Eysteinn Sigurðarson (Sigtryggr) was “blown away” by the scale of The Last Kingdom
Where do we find Sigtryggr at the start of season five?
At the ending of season 4, Sigtryggr was introduced as this cunning young Dane who kind of
made a name for himself by taking Winchester. And he then, through talks with King Edward
and Aethelflaed, gave Winchester back and got land in the north for his people, and a
girlfriend. He said, ‘I want Uhtred’s daughter.’ And they ride off into the sunset, him and
Stiorra. At the beginning of season five, years have passed, and Stiorra and Sigtryggr are madly
in love. It’s like the first thing that I read in the script, they are so in love. They’ve built a home
for themselves, it’s beautiful, and it really speaks to Stiorra and Sigtryggr’s ideals of…it’s a lot
of forward-thinking architecture, and in the middle of this square there’s a cross, but there’s
also a kind of pagan alter, like a tree for offerings to the gods, in the same square. And that’s
because Sigtryggr and Stiorra created a home where Danes and Saxons can live in peace
together. So it’s all going pretty good at the start of season five.
How would you describe Sigtryggr’s relationship with Uhtred?
I’d say Sigtryggr has a very loving relationship with his father-in-law Uhtred, son of Uhtred.
From the start, in the books, Bernard Cornwell just paints this picture of mutual respect from
the moment they meet. So it’s just been a pleasure to play that with Alex, and have that
mutual respect and love. These are two men that care for each other and respect each other.
What is it like doing the stunts in The Last Kingdom?
This season was very thrilling for me because I had so many fights to do, and stunts. I’ve never
done so many stunts, it’s been crazy. And the stunt co-ordinator, Levente Lezsák, and his
amazing stunt team, they set the bar so high, the quality and the professionalism is just
insane. When they first tell you about the fight that you’ll be doing, you just nod your head,
but inside you’re screaming like, ‘I’m never going to be able to do this!’ And then they pull
you up there to be able to do it. I did one fight this season that I’m really proud to have been
a part of it, it was very intense. We rehearsed it for weeks, and they really whooped my ass.
The stunt guys are amazing, and they have one thing in common – they’re like bad asses when
the camera is rolling, and then when they director yells cut, they’re like the sweetest guys
ever. They’re like asking you how you are, they’re complimenting, and they’re just lovely guys.
Such a pleasure to work with them.
What was it like working with Alexander Dreymon as director?
We were doing a scene that Alex was acting in as well, and I was just like in awe, seeing this
man, in his Uhtred costume, he’s got his sword on his back, but he’s also holding an iPad and
he’s trying to decide how we’re going to shoot this scene. I was just like, ‘Wow, that’s
amazing.’ That level of focus. And also, you know, it was really nice because he’s a close friend, and for him to be able to ask me for what he wanted, what he needed for the scene, and me
obviously wanting to be able to give that, you know, it was great. Love Alex.
Who is your favorite character?
Before I came onto this show, my favourite character was Brida, she’s just amazing. Emily Cox
is such a strong actor, and just watching the show, I would always be drawn to that character.
She’s fierce, she wears her heart on her sleeve, and I really admire that. And she’s just
exhilarating to watch.
How would you describe the epic scale of The Last Kingdom?
So last season, I’d never been on such a big production, I was just blown away. I was like, ‘Oh
my god, there’s someone over there spraying fake dirt on this palace that they just built here
in the middle of nowhere in Hungary.’ I was just blown away by the size of it, and the talent,
and the craftsmanship, and I’m still blown away by all that.
Describe Sigtryggr’s costume.
Whenever I go and visit the costume department, it’s just mind blowing. You’ve got like a
team of 50 people, and it’s like a massive airplane hangar of costumes, and people working,
and they’ve all got specific skill sets. My costume specifically, I couldn’t be happier. Last
season we saw a young warrior who was wearing this armour, and this stuff that he’s maybe
picked up after battles, taken off dead bodies and stuff. I looked very cool then. But now,
we’ve got a king, who is willing to maybe get designers in, and tailors in, very forward thinking
fashion-wise. I love it.
What does it feel ike to be a part of The Last Kingdom family?
When I auditioned for this role, and I read the character’s description, it was like a Viking
warlord, leader of men, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m not 6’5, I don’t have huge shoulders
and a beard and all that long wavy blonde hair.’ I was like, ‘How am I going to play this?’ So I
thought, well, maybe he’s smarter than everyone. Maybe people respect him for that. And I
also wanted to play him kind of like he was maybe a little hurt, like he’d come from a really
bad place, and he’s always just going forward, and he wants to take his people with him. I
mean, I got the part, so that was a lovely surprise, and my agents told me I was going to love
this job. Everybody says it’s something very special, like you’re going to make friends for life.
Everybody’s so committed to the quality, and committed to the truth of the scene, making it
real. And also for everyone to be so nice and caring, it’s a very special experience. I’m aware
of the fact that years down the road, I’ll look back and be like, that was a lovely job, that was
as good as it gets.
Ruby Hartley (Stiorra) fights Brida in The Last Kingdom season 5
How has Stiorra developed?
