ALEXANDER DREYMON

I used to feel I was more French than anything, but I don't feel that way anymore. I really don't feel like I belong to a specific country, and it is so difficult for people to understand that.

My mom was a history teacher when I was a kid, so I hated history out of rebellion.

'The Last Kingdom''s got its roots in history, and it's a lot grittier. It doesn't have the 'Game of Thrones' gloss.

It's normal when there's a new show on the air to say this is the new 'Game of Thrones' or this is the new 'Vikings,' because we need to put things in boxes.

I always stretch after working out or training and then again before going to sleep. It keeps the muscles healthy and useful, reduces risk of injuries, and is a great way to wind down.

There's never enough time to shoot battle scenes or fight scenes. It always feels rushed. Anytime horses are involved, it eats up time like crazy.

I grew up a little bit in Germany and then in Switzerland, then in France, the United States and in England, and so it is weird.

Who wants to watch a series without humour?

There are definitely advantages to not looking like a Viking in real life.

We know they took their look very seriously - tweezers and combs were found in Viking graves. The warriors would file their teeth down to make them pointy, use kohl to make their eyes look darker, and red pigment on their teeth to make them look bloody.

As a child, it was really hard because I'd be thrown into a new school and have to make new friends, or I'd sit in class for months without speaking the language, but as I got older, I welcomed the possibility of discovering new cultures and languages.

I loved Bernard Cornwell's books.

On a personal level, I don't exactly thrive on the idea of being known as the guy who goes topless - because I also took my shirt off on 'American Horror Story: Coven' - but I think in 'The Last Kingdom,' it's mainly done in the right way.

I did have an imaginary girlfriend.

People who are creating history don't realize they're creating it at the time it's happening.

I was in love with a girl in my class when I was in primary school, and she obviously thought I was a freak, so that wasn't working out. And the the guys in my class, every two weeks they'd say, 'Hey, we spoke to her, and she really likes you now. You should go and ask her again.' And then I'd go and ask her again.

I believe that my greatest strength is a deep-rooted, unshakeable trust to never let myself give up.

I love generally being out in nature. It is just so amazing.

Every actor strives to be in the moment, and when you're on a horse, you constantly have to communicate with it and assert your authority.

I have a large family with lots of little kids.

I have a lot of cousins that I'm very close to.

The funny thing about acting is, there's no 'right' way to make it. Some people need to work their butts off, and some don't. They're just naturals. I wasn't a natural. I sucked.

No amount of success is worth it to me if I can't share it with someone I love.

I don't really feel an allegiance to any of the countries I have lived in, even though I feel like part of them, and part of them is in me.

I found that the nicer and more helpful I was to people I worked with, whether I was 'somebody' or 'nobody' on set, the more fun I had.