The Northman’s full cast and character guide. Directed by Robert Eggers from a screenplay he co-wrote with Sjón, The Northman is a highly-anticipated action-adventure that draws from Viking lore. The story and legend of Amleth is one that has influenced William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and is a true tale of revenge, violence, and reclaiming the throne.
The Northman follows Amleth, a young Viking prince who loves and is devoted to his father, King Aurvandill. Upon his arrival home after being at war, Aurvandill feels confident that Amleth is ready to finally become a man and take on the responsibilities that will shape him into a king one day soon, replacing his father and continuing the family line. However, before any of that can really happen, King Aurvandill is killed by his brother and Amleth is forced to flee to avoid the same fate. Angry, Amleth promises to get his revenge on his uncle for the murder he committed, and does everything in his power to find him and restore his family’s name.
The Northman brings together a great cast, with plenty of familiar faces from across TV and movies. Here is a full guide to the film’s characters, the actors who portray them, and in which projects the audience has seen them in before starring in the Viking epic.
Alexander Skarsgård As Amleth
Amleth is a Viking warrior prince. His father, returned from war, has promised to teach him how to be a fighter before he ascends the throne. Amleth is young when he watches his father be murdered and runs away vowing to avenge him and save his mother. Amleth is portrayed by Alexander Skarsgård, who is best known for his roles in True Blood, Big Little Lies, The Little Drummer Girl, The Legend of Tarzan, Passing, Melancholia, Godzilla vs. Kong, and The Stand. Skarsgård has also guest starred in episodes of HBO’s Succession and the short-lived Kirsten Dunst series, On Becoming a God in Central Florida.
Nicole Kidman As Queen Gudrún
Gudrún is the Viking queen and the mother of Amleth. She is the wife of Aurvandill who is taken captive when he is killed. Queen Gudrún is played by Nicole Kidman, who is best known for her roles in Big Little Lies, Aquaman, The Beguiled, Moulin Rouge!, Being the Ricardos, The Undoing, Bombshell, Eyes Wide Shut, The Stepford Wives, The Others, Practical Magic, and Rabbit Hole, among several other films.
Claes Bang As Fjölnir The Brotherless
Fjölnir the Brotherless is Aurvandill’s younger brother. After Aurvandill returns from war, Fjölnir kills him and takes over as king, taking Gudrún as his wife. Fjölnir is portrayed by Claes Bang, who is best known for It Is in Us All, The Affair, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, and The Square.
Anya Taylor-Joy As Olga Of The Birch Forest
Olga of the Birch Forest is a slave to Fjölnir and Gudrún who is herself a sorceress. She and Amleth become romantic not long after they meet each other. Olga is portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy, who is best known for her roles in The Queen’s Gambit, Last Night in Soho, The Witch, Split, and New Mutants. She has also been a recurring character on Peaky Blinders.
Ethan Hawke As King Aurvandill War-Raven
Aurvandill is the Viking king, the father of Amleth and the husband of Queen Gudrún. He is also the older brother of Fjölnir. Aurvandill is considered ruthless in his war endeavors, but clearly has affection for his son. The Viking king is portrayed by Ethan Hawke, who is best known for Training Day, Before Sunrise and its two sequels, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight, Boyhood, The Purge, Sinister, Hamlet, Gattaca and Marvel’s Disney+ series Moon Knight.
The Northman Supporting Cast & Characters
Oscar Novak as Amleth – Oscar Novak plays the younger version of Amleth at the start of The Northman. The actor played a young Bruce Wayne in The Batman and Jeremy Poldark in Poldark.
Gustav Lindh as Thorir the Proud – Thorir is Fjölnir’s son from a previous relationship, Amleth’s cousin, and Gudrún’s stepson. Gustav Lindh is known for Queen of Hearts, Orca, and the TV series Top Dog.
Elliott Rose as Gunnar – Gunnar is the son of Fjölnir and Gudrún, and the youngest half-brother of Thorir and Amleth. Besides The Northman, Elliott Rose has appeared in Milk.
Willem Dafoe as Heimir the Fool – Heimir the Fool is a he-witch who aids Amleth in his mission. Willem Dafoe is best known for his roles as the Green Goblin Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Lighthouse, At Eternity’s Gate, Murder on the Orient Express, John Wick, Finding Dory, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Aviator, and The English Patient.
Björk as the Seeress – The Seeress foretells what will happen, guiding Amleth on his path. She is played by Björk, who is a well-known musician. Her biggest acting credit before The Northman is Dancer in the Dark and The Juniper Tree.
Ingvar Sigurðsson as He-Witch – The he-witch appears to Amleth to aid him in his mission. Ingvar Sigurðsson plays the he-witch in The Northman. The actor has been in Everest, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, the mayor in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, and a few episodes of Killing Eve.