The One Thing Alexander Ludwig Regrets About Playing Bjorn On Vikings

The show debuted back in 2013, a mix of history and folklore, as Ancient History Encyclopedia describes it. Ludwig joined the cast in the second season, and took over as the star of the show upon the death of his character's father. The actor is just as large as you'd expect him to be — 6'2", according to The Hollywood Reporter — and with, perhaps, ambitions to match.

When he signed on for a show about Vikings, he was expecting a cable drama series of maybe 10 episodes a year, with plenty of time off to pursue other projects. The success of the show meant more episodes produced per year, and as he told THR, it "meant that I was completely plucked out of any other opportunities."

Ludwig is candid about his personal battles with anxiety, depression, and addiction, as related by the Fix. He's done a stint in rehab, and speaks very positively of the experience. "A lot of people live in toxic shame. There's no shame in getting help for things that you need," he said. He's deeply grateful for the opportunities he's had through Vikings, as it helped him land an important part in the recent Will Smith/Martin Lawrence sequel Bad Boys for Life. Overall, he has few other regrets for the time spent on Vikings.