Travis Fimmel was raised on a 5500-acre farm located in Australia between Melbourne and Sydney. Until the age of 17 his life was spent at school and working on the family farm, morning and night-something he continues to relish on his trips back home. After high school, higher education called and he was accepted to Melbourne University. It was not long until his intense curiosity led him to begin his global adventures. While bar-tending in London, giving away almost as much beer as he sold, he met his would-be manager, David Seltzer. David saw a spark in Travis and suggested he move to the United States to become an actor and nurture his talent. Easily enticed by the arts, it was not long before Travis made the move to Los Angeles, and within a week began studying with renowned acting coach Ivana Chubbuck. The teaching veteran, in addition to Travis, has mentored Jake Gyllenhaal, Eva Mendes, Halle Berry, Brad Pitt and Charlize Theron. Years of struggling and hard work continue to pay off and Travis has chalked up starring roles in several projects including Rocky Point (with Lauren Holly), Southern Comfort (with Madeleine Stowe and Eric Roberts), Restraint (with True Blood's Stephen Moyer), Ivory (with Martin Landau and Peter Stomare), Surfer Dude (with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson), and AE's The Beast (with Patrick Swayze). Production has taken Travis all over the world but, between roles, he travels back to his family's farm as much as possible. Travis is quick to point out that it is his love for Australian Rules (AKA "No" Rules) Football, the countryside, his two older brothers, and a hard working lifestyle that keeps his feet firmly planted on the ground. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Celebrity Loop
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» All Actor InterviewsIt's bloody cold. I need a cuddle. I'm freezin'.
Season 3 of VIKINGS premieres on History tomorrow, February 19.
Victoria's helping me out in person today. AMA.
Proof: http://imgur.com/zTy2ob2
update Thank you guys so much for watching the show. You're really going to enjoy season 3. It just builds and builds and builds. Especially from episode 3 on to the end.
Why was Ragnar so fascinated with baby goats in season 2?
Also, did you get to keep said goat?
As I said, I love kids.
What is your favorite sandwich, and what would Ragnar's favorite sandwich be?
Vegemite and toast.
And Ragnar's favorite sandwich? Would be Athelstan and Lagertha.
Hey Travis. So one of my good friends reckons she taught you Jiu Jitsu when she lived in (or near) Seymour, Victoria, many moons ago. Is she full of shit? Vikings is my second favourite show ever by the way!
I thought we were making love, I didn't know we were doing Jiu Jitsu.
Do you think i'm your brother? I could do a stunt double :D check out this out http://i.imgur.com/URusJ6P.jpg
Yeah!
I have such a girl crush on Lagertha. Please tell me Rag and Lag will finally find some happiness together this season?
Also, are you 100% certain that you’re not Charlie Hunnam’s long lost identical twin? I’m convinced that Jax Teller from Sons of Anarchy is Ragnar reincarnated.
Hehe! Pffff. She left me, I didn't leave her!
We are, actually, cousins.
Travis, I have to know if Floki is as batshit crazy in person as he is on the set. He's been my #1 since day one! What kind of person is he when you're not filming?
Oh, he's an amazing person. He's just a very talented actor, he can act crazy very well.
Hi Travis! I'm interested in your voice intonation in the series (as well as other characters'), which sounds to me very viking-like. What is the story behind choosing this way of speech in Vikings?
We have a great dialect coach, Paul Molakides, he's greek but from Ireland. We didn't really want to sound like anyone else. And we had a Swedish director for the first 3 episodes. And obviously no one knows how the Vikings really spoke, since there's no recordings of it, so it gave us the opportunity to be unique.
Hi Travis! Been a fan of the show since the beginning, I really like your portayal of Ragnar. What are your favorite moments/memories from set?
I liked tying Athelstan up to a tree in the first year. The sex scene with Lagertha was very enjoyable. And whenever we're on the horses, I like that.
Huge fan since day 1 of Vikings. You seem to have a more introverted personality and not much social media presence, do you plan as your fan base grows to get more involved on twitter/other media platforms?
smiles
I'll stop at the Mac store on my way home. It's hard with a flip phone.
Something I really love about the way you portray Ragnar is that you act with your whole body, making gestures and playing around with the items/goats on sets, how much of that scripted? Or is it your personality shining through?
Also, what's your favourite sandwich?
Yeah, that's just actor's choices.
Hi Travis! I'm a huge fan of you on Vikings, and look forward to seeing you in Warcraft next year! My questions are:
Who do you prefer, Lagertha or Aslaug?
