Millie Brady (Aethelflaed) promises that The Last Kingdom season 5 is where everything comes together
Describe Aethelflaed’s journey in season five.
At the end of last season we saw Aethelflaed making the decision between love and the future
of her country, which was obviously such a monumental decision that she had to make and it
wasn’t one that came easily. But we saw that she took on the baton from her father of this
dream of uniting all of the kingdoms, and so season five we see that she’s now fully
established in that role of Lady of Mercia, and is still striving towards her father’s dream,
which is now very much her dream as well. And I think she’s still battling the choice between
her heart and her head a lot. So that never goes away.
Describe Aethelflaed’s journey with her daughter.
Aethelflaed started off as, I don’t want to say naïve, but I guess it kind of was naïve. She had
this quite bright-eyed and very trusting view of the world and the people in it, and I think Aelfwin has that in her. I think for Aethelflaed that can be quite frustrating, because there are
situations that Aethelflaed got into which were really dangerous. I’d imagine for a mum it
must be quite painful looking at your offspring just going, ‘Oh, don’t make the same decisions
that I did.’
What are Aethelflaed’s driving forces in season five?
The main driving forces for season five, I would say, are to unify the kingdoms, first and
foremost for her. Love is still driving it. I think there’s still a huge love story going on in the
background between Aethelflaed and Uhtred, even though it’s not allowed. I don’t think
that’s gone away.
What is special about this season?
What I actually love is that I feel like this season you’re getting to see all of the characters’
end goals, and you’re getting to go in with every single character and what their motives really
are. For me it seems to be like the season where everything’s coming together for each
character’s individual worlds.
Describe the evolution of your character.
When we first met Aethelflaed she was very young, she didn’t have much experience of the
world. From my point of view, she’d just had her life within the palace walls, she hadn’t had
much life experience, and was kind of thrown in the deep end. And what’s been such an
amazing thing is being able to play this character throughout this huge growth that she’s gone
through. She had this kind of youthful ignorance, in some ways, and then from that she
morphs into this incredible warrior. I think a lot of the hardships that she went through
created this quite stoic, resilient, amazing person. And now we see her as a leader, and fully
embodying that role as the Lady of Mercia.
How would you describe the relationship between Aethelflaed and Uhtred?
I think there’s still so much bubbling under the surface in the relationship between Uhtred
and Aethelflaed this season. It’s quite clear that they still both hold a flame for each other,
and a lot of the time it’s like there’s this magnetic force between the pair of them, that they
know that it can’t happen, but you can’t deny that there’s still those feelings for one another.
And I think at the forefront of their relationship is just this respect that they have for one
another. This idea of the years passing, but their feelings for one another having not gone
away.
What is it like being a part of The Last Kingdom family?
You just get to know people in such an intimate way when it’s like six months of every year
you’re all back together. It’s got that school feeling in a way, where it’s like coming back after
the school holidays. You just get to know people so well, spending that much time with them.
Without sounding cliché, it really does just feel like a family.
How would you describe Aethelflaed’s costume this season?
This year Aethelflaed has gone for some very Mercian colours. Usually she’s a lady who likes
pink, but this year she’s grown up a bit. She’s going for more of a green palette. She’s got
some very good capes, loves a stole, and she loves earrings too. Aethelflaed’s always had
quite good jewelry. I like that she’s a ring gal, because I really love rings. I’m a bit like my
Nan in that way. She would always have a ring on every finger, and I’m glad that Aethelflaed’s
got that as well.
Why do you think audiences love The Last Kingdom?
I think the audiences love The Last Kingdom so much because it is such a family. A lot of us
have known each other for years now. And I feel like you can feel the energy when there’s a
group of people who have chemistry in real life when they’re in a show together. You can kind
of feel that energy coming off the screen.
Who is your favourite female character in The Last Kingdom?
My stand-out female character of this series is, hands down, without debate, Emily Cox
playing Brida. I think that just the way that she’s endured so many hardships. We’ve watched
her morph and mould…she’s got so many different facets to her character. What I find really
interesting about Brida is that it almost feels like she has these quite animalistic impulses, but
then on the other side, she’s just full of vulnerability, and so much pain, and you really find
yourself sympathising with her even when she kind of makes these decisions which are quite
wild. And she’s just such a powerhouse. I watch scenes that Emily does and there’s just such
a strength in all of her decisions as an actor, and I think that she just fully embodies the role
of Brida. It’s incredible.
James Northcote (Aldhelm) promises “a lot of death” in The Last Kingdom season 5
Where do we find Aldhelm in the start of season five?
