‘The Last Kingdom’: Mark Rowley (Finan) Reveals the Hardest Scene to Film in Season 4
In the hit Netflix series The Last Kingdom, Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) doesn’t have a more loyal friend than Finan (Mark Rowley). He’s been by his side through so much, including slavery. Rowley, who plays Finan, recently spoke in an interview about season 4 of The Last Kingdom where he reveals which scene was the hardest to film. There are spoilers ahead for the new season.
Who is Finan?
Finan is an Irish warrior sworn to Uhtred. They met as slaves in season 2, and when they are rescued, Finan becomes Uhtred’s most trusted and loyal man. In season 4, Finan helps Uhtred go on when he loses Father Beocca (Ian Hart) in the attempt to take back Bebbanburg. They are unsuccessful and Uhtred is more than devastated. He only continues on when Finan insists that he must.
Mark Rowley reveals the hardest scene to film in season 4
Winter Is Coming recently spoke with Rowley about his role in the new season. He revealed what the hardest scene to film in season 4 was, and it makes a lot of sense for those that have watched the new season already.
In episode 9 of season 4, Uhtred and his men encounter Haesten (Jeppe Beck Laursen) and his followers while escorting Lady Aelswith (Eliza Butterworth) and Aethelstan. Haesten takes Aelswith, Aethelstan, and Stiorra (Ruby Hartley) to Winchester. Haesten says that he and Uhtred are even now since Uhtred took Cnut’s (Magnus Bruun) children from him. He instructs Uhtred and his men to be left to die while tied up.
“Oh, the scene where we are hanging upside down, I know it was a short scene, but when you have to get upside down all the time, you start to get a headache,” Rowley explained. “You never want to be that actor to be like, ‘Guys, I’m getting to the end point now.’ You don’t want to be the first one, especially you’re trying to be all macho. I’m hoping Ewan is gonna say something, because oh my god my head was killing me. I never had to do that before, it was quite an experience.”
It makes sense that being hung from your feet with all the blood rushing to your head would be difficult to film. It doesn’t sound like a particularly fun experience in the slightest.
How do they get free?
Uhtred, Finan, and the rest of their crew are tied up from a tree by their feet. Haesten leaves two men behind to watch to see who dies first, and if it takes too long, they are instructed to kill them on their own. They didn’t account for Eadith (Stefanie Martini) to be there though. She creates a diversion and kills one of the men. She then lets Uhtred, Finan, and the rest of the men free.
Season 4 was full of great moments between Uhtred and Finan. They share a unique friendship that really brings a lot to the show. Where would one be without the other? It’s hard to imagine.
Fans really seem to enjoy Finan as a character in The Last Kingdom.
