Hogh Andersen revels in role of ruthless Viking
Getting into the mind-set of a ruthless 13th-century Viking leader who kills as a matter of course isn’t a problem for Alex Hogh Andersen — Ivar the Boneless on History’s “Vikings.” That’s what actors do.
But crawling around in the mud and rain of Ireland in January and doing some of the other things he’s called upon to do as the paraplegic Ivar, that can get rough. But he isn’t complaining.
“To crawl through all that stuff that I’ve crawled through, every single time it’s a challenge, (but) that’s when it gets really fun,” the affable Danish actor said. “Because what I live for is getting into that kind of zone that you get into as an actor when you’re in the moment. And to physically get so exhausted and pushed to the limit because you need to do a certain thing — whether crawling, killing, stuff like that — that’s when you just have to get in your zone, forget about being exhausted and ... keep going. And that is a good (thing). You sleep really, really well at night, but you’re just happy. There’s a big smile from one ear to the other.”
As season five of the historical drama kicks off with a two-hour premiere Wednesday at 9 p.m., the consequences of Ragnar’s death begin to play out. Son Ivar asserts his authority over the Great Heathen Army following the murder of his brother Sigurd at the end of last season, and he and his brothers plot their next move. Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) reigns as Queen of Kattegat, oldest brother Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) follows his destiny into the Mediterranean and Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard), distraught over the loss of wife Helga, also takes to the sea, submitting himself to the will of the gods.
In the new season, there will be surprising alliances, shocking betrayals and plenty of blood as Ivar and the Vikings battle to rule the world.
As for Ivar himself, the deaths last season of his father and mother, Ragnar and Aslaug, have left him a changed man — and probably not for the better
“He will always be an antihero, with emphasis on ‘anti’ rather than ‘hero,’ ” Hogh Andersen said. “You know, him killing his brother is just another step in the direction that tells him that it’s OK to be as ruthless as he is. And I mean, he’s on a mission. He’s very religious so the whole thing is about proving himself to the gods, really, and getting into Valhalla, and of course also every single day working on compensating for his disease. He always has the chip on his shoulder, feeling a need to prove himself. So for him to kill his brother, that’s just another hurdle he needs to work against and get over. And so from now on, he’s just one way and that’s ahead. And there’s no stopping him.”
Playing such a pathologically cruel character can get a little one-note for Hogh Andersen, so he embraces the chance to inject a little humanity when he can.
“I also loved just as much the scenes where I’m sitting down with ... Ragnar and we’re going through the woods of England and we’re just talking about regular father/son stuff, just family quality time,” he said. “I love those moments as well because they balance him out.”