So at the end of season four Aldhelm was going into battle with Aethelflaed, with her brother
Edward firmly by her side. Season five is kind of a continuation of that. He’s now really become
her right hand man. They’re closer than ever in a way that, I think for him, is maybe slightly
difficult, but it’s become a really beautiful relationship, a really beautiful friendship. And in
some ways Mercia has become a real family unit around Aethelflaed and her very strong and
very strong-willed daughter Aelfwynn. So things are really good. Things are really at peace,
it’s a really peaceful time in England and, you know, when that’s the case something is round
the corner that’s coming to shake things up. So yes, in season five, chaos is coming.
What can fans expect in season five?
There’s going to be a lot of death in season five. And that’s really exciting because with death
comes drama. I think the fans of the show are going to be shocked, there’s definitely some
surprises this year, and it’s a season that’s going to pull on your heartstrings. So hold on to
your hankies.
What was it like working with Alex Dreymon as a director?
I loved working with Alex as a director. Everyone was really excited from the moment that he
stepped on set and took on that role, because watching him work as an actor you know that he has this incredible holistic view of the show, and the world, and his character, who is so
central to the story. So knowing that he was going to bring all of that to this season and to his
episode meant that it was really exciting to get to be a part of that. For me personally, I just
had such a great experience of being on set with him. He was so sensitive to performance, so
playful, so willing to adjust and find the most exciting version of the scene and for me that
was just a joy to get to work with. It was really a pleasure to get to work with him as director
and as an actor. And to be honest, the moment that you watch him step on set as Uhtred in
a scene that he’s directing, your mind does slightly explode. Probably not as much as his does,
but it’s a real kind of magic moment.
What was it like working with the crew?
The amazing thing about The Last Kingdom crew is it’s just the friendliest place to work. It’s
not always easy shooting in -10 temperatures, and it’s not always easy when you’re up to your
knees in mud sliding around in a battle, trying not to have your head cut off by a much more
experienced stunt person. So we all try and look out for each other. We all try and make sure
that everyone gets to work to the best of their abilities, and the crew, both British and
Hungarian, are so skilled and so supportive and so passionate about the show. And you can’t
say that about every job you work on. We’ve really, really become a team and are so invested
in the story and the success of the show and yes, it’s an amazing place to get to work, and the
people are incredible.
How has Aldhelm’s costume evolved?
Aldhelm has gone on quite a journey, and he starts season two quite kind of courtly. He’s got
his long robes, he’s got his little ruffs, and him and Aethelred are kind of dapper pair together.
It’s been really, really fun to grow into him as a character, and to grow into the costume. Every
single designer every year has just added another layer. This year has definitely got to be one
of my favourite costumes. Partly because through all the battles that Aldhelm has gone
through, all the scars that he’s got, through all of the things that he’s experienced, for all of
the people that he’s fought beside, it feels like he’s just added another layer to him as a soldier
and as a warrior, and he’s really become like a general this season. He’s confident, he knows
how to command his men. He knows how to be a right hand man to Aethelflaed and be that
part of governing that maybe she needs him to be. And I think it really comes across in Howard
Burdon’s costume. I love the black chain mail, I’m completely and utterly in love with it. I think
it’s so great. And yet also, just the fact that we still have these little circular details that are
from the first ever fighting costume that Aldhelm ever wore. So it’s a mixture of continuity
and change. And the thing that I think the costume brings to me so much is that Aldhelm has
grown into a warrior, but he’s also grown into a knight and, in some ways, he’s slightly
different to all of the badass incredible fighters that are in this show because he represents
loyalty to somebody. He represents service to somebody and he fights for somebody, always.
He doesn’t fight for himself even though he is a bit of a lone wolf, and he navigates his own
way through this crazy world of The Last Kingdom. But in the end he’s a knight in service to
his lady and I really think that the costume this year has sort of solidified that, and I love it. I
think it’s beautiful and I feel very proud to wear it.
How has The Last Kingdom affected your life and your career?
The Last Kingdom has affected my life mainly because of the people. The people I’ve met on
this show are incredible. I’ve made friendships that will last my entire life. I got married at
one point in between seasons and the number of cast members who were at my wedding
was amazing. I’ve been able to work in an environment and on a show that is so supportive,
and that really tries to push you to do your best work, and to find other parts of your craft,
and gives you the space to really play, and try, and make mistakes, and learn, and grow.
Everyone who’s worked on this show feels like they’ve grown a huge amount. I know I have.
Discuss The Last Kingdom’s fans.
One of the most amazing things about working on The Last Kingdom is the fans. The audience
that have come along with us for this journey and been part of the ride are the most
supportive, loving community I think I’ve ever had the pleasure interacting with. We’re so
lucky to have that, that positivity and that support for the show, and it blows my mind every
season how they just come out and support us, and really get behind the show every season.
We couldn’t hope for better fans.