Ruby Hartley Talks The Last Kingdom

Standing Up To Uhtred

Ruby Hartley who plays Stiorra in The Last Kingdom just spoke about the fifth and final season of the show coming in March …

How has Stiorra developed? 

The main thing I love about Stiorra is she’s really strong-willed and she’s really feisty and I love how that that has carried through her whole character journey. Because I think when we found her in season four, she was obviously a lot younger than she is now. She was still being treated like a child. She lived with children who were a lot younger than her, and no one was really listening to her. But that still didn’t dampen that spirit within her. She was still like, ‘No, please listen to me, I still want to do this’. And I think within season four she developed, and she grew up a lot and she gets kidnapped and she’s in a situation where she thinks she may be killed, but she still doesn’t let go of her core beliefs and she doesn’t back down. 

By the end of season 4 she’s gaining more and more confidence, she stands up to Uhtred. She gets what she wants, and she gets to go with Sigtryggr and then I think this season, she’s just really secure in who she is in herself now. And her and Sigtryggr have built this life together in Eoferwic and it’s different I think from other Danes that we’ve seen in the series. Because they are at peace for a while, with the Saxons, and they managed to build a community that’s really nice and isn’t fighting with Edward to begin with. So, I think where we find her at the start of the season she’s just grown in confidence and then obviously things go a bit south. But even when that happens although she does go slightly off the rails, she always stays so true to herself and what she thinks is right and she’s never afraid to say that. The more she grows, the more confidence she gets, and to have such a strong female amongst so many men. She’s surrounded by Uhtred and Edward and Sigtryggr and all these really powerful men and she completely holds her own. You see a glimmer of that in season four and now in season five that’s just like, who she is. 

What are the similarities between Stiorra and Uhtred? 

I love their relationship in this season. Although it definitely goes up and down, I feel the only reason it does that is because they are just so similar. And he sees a lot of himself in her and vice versa and when they then maybe don’t agree because their personality is the same, they just clash a little bit and it’s like butting heads. But in the end, they really love each other. She really loves her dad and speaking for Uhtred, I think he really loves her and I think that always comes through even when they’re arguing. And yes, it’s been really nice to have the chance to fight alongside Uhtred and show him that she’s like a chip off the old block.

How was it with Alexander Dreymon as a director? 

It was so good and I’m not even just saying that. Alex as a person is very calm and kind and I think that really showed in the way he directed too. Obviously he’s an actor and he knows this show probably better than anyone else. So, the way he directed just felt so specifically spot on for this. But also it didn’t feel like it was the first time he was directing. I felt really safe with him and it was so easy to trust him and it was just brilliant. To get to do scenes with him and then to be directed with him was amazing. 

What is your season five highlight? 

Fighting with Emily Cox [Brida] has been the highlight for me this season. There’s never been two women fighting each other in the show. So that was amazing to get to do that. But we also just had so much fun. She was fighting with all the boys. They’ve done it for so long, it’s like second nature to them. Sometimes you’re a bit like, ‘Oh!’ But fighting with Emily, we just had such a laugh and she was also really good. And really scary. And there was not much acting that needed to be involved when it actually came down to it on the day. But yes, it was probably one of my favourite things that I’ve done since being out here this year. 

What is Stiorra’s look this season? 

I’ve loved both of my Stiorra costumes. Last year she had a bit of Saxon and a bit of Dane. We had the trousers and the boots. Which I loved because it was like she was raring to go, raring for an adventure. Like, don’t put me in a dress, which I loved. And the hair kind of mirrored Uhtred a little bit which was cool. We had the same little braids in our hair which was really cute. And then this year I thought she’s levelled that up. She’s grown up, her outfit, her style has grown up with her. So yes, this year it starts off in queeny vibes. I get this beautiful dress in this beautiful colour, which is actually mirrored in the Eoferwic set. Then the best thing about this costume is that it then turns into like a warrior queen outfit. The skirt gets hoisted up, there’s some leggings underneath, some boots. And I can also fight Brida in it, and run through forests, which has been really cool, and swords! We’ve got the Uhtred necklace still, all the jewellery is still the same from season four, which is really nice. Other than a ring which Sigtryggr gave to me, I think. Nice wedding ring. And yes, it’s the same stone that’s in Uhtred’s sword, which is cool. So she’s got a bit of her dad. And my hair is, kind of mirrors both Gisela and Uhtred’s again this year. It takes a super long time, sadly it’s not all my own. I wish it was this thick. It’s like a full head of extensions, so many plaits, rope tied in. We’ve got it all going 19 

on, to be fair. But yes, it does really help me get into character because it makes me feel like a warrior queen. It’s like a bit regal but also can fight battles, which is perfect. 

What’s it been like being a woman in this period of history? 

It was expected of women to get married and to have children and to just keep having children, and having an heir, if they were in that situationand they weren’t really listened to or valued in the same way that we are today. It wasn’t equal, it wasn’t equal between men and women back then so I think it must have been really hard. And that’s why I like this show, because although that was what it would have been like for them I don’t believe that meant all women back in this time were just like, listening to their husbands. I think they were probably all really annoyed about it too. They were like, ‘Why is no one realizing how great I am!’ So I’m sure there definitely have been women in those days trying to stand up for themselves. That’s what I like about this show, it shows that side of the women too. But I don’t think it can have been easy at all. Everything was against them. 

Discuss the strong women in The Last Kingdom. 

There’s something quite refreshing about watching a show set in this time where women take control. And in every season, whether it’s baddies like Skade or you know, Aethelflaed, she’s insane. She was a real character in history. It’s refreshing to watch women in these situations with so many powerful men but still show so much power, and to be respected.