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The Last Kingdom star Alexander Dreymon on the danger he faces on set

Sometimes you've got to put your body on the line...
Alexander Dreymon

Playing a Viking warrior is every bit as dangerous as it looks. So says Alexander Dreymon, star of the historical saga The Last Kingdom.

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โ€œWe all get hurt every now and again,โ€ the 34-year-old tells TV WEEK. โ€œBut thatโ€™s good because it makes it feel more real.โ€

The fight sequences throughout the historical drama โ€“ based on the historical novels by Bernard Cornwell โ€“ are impressive to say the least. However, in the heat of the moment, things can get out of control.

โ€œThere was one incident where I injured somebody and that was horrible โ€“ itโ€™s a very ugly feeling,โ€ Alexander recalls.

โ€œYou finish the scene, because you know you donโ€™t have time to stop,โ€ he explains. โ€œSo you have to keep your warrior face on and then as soon as itโ€™s cut your like, โ€˜Oh my god, Iโ€™m so sorry!โ€™โ€

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Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred of Bebbanburg.

On set, Alexander, who plays Uhtred of Bebbanburg (yep, itโ€™s a mouthful!), gets to live out his every boyhood fantasy โ€“ sword fights, axe wielding, horse-riding.

โ€œThere wasnโ€™t that much training to be honest,โ€ Alexander says of the adrenalin-fuelled action scenes. โ€œI learnt a lot just doing it. We have an excellent stunt team. Every battle scene every fight scene you learn something new.โ€

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Alexanderโ€™s character Uhtred is in the midst of an identity crisis. He identifies as a Dane, having been captured by Vikings as a child, but as a grown man he now wishes to reclaim the Saxon land that belongs to him.

Itโ€™s a complex situation set in a complicated historical period. Luckily, Alexander did his research.

โ€œI started reading the books as soon as I did the first audition,โ€ he says. โ€œIt was quite a long audition process; I started in April and I got the part in September.โ€

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When heโ€™s not brandishing a sword on set, Alexander enjoys exploring Budapest, where seasons one and two of The Last Kingdom have been filmed.

โ€œBudapest is a very stimulating place,โ€ he says. โ€œThere are a lot of artists, especially in summer.โ€

At this stage, thereโ€™s no official word on a third season, but considering the showโ€™s success, and the fact that thereโ€™s plenty more novels left in the series, signs are looking positive.

โ€œHopefully there will be a third season,โ€ Alexander says. โ€œWeโ€™re all gearing up for it.โ€

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Season two of The Last Kingdom is out now on DVD.

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