’ve all formed those relationships. So to jump into it being the new
kid, it’s difficult, because you want to impress everyone, but at the same time you want to do
what’s right for the character. That’s tricky sometimes, trying to balance that.

Who is your favourite character in the show?

My favourite character on the show is Brida, played by the marvellous Emily Cox. She’s great.
She has all the scenes that you’d want as an actor. She plays the villain, which I’ve always
wanted to do, and this season she has fantastic scenes with Cavan, who plays Pyrlig. They’re
so gritty and amazing, and everyone’s going to love them.