‘The Last Kingdom’: Alexander Dreymon Talks About Emotionally ‘Draining’ Scenes in the Series
Fans have grown to love Alexander Dreymon as the unique and hot-headed Uhtred of Bebbanburg in The Last Kingdom. He’s become a household name with fans who can’t seem to get enough of him or his character. Read on to learn about the most emotionally ‘draining’ scenes for Dreymon to film in the series and how he deals with it.
Alexander Dreymon plays Uhtred in ‘The Last Kingdom’
Dreymon has played Uhtred since season 1 when the character grows up from boyhood. He’s a Saxon and the heir to Bebbanburg when he’s taken by the Danes and raised as one of their own. When his adoptive family is killed, Uhtred struggles to find out where he fits into the world. He’s being pulled in two different directions but at the same time, he doesn’t fully fit into either mold.
Alexander Dreymon talks about emotionally ‘draining’ scenes in the series
Dreymon recently took part in The Official Last Kingdom Podcast. In episode 2, which is also a “videocast,” Dreymon talks with his co-stars Mark Rowley, who plays Finan, and Arnas Fedaravicius, who plays Sihtric.
Rowley asked Dreymon about filming scenes where he has to be upset in the moment. “I find it the most draining when I have to play an angry scene,” Dreymon revealed. He was then asked how long he can do the scenes for. “I guess you just have to do it for as long as you have to do it, but at the end of a scene when I need to be angry, I go home and I’m just done. Just emotionally drained and physically I guess,” Dreymon revealed.
Uhtred is an emotionally-charged person, so there are many angry scenes throughout the series
Uhtred is known to react in the most emotional way. He doesn’t always think with a level-head, and there have been a number of incidents where Uhtred’s emotions have gotten the best of him. He gets angry, especially with King Alfred (David Dawson) on many occasions.
In one explosive moment, Uhtred kills a priest, Brother Godwin (Jon Furlong) when he speaks some pretty rude and extremely unkind things about Uhtred’s newly dead wife, Gisela (Peri Baumeister). Uhtred responds by hitting Godwin, which knocks him to the floor and he dies. After this, Uhtred is considered an outlaw, and his children are taken away from him by Alfred.
It’s understandable that Dreymon would be emotionally “drained” after going through some of the explosive scenes portraying Uhtred’s life. His character deals with a lot, and that has to be a drain on the person playing that individual as well.
Uhtred may not always think with a clear head, but it makes for some interesting scenes. He’s known to get angry on occasion, but fans wouldn’t have it any other way. Uhtred is what makes The Last Kingdom such a great series to watch.
Hopefully fans will get more scenes with Uhtred in season 5. At the time of publication, it’s not known if there will be a season 5 in the future. We’ll keep you updated on all the information about the hit series The Last Kingdom.
