It’s a known fact that historical drama, Vikings , renewed for a sixth season, chronicles the Norse mythological adventures of Viking king Ragnar Lothbrok. But what you didn’t know is that to prepare for his role, Alex Høgh Andersen, crawled around in his hotel room for weeks figuring out how to support his upper body weight on his hands. Anderson plays Ivar the Boneless, born with brittle bones disease and disabled for life. “I researched a lot on his condition, and talked to a doctor to understand his limitations.”
Pushing boundaries
For the actor, to authentically depict physical challenges on-screen was the hardest part. “Either I’m just sitting around not moving at all, which is very frustrating because you’re so limited in your acting, or I’m crawling non-stop until my entire body hurts,” says the Danish actor.
According to Norse mythology, Ivar may have been boneless but he proved himself to be one of the most brutal Viking leaders and commanders. Andersen deftly captures the Viking’s three-dimensional personality, seamlessly swinging from the frustration of being differently-abled, to the determination of not letting the disability hold him back, while fully accepting his ruthless side. “I like his brutality — It’s so much fun to shoot and it pushes boundaries in terms of his likeability and challenges the audiences. He’s an anti-hero. I like that.”
Jump start
The 23-year-old talks about how the small town (close to Copenhagen) he grew up in had few recreational options, and so, he immersed himself in sports. “Apparently, my mother still thought I had too much energy so she signed me up for a local theatre group, marking the beginning of my career.”
While you can’t possibly imagine anyone else playing the Vikings ’ character, turns out Anderson hadn’t auditioned for the role. “It was a long, standard casting process. From sending a self-tape to ending up in Dublin along with 13 other guys auditioning for the roles of the sons of Ragnar,” he says, adding, “I was very surprised and had to ask ‘which part?’ before my agent informed me I bagged the role.”
Up ahead
Since his debut in season four, Ivar has been the show’s breakout character, poised to become one of the forerunners in the upcoming episodes. “I hope he learns how to control his emotions,” says Anderson. “Maybe he’ll find love and start a family. But I hope he stays determined, relentless and sharp. That’s what makes him truly great.”
Seasons 1-4 of Vikings is currently airing on AXN, from Monday to Friday at 10 pm.