What can we expect from your character in the Warcraft movie?
1.) I love all women equally.
2.) I liked his hair. smirks
Like, for real??
Or just for the sake of the joke?
Nah, it's a joke. smirks
How do you feel about the views towards religions expressed on the show?
I'm very non-religious, in my day-to-day life. But I think it's very interesting. To learn about religions, and why it affects some people differently than others.
Hey Travis! I have been a fan of Vikings since it premiered a couple years ago. I still have to say that my favorite scene was the one on the beach, where you were speaking to the Saxon in Old English and to your fellow Vikings in their language. Can we look forward to more scenes without any Modern English?
Yes. There's a lot, yeah. Not specifically me, but some of the other characters.
Hey Trav, welcome to reddit. A recurring theme on Vikings is that Ragnar is descended from Odin. Which of the Norse gods would you say that you are most likely descended from?
Odin. Because of his curiosity of the world.
Travis... Vikings is one of the shows of the decade IMO, but I keep getting interrupted by my girlfriend's non-stop raving about how perfect are. Could you stop being so much more desirable than me? Oh ya, an I'm supposed to ask if your eyes are really that blue, if your wearing contacts, or if it's digitally enchanced. Thank you kind sir.
smirks
Contacts.
What? I'm trying to help him out with his missus!
How does Ragnar's relationship with Athelstan fare this season? Do they continue to remain close, as they have the past two seasons..or do they begin to drift apart?
No, the relationship gets better. It's my favorite person to do scenes with.
Hi Travis, how do you keep in shape & how tough if filiming Vikings?
The weather's the hardest thing. And I keep in shape by drinking whiskey instead of beer.
Did you realize how big the show Vikings would get? Any chance they make a film for the big screen as well?
You never know!
There's a lot of very talented people on set, and the Irish crew are very good at what they do, and you're on set and you see the sets and costumes, and with Michael Hirst at the head of the show, I'm not surprised the show is doing well. The lead actor is a bit of a wanker, though. Charlie's cousin.
Hey Travis! Thanks so much for this I am a huge fan of the show. Was the transition from modeling to acting hard? Or did you always want to be an actor?
I was an actor before I modeled. I just couldn't get an actor's job. But it got me a Visa, so I appreciate it.
Which is your favorite whiskey?
Jamesons.
Hi Travis! You've traveled to distant places (and worlds!) for your job. What are one or two things that you've enjoyed eating on your journey?
The free food on-set.
It's free!
Hi Travis! I was really excited to see that you are doing this AMA.
I love Viking lore and mythology with everything I've got. It goes without saying that I am a huge fan of the show and really appreciate everything you, the cast, and crew have put into VIKINGS.
I have two questions. Which Viking God do you associate yourself with most, and why? Also, have you ever listened to the band Amon Amarth, and why are they your favorite band ever?
Thank you and I cant wait for the premiere tomorrow!
Because of their dancing and qualities to their voices, and the timbre of their voices! And that lead singer's got a great arse.
How did you enjoy shooting Warcraft? What it will be like?
It was very enjoyable. There's lots of motion capture. And it's gonna be amazing, the motion capture stuff, and all the green screen stuff.
How is Ragnar Lothbrok? Is he cruel more than necessary or just enough to survive?
Just tough love all 'round. Some people need an axe in the head, some people need a cuddle. Or both.
What is the best prank you have pulled on set so far?
That I can act?
Hi, Travis. How did you prepare for your role? Did you watch any movies, read books, etc.?
The good thing about Vikings is there's nothing we can really copy. Cuz they didn't read or write. So it was a great creative process where all of us, especially Michael - it's all open to interpretation. I had short sides of my hair, just so I could row faster.
Were you a fan of Vikings as a kid?
Just as much as anybody else. I didn't know much about them. Other than the love-making and borrowing stuff from others.
Ragnar has a head tattoo, it looks awesome. Do you think if I got one like Ragnar it would help me with the ladies?
Oh yep. Get it on yer forehead and on yer cheek. All over yer face.
Don't get tatted, people just do it to be cool.
What's the most embarrassing thing that's happened to you on set of Vikings?
Ehm - wipes face - in an upcoming episode, once I finish a stunt, and I'm walking off camera, I slipped and fell into the water when I wasn't supposed to be wet.
Was it as hard to do the Blood Eagle scene as it was to watch? Very little makes me cringe, but that was over the top!
No, it's a great scene, a great director. And it's one of my favorite scenes.
> It's bloody cold. I need a cuddle. I'm freezin'.
