Everyone knows that Vikings always look as sexy as Thor while being covered in mud and blood. But strip away all the fierce makeup , intricately tailored hairstyles , and intricate tattoos , and these Norse warriors are just like the rest of us ...
If, of course, we were all beautiful lingerie models, black belts in judo, children of producers or even members of families filled with actors .
But here's what these 21st century actors really look like in real life !
Katheryn Winnick - Lagertha
The actress who plays bridesmaid Lagertha , Katheryn Winnick , is actually a Canadian of Ukrainian descent. It is believed that the Vikings raided as far as Canada and Kiev. Coincidence? I do not think so, no. Indeed, Winnick looks like a Viking, with her platinum blonde hair - which in the series is often compared to a warrior style . In fact, it's easy to argue that Winnick is the most iconic Viking actress on the whole show, even though she's not really from Scandinavia .
Vikings is not Winnick's first time on stage. The blonde bombshell has also appeared on the big screen, with roles in Stand Up Guys, Failure to Launch, Love & Other Drugs, Killers, and The Dark Tower. She also has a whole slew of TV series under her belt, appearing in episodes like Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Oz, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Criminal Minds, House, and many more. She even played Ivana Trump in Trump Unauthorized in 2005.
Plus, Winnick isn't just kicking ass and taking names on TV. She also kicks ass in real life . The actress has been training in martial arts since childhood and has serious skills. "I went to my first school when I was 16," Winnick told StarPulse. "I have a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a 2nd degree black belt in Karate." She is also a bodyguard and self-defense instructor. So don't play with Jarl Ingstad , watch your butt...
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Travis Fimmel - Ragnar Lothbrok
Travis Fimmel, Ragnar Lothbrok may look like a Viking king , with his blond beard and bright blue eyes, but the actor isn't really from northern Scandinavia...he's actually from the opposite .
He was raised on a family farm in Echuca, Australia. In fact, before doing anything else, he dreamed of becoming an Australian professional footballer, which is part of why he has such a beastly physique on the battlefield.
Fimmel also has a Viking body because he is a bodybuilding enthusiast. In fact, he was training at the gym when he was randomly spotted by a talent scout. This one sent him off to California with only $60 in his pocket. He eventually landed a hugely lucrative contract - worth over six figures - with Calvin Klein.
The model- turned- actor is set to write and executive produce a scripted series detailing the stories of some of history's greatest heroes, and is set to star in the first episode of OK Corral's gunslingin' Wyatt Earp, while also also serving as an executive producer in this new series. "Travis is an outstanding actor," said Arturo Interian, Senior Vice President of Scripted Programming at History, "...and we are honored to continue our relationship with him after his recent performance on the series Vikings ."
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If only they had put Fimmel's wildest face on a Calvin Klein poster, he would have been spotted sooner.
Alexander Ludwig - Bjorn Ironside
During the series, Vikings fans saw Ragnar Lothbrok's eldest son , Björn Ironsides , who was the son of a pretty serious mum, become a tough guy who kills bears. As his character has aged, we've seen actor Alexander Ludwig go from a fluffy beard with profuse hair to a fierce bald guy with a big beard.
In real life, Ludwig keeps the beard, although he doesn't walk around California with a Viking ponytail, unless he magically hides it under his hat. Nonetheless, he still looks like a Viking you wouldn't want to mess with.
Although Ludwig obviously didn't play the child version of Björn in the epic History series (it's Nathan O'Toole), he's been an actor since he was a kid. Most notably, Ludwig played Will Stanton in The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising, Seth in Race to Witch Mountain, Braden Higgins in Grown Ups 2, and Shane Patton in Lone Survivor. He also won an MTV Movie Award for Best Fight Scenes, alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, thanks to his role as Cato in The Hunger Games - a role that also earned him a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain.
Nonetheless, Ludwig is best known these days for his increasingly prominent role as Ragnar Lothbrok's eldest son in Vikings , which has earned him a solid reputation.
Clive Standen - Rollo
Rollo is - or at least was - one of the most fearsome Vikings in the Vikings series, known for going mad, turning his back on the battlefield, and getting his way with women. With long black hair and a bushy beard that gave him the appearance of a bear transformed into a man.
In real life, however, Clive Standen looks less fierce, as he tends to stay sharp with clean short hair and a finely trimmed beard.
But don't let that clean-shaven look fool you. The actor has been riding horses, jousting and sword fighting since childhood, and is also, according to the story, a Thai boxing expert and gold medalist in fencing - so you wouldn't challenge Standen on a battlefield, Viking or not. His badass talents - which even include tumbling and contemporary dancing - have seen him play Gawain in Camelot, Ed Viesturs in Everest, and Bryan Mills in the TV series Taken.
