Q: Did you learn about this period when you were growing up?
A: Kind of, but there were quite a few facts I didn't know and I didn't really think about it that much. I never thought I would ever get to play someone from this time. I was always found it interesting, of course. I think it is necessary to know something about the past so you know there that are some mistakes that we don't want to repeat.
Q: Did you have to learn about the period once you were cast?
A: Of course, you learn stuff about the period because it is given in the script, the circumstances of the world that the character lives in. But what I found really great about this project was the importance and the significance they gave to us being real human beings. It is more about the relationships between the people. They are just people who want to be happy. It is not so much about, 'Oh, in that period they didn't have that cup,' or whatever. There's something that connects human beings no matter what time they live in. Circumstances change. Death was much more normal back then and perhaps the relationship towards sex for the Viking women was different from the Saxon women. Every living being wants to be happy and I think the methods of trying to become happy perhaps are different but for most people it is the same.
Q: How would you describe your character Brida and her personality?
A: She is really strong and she fights for what she wants. She has a great sense of humour and she is also quite sensitive, which I also like. She is not only this strong, outgoing woman; she has a great inner strength. She is very, very loyal. A negative aspect is perhaps that she has trouble in letting go of the past. This might make her life complicated sometimes. The way she is written is great because there is a lot of conflict all the time, on dozens of different levels.
Q: Was it easy to find your chemistry with Alex Dreymon, Uhtred?
A: Fantastic. It was lovely, really great. The first casting we did together was here in London and we went out into the woods and just filmed a few scenes together with Nick, the director, out in one of London's parks. After that we went for lunch and just chatted for two or three hours, which was lovely. He is a really nice guy and really respectful. You can really trust him. He is the type of guy who just takes care of you. He is very giving.
Q: Are there any character-defining scenes that say a lot about Brida?
A: Yes, a lot. Basically, the fire in Episode 1 is fate changing everything for the two of them. It changes their lives. It also changes what their relationship might have been.
Q: It must have been fascinating to watch the fire scene and see the guy fighting while aflame?
A: I was really scared, to be honest, because this stunt guy is a lovely guy and he told me that it was one of the most dangerous and deadly stunts you can do. When he came out of the building, the flame was a lot bigger than they thought it would be, which was great for the series. It was fantastic. But I was just standing there and everybody was in complete silence and he had to fight blind. He couldn't see anything. He had this mask on and there was this fireball that engulfed him. Afterwards, he was coughing and it wasn't clear whether he was okay. It was very memorable.
Q: Does Brida fight and did you learn any techniques?
A: I learnt to fight, how to use a sword, a shield and how to use my throwing axe. Actually, the only two Hungarian sentences I can say are, 'Where is my axe?' And, 'Where is my little knife?' They served me well because I was always looking for my axe and knife.
Q: Did the weapons work come easily to you?
A: Yes. It was fun. I have done a bit of fighting before because I'd been doing [the martial art] Krav Maga for about a year or so. I had done quite a lot of dancing when I was a teenager, too, so I have done physical stuff before.
Q: Why were you learning Krav Maga?
A: A friend told me about it. I said, 'I would never do anything that is to do with fighting.' I am an only child and nobody has ever hit me or anything. But I went with him because he asked me to go along and it was such great fun, really cool, letting out all of your aggression with all that punching. And then, just having the feeling that you would be able to protect yourself should anything happen, was really great.
Q: Why did you stop?
A: Work gets in the way. When you sign a contract as an actor you cannot do something where you might break your nose or hand in the middle of shooting. Otherwise, I would have loved to do it in Budapest. It would have been great. But if somebody breaks my nose I am not sure if I am insured!
Q: How much did you enjoy working in Hungary and Budapest?
A: It was great. The whole team was there. It was big groups. We would go to dinner quite often with 15 to 20 people. At the beginning it was a lot of Alex and me alone in Budapest for quite a lot of scenes. That also was lovely. There are a lot of big spas in Budapest. We went out together to dinner or to lunch and also we were really tired because often we were outside all day. A lot of us stayed in the same hotel. It was funny because one time Alex came back to the hotel with his long hair, all covered in mud after fight training, and they wouldn't let him into the hotel. To begin with, they didn't believe he was a guest! That was funny.
Q: Did you get an impression of what life must have been like at that time?
A: Yes. You get this romantic image that you are always in nature, with horses, but then I would go home to my warm hotel room and have a shower. They could not do that so I think it must have been a nightmare. They didn't know anything different, of course, but it must have been a nightmare to live with no proper medication or hygiene.
Q: It is one of the good things about this series; it doesn't shy away from the grim realities…
A: That is what I found really cool. They have the courage to show ugly bits, and life back then was very ugly. A lot of it was ugly and difficult and horrid and, of course, we felt it in a way because we were out in the woods when it was pouring with rain with mud all over us. You get stuck in the mud but then think, 'Okay, afterwards, I can go to my trailer or the hotel!'
Q: What was one of the more unpleasant experiences from the shoot?
A: There was one day that was very hard. You know when you have sat in a draught and you can't turn your head? Exactly on that day I had to do a scene with someone punching me in the face. I had to move my head really quickly so that it looked realistic. It was painful and it was pouring with rain and I had to lie in the mud after I was hit. Normally, though it was like a childhood dream, just sitting on horses and playing with axes!
Q: Could you ride a horse beforehand?
A: Not really. I had done it a tiny bit of horse riding. But I had to learn again. I loved it. The stunt guy was incredible. At first he told us to connect to the horse on the ground, so we didn't get on to the horse. We were just walking next to the horse and the horse would walk next to us. Then, if you stopped, the horse stopped as well. It had to accept that we were the one in charge. That is just amazing, especially when you start talking to the horse. It was a little bit like The Horse Whisperer [laughs]. The horses were so calm. Mine was usually used for children. It was a sweet horse, really calm. Someone told me that once when we had to gallop into the city, I could have knocked my head on this protrusion, but the horse made sure that I would always miss knocking my head. I love that horse!
Q: It must be lovely as an actress to spend such a long time with one character?
A: It was great though of course I am also looking forward to doing other stuff. It is great to do both. I suppose it spoils you in a way, just being so close to the team, and getting to know them so well. It makes a difference because if you are on a film for a month you don't get to know them as well. I was on this for about eight months.
Q: What was it like having different directors for different episodes?
A: It was interesting. I had never done a series before. I had only done cinema and TV movies. Having these different directors, it was very interesting to see what difference it makes.
THE LAST KINGDOM IS AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY AND DVD ON 14TH DECEMBER, COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES (UK)