I volunteer as tribute!
Question time though... In what ways do you think you and Ragnar are alike?
We look similar. He's a farm boy, he's ambitious, curious... loves children.
Hello Travis! In the show you speak some of old norse, what went through your mind when you knew that you would've some lines in a dead language and how hard was it to practice?
Yeah, it was extremely hard for me, I'm not very good at that. It was very hard. The other guys, they're a lot better at it than me, thus I don't speak much Old Norse.
Hola!
Standing back and looking at the show do you have a favorite character?
Lots of 'em. Athelstan, and King Ecbert, and there's that one black horse I really like, with the funny eye.
How do you think you'd survive as an actual viking? Would you be as bad ass as Ragnar?
No, I'd just fish a lot. I'd be lazy. Yeah. I get seasick.
Hi Travis! In your opinion, do you think Ragnar still harbors feelings for Lagertha?
Anybody in Ragnar's family, he loves.
He's just full of love. But Ragnar's ex-wife hates him as much as his current wife does, and I'm sure his next ex-wife will hate him too.
Hello Travis, are we ever going to see the wanderer that gave the sunstone to ragnar or the murderer of Haraldson's boys?
You'll see them this year.
I absolutely love the show, I'm so in love with Ragnar and my question is regarding your hairstyle. Being a girl I'm used to braid my hair but as a guy, how do you live that process? Does it hurts? Is it fun?
It's very hard to braid your own hair. It takes me 3 hours every morning to braid it. smiles
Yeh, no, somebody does it for me.
A very talented hairdresser named Dee Cochrane does it, and it takes 40 minutes. And I never get that time back. And I had extensions as well. I had to wear a shower cap when I had showers. It was something new.
What makes you laugh & what's something we'd be surprised to know about you?
Ehm - little kids make me laugh, I guess. Surprising to know about me? I'm an extremely bad dancer.
Check out the "Techno Viking," yeah.
Have you played the game?
No, I haven't yet.
As the star of the show, who do you think are the most undervalued/underexposed members of the crew, and what do they do every day that you appreciate?
The entire Irish crew, every department. Very hard-working, and very talented. And for the budget we have, we don't have the biggest budget of shows, you know, and their efficient-ness is remarkable.
Hi travis,
If you had to give one advice to Ragnar what would it be?
Just go back to farming.
Actually, go to Australia.
Hey Travis, first of all: greetings from Germany, looking forward for Vikings Season 3, Iam a die hard fan;-)!
My question: you are the reason I started growing my beard. Iam 6 months into growing it right now and I wanted to ask you:
1. how long did it take to reach the length your beard had in season 2 of vikings?
2. How do you care for your beard, any daily routines?
Hope you'll answer, I'd really appreciate it.
I'll see you in valhallah!
1.) 5 months.
2.) No routines. No. I talk to it? Say Bonjour! by the way!
Travis- you, sir, are wonderful, I'd cuddle with you any day. If you could use a shield wall for anything life throws at you, what would you use it for?
Negative people.
I read in the past you didn't love doing green screen work for Warcraft, as you'd rather be interacting with real people. That said, do you enjoy the speaking or action sections of Vikings more, and why? In general, which would you rather be doing?
I'd rather be speaking. I'd rather the battle of the minds I have with King Ecbert.
I heard you took $2K off Alexander playing pool... do you feel bad about not even giving him a chance?
No, it was more than 2 grand.
What do you think is Ragnar's biggest flaw?
Becoming King.
I know that Wardruna participated in creating the soundtrack of Vikings. Do you like their music? What do you listen to in private?
I think it's sick. In a good way.
Otis Redding, Buddy Holly, George Strait, and The Wiggles.
Do you watch Game of Thrones? If so who's your favourite character?
I'm too cheap to get HBO.
Axe or Sword ? And why ?
Cuddles.
Who is the joker on set? An can you share any memorable ones?
The little kids are the most entertaining. And Bjorn is very entertaining as well. And the lamb.
Have you gone fishing recently? Caught anything cool?
Your playing Ragnar is one of my favorite things to watch these days. Hope you enjoy playing him as much as we like watching the show!
Oh, I got some rainbow trout in Australia!
Hi Travis. Sorry for being a little late here, but I've heard several castmates from Vikings describe you as a bit of a prankster while on set. Is this true? and if so, what are your favorite pranks?
No.
Were you familiar with viking history before being cast as Ragnar? Have you used your personal time to learn more?
What episode number (without spoilers) are you most excited to have air?
