Magic Vike

The Last Kingdom star ALEXANDER DREYMON talks strongman lessons, natural horsemanship, and Viking abs.

- Steve Mazzucchi

That Sky Atlantic show is great and all, but if you like your medieval-style action a little more realistic and a little less... dragon-y, check out Netflix’s The Last Kingdom. Based on Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Stories historical novels, the series follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon-born, Viking-raised warrior seeking revenge and power in ninth-century England. That means plenty of runnin’, ridin’, and ravagin’. Thankfully, Alexander Dreymon, the German-born, internationally raised thespian playing him, is built for the challenge.

What excites you about Uhtred?

I relate to him because I grew up in so many different places, and I always feel like the foreigner, and I think it’s the same for him. He always has to battle to prove himself. I also love that he’s very cheeky—he can be a bit of an asshole.

It’s a pretty physical role. How do you stay in shape?