Although Standen sometimes looks like a bloodthirsty berserker , he's actually a big tender. As a father of three, Standen says that aside from being a warrior, he's also a tickling expert. "I'm a demon tickling monster," he told People. "I put [my kids] in a tickle fist, and they can't get out of it. It's like UFC tickles." On top of that, he also knows "everything there is to know about American Girl dolls." Sounds like Rollo, okay...at least, after he becomes Frank.
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Gustaf Skarsgård - Floki
As his name suggests, Gustaf Caspar Orm Skarsgård is one of the only true Norsemen in the Vikings , though he seems far less fearsome in real life. While Flóki is famous for his signature beard and makeup – which makes him look far from sane – Skarsgård remains clean-shaven and professional, just like the rest of his actor-filled family.
If we were to rank Skarsgårds , Gustaf should be third. His father, Stellan Skarsgård, is by far the most famous of the family, having played Professor Gerald Lambeau in Good Will Hunting, Bootstrap Bill Turner in Pirate of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirate of the Caribbean: At World's End, Bill Anderson in Mama Mia! Martin Vanger in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Captain Tupolev in The Hunt for Red October, and Marvel Cinematic Universe's Dr. Erik Selvig in Thor, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, and Avengers: Age of Ultron.
You also know Skarsgård's brother, Alexander Skarsgård, for having notably played the Scandinavian vampire Eric Northman in the True Blood series, Meekus in Zoolander and Zoolander 2, Perry Wright in Big Little Lies and the title character in The Legend of Tarzan.
Although Skarsgård himself won a Best Actor Guldbagge Award for his role in Förortsungar, playing the great Viking shipbuilder in the History series is the actor's only real claim to fame - outside of Scandinavia, Of course.
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Alyssa Sutherland - Queen Aslaug
Playing the role of Queen Aslaug , the daughter of Viking legends Brynhildr and Sigurd , Alyssa Sutherland has one of the show's most unique appearances. She is tall , slim , unlike any other member of the team, and possesses the ability to bewitch even a Viking king with her stunning looks – all traits of a famous real-life fashion model .
Sutherland began her modeling career when Cadbury relaunched its iconic 'Flake Girl' advertising campaign - an absolutely huge role for any young model in Australia - which showed Sutherland eating a chocolate bar, in the past aboard a convertible, under the rain. She has participated in campaigns for brands such as Bulgari, Calvin Klein, Chanel and Kérastase, among others, in addition to covering Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, D - la Repubblica delle Donne and Madison.
Her acting career was not particularly long, although she did star in The Devil Wears Prada and Day on Fire. She notably appeared on an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, in addition to making a much-anticipated guest appearance on Australia's Next Top Model - you know....because she is, indeed , one of Australia's top models. There aren't many role models who make the transition the way Sutherland did. So we'll have to wait and see if this Vikings standout gets any more starring roles in the future.
Maude Hirst - Helga
Maude Hirst plays Helga , the beautiful but simple wife of Flóki the boat builder . Although she doesn't wear Lagertha's headdresses and ferocity, nor Aslaug's ability to bewitch men, Hirst nonetheless looks like a kind Viking with her long blond hair and kind face.
Hirst made her breakthrough as an actress in the popular 16th century historical drama , The Tudors, although she undoubtedly had some help. Her father is Michael Hirst , the author and producer of Elizabeth, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Tudors and of course: Vikings. She doesn't give her dad credit for getting her into acting, though. "I've always been creative," she told View of the Arts. "I didn't grow up with my dad much. I was raised by my mom who is an artist and that's probably influenced my creativity."
In fact, Hirst was originally interested in gymnastics, but realized she could become an actress after being scouted by a casting director looking for gymnasts for an upcoming movie. While there's no doubt that Hirst deserves the role of Helga , it certainly never hurts to have your dad as the show's producer.
Linus Roache - King Ecbert
King Ecbert may have a flirtatious smile, but actor Linus Roache has been perfecting that very charismatic smile for years on the big and small screen.
In particular, Roache - who, in real life, almost looks like King Exbert, without a crown and without medieval clothes - was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Robert F. Kennedy in RFK, and won an auxiliary award. for his role as "Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Movie" for playing Ralph Wigram in Gathering Storm 2002.
Despite those award-winning roles, most viewers probably know him best as Assistant Attorney General Michael Cutter in the acclaimed, long-running crime drama Law & Order. On top of all that, Roache has also made a few appearances on the big screen, with roles in Priest, The Wings of the Dove, Pandaemonium, The Chronicles of Riddick, Batman Begins, The Namesake, and Non-Stop, among others.
Roache is certainly no stranger to the role of King . As well as playing the wary King Ecbert , he notably performed the title role of Richard II at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. No wonder he looked so proud and satisfied.