The scripts are so informative, I normally trust Michael's research more than my own.
Number 11. No, I'm joking, there's only 10, sorry! Six.
Hey Travis!
What has been your craziest fan moment?
When that girl just asked me about my hair.
What actors inspire you? Also what is one film that you could watch over and over again?
Daniel Day Lewis. Joaquin Phoenix. Mel Gibson. And Nicholson. And CHOPPER.
Hi, Travis! What sort of music do you think Ragnar would be into in this day and age? He'd be a metalhead imo
Yep, I'll go with that then.
Why did you cut your hair?
This year?
strokes beard
It's a turning point in the plot, and it saves me getting up 40 minutes earlier than I have to.
Hello, Travis! I'm building a cookbook for friends and family and I was wondering: what's your current favorite dish? I'll toss it in there and say a Viking recommended it to me ;)
Aaaah! Just steak and veggies.
Call it "The Steak and Veggies."
How much does Michael Hirst influence the shooting? How is the cooperation with him?
Any show or any movie starts with a script, so he's obviously got the biggest influence of anybody. And it's fantastic working with him. I really respect him, and he's a really talented writer.
Whoever cleans the windows does a good job!
When do you think you will have your farm you are saving up for, where will it be, and are you hiring?
Hehehehe!
Unless you're a cow...
It'll be along the coast in Australia. Hopefully as soon as I get the money together.
What was the first reaction you made when you learnt you got the role?
Ehm - first reaction? i was excited to move to Ireland. I'd never been there before.
Hi Travis. How long does it take to prepare the choreography for each of fight scenes? and which do you prefer? The sword or the axe?
About 15 minutes or something? We get there on set and do it. It's well choreographed before I show up. The stunt guys are really talented.
I love Vikings! I read in an interview of Hirst that it was your idea to have Ragnar decorate his ship with severed heads (as we can see in the S3 trailer). How did you come up with that? It's quite the sight.
Well, that was both our ideas. I think - if I remember - we already had the dead heads there, and I just wanted to be one of the heads amongst the dead heads. So that was mostly Michael's ideas.
How long did it take to grow a beard like this?
It took me about 5 months? That's why I can't cut it between seasons.
Hi Travis! Have you ever thought of having a farm in Ireland? U know, so much green spaces and beautiful landscapes ? :) Greetings from Poland!
Yeah. I love Ireland. I would have a farm there, if it weren't for the weather. It's just a bit chilly.
Love your show. Two questions: when choosing projects to work on, are you more drawn to action roles or dramas? Second question: what is your favorite band/singer?
The writing, for sure. It doesn't matter, just whatever the best script is. And whoever's dumb enough to give me a job.
The late Johnny Cash, maybe. And Sam Cooke.
Thanks for doing this AMA! A lot of my family members are big fans of VIKINGS, but I have yet to begin watching the show. For the uninitiated, what would you say makes VIKINGS a great show?
The story and the amazing visuals.
And the lamb.
Do you have a fan mail address?
You can send @HistoryVikings on Twitter.
Hi Travis! I love Vikings, and I love Ragnar! How do you feel in Ragnar's shoes? If you could, would you trade your life for Ragnar's for a day, in a battle field, commanding those troops and celebrating the Viking way, paying tributes to the Gods?
No, I'd rather just be a farmer.
Some actors talk about how when their filming they like to stay in character...Is this something you do as well? & is it difficult having so many men on set compared to women?
No. Well there's less to look at.
Will there be many new characters introduced in this season? Maybe some historical personal? :) love your show cheers from Iceland!
Iceland yeah!
There are definitely more characters this year, and we actually invade Paris, so there's a lot of French characters coming soon. There's more boats, more actors, more stuntmen.
Do you like to listen metal songs with lyrics inspired from the norse mythology or the way of life of vikings?
Love it.
Would you give up your eye for knowledge like Odin?
That'd be ridiculous.
Hey Travis! Do you prefer to surf or to drink some beers?
Healthy beers.
Vikings is an amazing show. It's up there with game of thrones in my opinion. If you could would you go back in time to live with the Vikings. Even if it was only like for a fuckin day? And do you have and pets? Like a pirate bird with eye patch or a hedgehog with a peg leg? Thanks im a big fan
No, I'd only go back about 150 years. I have about 1500 cattle.
So Travis, before you were cast as Ragnar did you ever dream of playing a character similar to him or want to act in something similar?
Ehm - as an actor you never know what your next job's going to be, so it's always very much a surprise. And I very much enjoy working on Vikings.
