Timothy Innes (King Edward) promises “a lot of surprises” in The Last Kingdom season 5
Where do we find Edward at the beginning of season five?
At the beginning of season five, Edward’s at peacetime. There’s been many years of peace,
and he’s pretty happy. He’s having affairs with women and not being faithful to his wife, so
you know, there’s that element to it, where he’s a flawed character. But overall he’s having a
good time at the beginning of this season, he’s at a good point. He’s feeling comfortable as a
king, and I feel like he’s in control.
What drives Edward in season five?
I think the major thing driving King Edward this season is fulfilling Alfred’s dream, I think that’s
the major thing and uniting the kingdoms under Christ as one, as a united kingdom. That’s so
important in all his choices and how he deals with oppressors, his relationships to others.
That’s the main thing that’s driving him forward.
What can audiences expect from season five?
Season five is going to be one to remember. There are a lot of deaths, a lot of surprises, a lot
of battles, a lot of tears, a lot of anger, and a lot of conflict.
Describe being part of The Last Kingdom family.
I think working on this show is so unique because you have such a close relationship with the
crew and the cast. There is something about just being in every day, and knowing everyone,
and it becomes easier, in a safe environment, to be vulnerable, because that’s what you have
to be in scenes. And if you know everyone, obviously you take the work seriously, but you can
also joke around. I think that’s what creates the playful element which makes it a safe
environment. Everyone is so tuned in, and everyone is so respectful, that it’s a really lovely
environment, it is like a family. I know that people say that, and it gets overused, but I think
it really is a family. It’ll be sad when it’s done.
What was it like working with stunt co-ordinator Levente Lezsák?
Levi is so calm, and he’s so loving and empathetic, and the stunts are incredible. People go,
‘Oh, you can ride a horse, I saw you on a horse.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah!’ Really, the horses are doing
all the work because Levi’s trained them so well. There are battles going on, there are people
screaming, there’s blood flying everywhere, and the horse will just be standing there, so
unfazed by what’s going on. Levi creates such a comfortable atmosphere to work in, that the
eventual outcome is a good one because everyone was safe in the environment that he
created.
What impact has The Last Kingdom had on your life and career?
I think one thing The Last Kingdom has done for me as an actor is help me grow. I think before
this I was doing jobs where I was just coming in for a few days, a few weeks. This has given
me a regular character where I can work on and really find different emotions and motivations
for the character. So the simplest answer is probably confidence. I think I’m a lot more
confident than I was when I started. Also the ability to work with so many directors over the
course of three seasons has been a blessing, because they all have different ways of working,
and ultimately you’re developing relationships with new bosses all the time. So when I leave
this and go on to other jobs, you can take those pieces of information and experiences and
collect them as a whole, and carry it with you. I’m very grateful for that.
Father Pyrlig (Cavan Clerkin) and King Edward have patched things up in The Last Kingdom season 5
Where do we find Pyrlig in season five?
After a little bit of a rocky road with Edward, I think by the end of season 4 they patch things
up. Pyrlig enlisted the Welsh army, when he shouldn’t have, but it actually worked out well.
And then they came back to Wessex, where Sigtryggr had taken over Wessex, and I think that
they patched things up a bit there. And now, years have gone by, and they’re in a pretty good
place. Pyrlig sort of feels quite grounded in his role as advisor. Edward’s taken control nicely
and England’s in a good place. There’s relative peace, and then Brida rocks up with a load of
the ‘Beloveds -scary Danes. And she’s on a path of vengeance, and that’s when things start
going a bit wrong.
What was it like working with Alexander Dreymon as director?
It was amazing watching him, because it’s such a big show. There are so many characters, and
so many set pieces, and we’ve got all the battles, and there’s multi cameras. And then you’ve
got to think that he was acting in it as well. So he was literally directing, stepping in, doing his
bit, watching it on the screen, coming back in. Phenomenal. And his attention to detail was
just so incredible. I mean he literally actioned every character’s lines. He had three different
actions for every character, and I just thought that was phenomenal, that you would take that
much detail and that much time. I was really, really bowled over by it. Respect to Alex
Dreymon, big time.
Describe Father Pyrlig’s costume.
Pyrlig used to be a warrior, and I quite like the idea of just getting some warrior stuff in there,
so I really loved the bands. They make me feel like a bit of a warrior. And there’s a new
addition, these little leg wraps. When I put them on, I become like a Jedi Knight. And I like my
little cross, it’s quite minimal.
What was it like working with The Last Kingdom crew?
It’s the best. They’ve done it for so long, and we know each other so well. They’re so invested
in the characters, and in us as actors, and it’s just a joy. I mean, you really feel like you’re not
working, because it’s like you’re there with your family. Also, they’re so good, they’re really
top of their game. The sets are amazing, the camera crew, the operators, everyone. I’m
blessed, to be honest with you. It’s amazing.
Stefanie Martini talks Eadith in The Last Kingdom season 5
Where do we find Eadith in season five?
At the end of last season, Eadith was in both an awful place and a great place. She’d just lost
her brother, and all of her plans had gone. She’d just been stabbed. She’s found on the floor
of a battle and Finan’s bandaging her up, so she’s not physically in a great state. But in a place
of huge change. At the beginning of season five you see where she’s gone with that, she’s
become a healer, a doctor, she’s been traveling France and over season 5,she finds her moral
compass and finds out who she is. . She’s calm, and she’s clever, and she’s grown, and I think
she really knows who she is.
Describe the female characters in The Last Kingdom.
A show without strong women now would be so weird and would stick out like a sore thumb.
And the world needs it, and women need, and we all need it. We make up 50% of the
population. It would be mad if there weren’t strong women in this show. There are
stereotypical ideas of strong being the warriors, but what’s been really nice over the
development of the show, is to see different kinds of strength. Female strength not
necessarily meaning wielding a sword. You’ve got Hild, you’ve got Aethelflaed, but then
you’ve also got emotional strength and intelligence and compassion and all of those things
through the different characters.
What are Eadith’s strengths?
I would say Eadith’s strengths are listening and observing. She’s very, very smart. I think she’s
smarter than a lot of the men in the room most of the time. But she doesn’t bandy it about,
she’s not brash, she’s not cocky. It’s about making clever decisions, making smart decisions.
She’s full of heart, she’s full of love and compassion, and that’s a huge strength, and there’s
also her morals, and her resilience. I’d say she’s really, really, determined. She doesn’t take
no for an answer and she does what she thinks is the right thing.
What was it like working with Alexander Dreymon as a director?
Working with Alexander as a director was an absolute treat. He’s amazing. Because he’s an
actor, he was really good at giving notes that were personal to each of us and to how we
work. We all wanted to do our best for him as well, so it felt like a really lovely collaboration.
He put so much prep into everything, he really cared, and he had his shot list and I loved it. I
felt like it was a really great experience. I’m really proud of him.
How does your costume help build the character?
My costume definitely helps me embody my character in this really great way, and putting
the wig on just makes me feel like Eadith. As soon as I’ve got the hair, I feel like her. It’s so far
away from what I look like normally.