Moe Dunford - Aethelwulf
Although he plays the English prince Aethelwulf in the Vikings series , actor Moe Dunford is actually Irish – a fact slightly obscured by the show's producers, who attempted to give the character a haircut and beard darker and browner.
The Irish , however, are certainly inclined to recognize the normally less medieval-looking Dunford as the actor who played Patrick Fitzgerald in Patrick's Day - an award-winning Irish drama centering on a 26-year-old schizophrenic and his disappearance in Dublin for the Saint Patrick - a role that was absolutely huge for Dunford. "I needed to play Patrick," Dunford told Independent.ie. "I had no fucking career! He came out of nowhere and talked to me." The film made a lot of noise and also won the star of the film the IFTA award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in Motion Picture.
More importantly, Dunford also won an EFP 2015 Shooting Stars Award - a prestigious award from the Berlin International Film Festival given to ten young European actors. Never heard of it ? Neither did Dunford. "I woke up on my birthday - December 11 - and got the call," Dunford recalled to The Irish Times. "I'm like, 'You're the shooting star' and I'm like, 'Oh, mortal.' What is this? It was like Lord of the Rings. Great. But where are we going ?"
George Blagden - Athelstan
Most people know George Blagden as the holy man Athelstan , who is well versed in Christianity and Norse paganism . Beloved by both King Ragnar and King Ecbert , and generally a man of justice...although, at times, a little mad. In the show, Athelstan is transformed from an unathletic monk to a Jesus-like monster, with crucifixion scars and all that goes with it.
In real life, however, Blagden has a much cleaner cut, with either a neatly trimmed beard or no beard at all. And hair that's nowhere near a savior's length.
Besides Vikings , Blagden notably played Grantaire in Les Misérables, a film which received widespread critical acclaim. For his role in this remarkable film, the actor received a National Board of Review Award for Best Cast, an Auxiliary Award for Best Cast in a Motion Picture, and a Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Costume. .
The cast was also nominated for a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble, a Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast, a San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance. by a Cast in a Motion Picture - Yes, that's a lot of English terms. Proving that there are, in fact, more prizes than you might think.
What's next for the Vikings' Man of God and the Star of Versailles? We'll have to wait and see.
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John Kavanagh - The Seer
You probably won't recognize The Seer from Vikings , considering the blind oracle is covered in a large amount of makeup , has no eyes , is always covered in a hood . But even if you could see the man behind the makeup, you might not recognize him either...
Kavanagh , who obviously doesn't sound grotesque, has starred in a whole bunch of films, including Florence Foster Jenkins, The Great Wide Open, The Stag, and In Secret. If you have hawk eyes, however, you might recognize Kavanagh in a few minor roles in bigger movies, including The Black Dahlia, Oliver Stone's Alexander, Sweeney Todd, and Braveheart. He is also very steeped in stage acting, from Shakespeare to Aristocrats, and he has also provided some voiceovers.
If you look closely, you can see Kavanagh under the Prophet 's makeup. But you have to look very closely. Whether or not Kavanagh enjoys having his hand licked regularly by the stars of the Vikings series is best left to speculation, however.
Jennie Jacques - Judith
Strip the Vikings ' Judith out of her medieval princess attire and put the character in 21st century clothing, and you have actress Jennie Jacques. Seriously, the only thing that separates the character from the actress - in terms of looks - is the time frame, as very little seems to be done to change Jacques' appearance other than make him look like he should make up in a dimly lit castle .
Jacques is no stranger to historical drama . Fans of the Victorian artistic brotherhood known as the Pre-Raphaelites - which starred painter and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti - will likely recognize the actress behind Vikings' Judith in her other big role in Annie Miller. The model who portrayed Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais and the other Pre-Raphaelites in the BBC series Desperate Romantics.
She is also an advocate for epilepsy awareness and recently completed an open water swim and Spartan sprint to raise money for the Epilepsy Society.
Alex Hogh Andersen - Ivar
Like his character, Ivar the Boneless , Alex Høgh Andersen almost never sports a beard. Unlike her character, however, Andersen maintains a fairly standard cut. As opposed to his slightly more original cuts on the show. He also looks less unpredictable and scary in real life, and looks more like a role model than a child murderer. (And as you probably guessed, Andersen's legs work great .)
Besides Vikings , Andersen has guest-starred as Victor in Outsider, William Iversen in Tvillingerne & Julemanden, and had the guest role of Flotte Tjelle in Hedensted High. He also starred in two shorts, Ødeland and Koldt på toppen, in addition to the Danish war film A War, which received a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards. So it's safe to say that Andersen is probably the most genuine Scandinavian member of the entire Vikings cast.
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