‘The Last Kingdom’: Alexander Dreymon Talks About Trying to Find Uhtred’s ‘Identity’
It’s hard to imagine The Last Kingdom without Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred. He’s the main character and he’s an extremely complex individual. He gets himself into all sorts of sticky situations, and somehow he survives it each and every time. Read on to learn what Dreymon has to say about trying to find Uhtred’s unique identity.
Uhtred of Bebbanburg is a complicated individual
Uhtred is just a Saxon child when he is taken by the Danes and forced to live with them. He becomes part of the family and soon adopts the Viking way and culture as his own. Since he is from two different worlds, it causes problems for him. He has a hard time figuring out which way to turn when he’s being pulled in two different directions.
Uhtred is part of opposite worlds and it gives him a unique insight into the situation in what will be England. He must navigate the murky political waters by keeping himself afloat without completely betraying either side. It’s a hard place to be for Uhtred.
Uhtred struggles to find his ‘identity’
Since Uhtred is born a Saxon but raised a Dane, it can be pretty confusing for him. He’s being pulled in separate directions constantly and it’s hard to imagine the toll that takes on someone. Dreymon spoke with BBC America about his role as Uhtred in 2015. He can’t seem to fit in anywhere and he’s always being compared as either a Saxon or a Dane.
“Uhtred has the potential to be a leader and grows into this role, but he isn’t one at the beginning of the story,” Dreymon said. “He lost his birth family as a boy and then loses his adopted family as a young adult. When he goes to the allies of his Danish father, he is rejected and considered a Saxon. Then when he’s with the Saxons, he’s seen as a Dane, and so it’s difficult for him to find his identity within these two worlds.”
In season 4, Uhtred is still trying to figure out who he is
Uhtred finds himself in an impossible situation and it’s made even harder by his impulsiveness. He’s a unique character that feels torn by opposing sides. It’s interesting to watch it all play out on the screen. Even in season 4, Uhtred is trying to figure out who he really is.
Uhtred tries to take back Bebbanburg from his uncle, but it backfires in the worst way. He ends up losing Father Beocca (Ian Hart) in the chaos and after that, he questions who he is. He doesn’t believe he is Uhtred of Bebbanburg anymore, and he must carve a new path for himself.
Hopefully fans will get some much-needed answers about what’s next for Uhtred in a new season. Although season 5 hasn’t been announced yet at the time of publication, fans are hopeful. Uhtred is the reason many fans enjoy The Last Kingdom so much.