The main thing I love about Stiorra is she’s really strong-willed and she’s really feisty and I
love how that that has carried through her whole character journey. Because I think when we
found her in season four, she was obviously a lot younger than she is now. She was still being
treated like a child. She lived with children who were a lot younger than her, and no one was
really listening to her. But that still didn’t dampen that spirit within her. She was still like, ‘No,
please listen to me, I still want to do this’. And I think within season four she developed, and
she grew up a lot and she gets kidnapped and she’s in a situation where she thinks she may
be killed, but she still doesn’t let go of her core beliefs and she doesn’t back down.
By the end of season 4 she’s gaining more and more confidence, she stands up to Uhtred. She
gets what she wants, and she gets to go with Sigtryggr and then I think this season, she’s just
really secure in who she is in herself now. And her and Sigtryggr have built this life together
in Eoferwic and it’s different I think from other Danes that we’ve seen in the series. Because
they are at peace for a while, with the Saxons, and they managed to build a community that’s
really nice and isn’t fighting with Edward to begin with. So, I think where we find her at the
start of the season she’s just grown in confidence and then obviously things go a bit south.
But even when that happens although she does go slightly off the rails, she always stays so
true to herself and what she thinks is right and she’s never afraid to say that. The more she
grows, the more confidence she gets, and to have such a strong female amongst so many
men. She’s surrounded by Uhtred and Edward and Sigtryggr and all these really powerful men
and she completely holds her own. You see a glimmer of that in season four and now in season
five that’s just like, who she is.
What are the similarities between Stiorra and Uhtred?
I love their relationship in this season. Although it definitely goes up and down, I feel the only
reason it does that is because they are just so similar. And he sees a lot of himself in her and
vice versa and when they then maybe don’t agree because their personality is the same, they
just clash a little bit and it’s like butting heads. But in the end, they really love each other. She
really loves her dad and speaking for Uhtred, I think he really loves her and I think that always
comes through even when they’re arguing. And yes, it’s been really nice to have the chance
to fight alongside Uhtred and show him that she’s like a chip off the old block.
How was it with Alexander Dreymon as a director?
It was so good and I’m not even just saying that. Alex as a person is very calm and kind and I
think that really showed in the way he directed too. Obviously he’s an actor and he knows
this show probably better than anyone else. So, the way he directed just felt so specifically
spot on for this. But also it didn’t feel like it was the first time he was directing. I felt really
safe with him and it was so easy to trust him and it was just brilliant. To get to do scenes with
him and then to be directed with him was amazing.
What is your season five highlight?
Fighting with Emily Cox [Brida] has been the highlight for me this season. There’s never been
two women fighting each other in the show. So that was amazing to get to do that. But we
also just had so much fun. She was fighting with all the boys. They’ve done it for so long, it’s
like second nature to them. Sometimes you’re a bit like, ‘Oh!’ But fighting with Emily, we just
had such a laugh and she was also really good. And really scary. And there was not much
acting that needed to be involved when it actually came down to it on the day. But yes, it was
probably one of my favourite things that I’ve done since being out here this year.
What is Stiorra’s look this season?
I’ve loved both of my Stiorra costumes. Last year she had a bit of Saxon and a bit of Dane. We
had the trousers and the boots. Which I loved because it was like she was raring to go, raring
for an adventure. Like, don’t put me in a dress, which I loved. And the hair kind of mirrored
Uhtred a little bit which was cool. We had the same little braids in our hair which was really
cute. And then this year I thought she’s levelled that up. She’s grown up, her outfit, her style
has grown up with her. So yes, this year it starts off in queeny vibes. I get this beautiful dress
in this beautiful colour, which is actually mirrored in the Eoferwic set. Then the best thing
about this costume is that it then turns into like a warrior queen outfit. The skirt gets hoisted
up, there’s some leggings underneath, some boots. And I can also fight Brida in it, and run
through forests, which has been really cool, and swords! We’ve got the Uhtred necklace still,
all the jewellery is still the same from season four, which is really nice. Other than a ring which
Sigtryggr gave to me, I think. Nice wedding ring. And yes, it’s the same stone that’s in Uhtred’s
sword, which is cool. So she’s got a bit of her dad. And my hair is, kind of mirrors both Gisela
and Uhtred’s again this year. It takes a super long time, sadly it’s not all my own. I wish it was
this thick. It’s like a full head of extensions, so many plaits, rope tied in. We’ve got it all going on, to be fair. But yes, it does really help me get into character because it makes me feel like
a warrior queen. It’s like a bit regal but also can fight battles, which is perfect.
What’s it been like being a woman in this period of history?
It was expected of women to get married and to have children and to just keep having
children, and having an heir, if they were in that situationand they weren’t really listened to
or valued in the same way that we are today. It wasn’t equal, it wasn’t equal between men
and women back then so I think it must have been really hard. And that’s why I like this show,
because although that was what it would have been like for them I don’t believe that meant
all women back in this time were just like, listening to their husbands. I think they were
probably all really annoyed about it too. They were like, ‘Why is no one realizing how great I
am!’ So I’m sure there definitely have been women in those days trying to stand up for
themselves. That’s what I like about this show, it shows that side of the women too. But I
don’t think it can have been easy at all. Everything was against them.
Discuss the strong women in The Last Kingdom.
There’s something quite refreshing about watching a show set in this time where women take
control. And in every season, whether it’s baddies like Skade or you know, Aethelflaed, she’s
insane. She was a real character in history. It’s refreshing to watch women in these situations
with so many powerful men but still show so much power, and to be respected.
The Last Kingdom season 5 drops on Netflix on March 9.
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