Ever get that feeling where you recognize a face but can't quite place the beard? That's the vibe when you first fire up Vikings: Valhalla. Honestly, jumping from the original History Channel series into this Netflix spin-off feels like walking into a family reunion 100 years later. Everyone is taller, the world feels colder, and the drama is... well, it’s intense.
But here is the thing. A lot of folks get the Vikings Valhalla season 1 cast mixed up with their historical counterparts. Or they think they know where they’ve seen these actors before, only to realize they’re actually seeing a former supermodel or a guy who once played a literal demon on a teen show. It’s a wild mix.
The Trio Holding it All Together
Basically, the show anchors itself on three main leads. If you don't care about these three, the show doesn't work.
Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett)
Leif is our "Greenlander." He arrives in Kattegat looking like he’s seen too much sun and not enough politics. Sam Corlett plays him. If he looks familiar, you probably saw him as Caliban, the Prince of Hell, in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Corlett is Australian, which is kinda funny when you realize he’s playing one of the most famous Norsemen in history. He’s a vegan in real life, too. He actually worked with the costume department to make sure his "leather" armor was made from sustainable, plant-based materials. That’s a pretty modern touch for a guy supposedly living in 1002 AD.
Freydis Eiríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson)
Then there’s Leif’s sister. Freydis is the fiery heart of the pagan resistance. Frida Gustavsson, the actress playing her, is a Swedish powerhouse.
💡 You might also like: Why Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Actors Still Define the Modern Spy Thriller
She wasn't always a shield-maiden, though. Before this, she was a massive high-fashion model. We're talking walking for Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Alexander McQueen. You might also recognize her as Visenna (Geralt’s mom) from the first season of The Witcher. She’s got this ethereal quality that makes the whole "last daughter of Uppsala" thing feel totally believable.
Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter)
Harald is the bridge. He’s a Christian Viking who actually likes the Greenlanders. Leo Suter brings a certain "princely" charm to the role. Suter is English, educated at Oxford, and spent years doing period dramas like Victoria and Sanditon.
He’s the guy who has to balance being a ruthless warrior and a smooth politician. Most people don't realize that in real history, Harald Hardrada (his historical name) didn't actually hang out with Leif Erikson. They lived decades apart. But hey, that's TV for you.
The Power Players in London
While the Vikings are busy sharpening axes, the English court is where the real backstabbing happens. This is where the Vikings Valhalla season 1 cast really shines with some veteran talent.
Bradley Freegard plays King Canute (or Cnut). He’s a Welsh actor who honestly brings this massive "dad energy" to the role of a conqueror. He’s not just a brute; he’s the smartest guy in the room. Freegard is a staple of Welsh TV, and his performance as Canute is arguably the best thing about the first season. He makes you actually root for the guy invading England.
📖 Related: The Entire History of You: What Most People Get Wrong About the Grain
Then we have Laura Berlin as Emma of Normandy.
She is German.
She plays the Queen of England.
It’s a linguistic mess that somehow works perfectly. Emma is the one who keeps the wheels from falling off the kingdom. Berlin, like Gustavsson, started in modeling but has been a huge star in Germany for years. She plays Emma with this cold, calculating precision that is honestly terrifying.
And we can't forget David Oakes as Earl Godwin.
If you’ve watched a historical drama in the last decade, you’ve seen this guy. The Borgias, The White Queen, Victoria—he’s the king of the "shifty advisor" role. In Valhalla, he plays Godwin as a man who always lands on his feet, no matter who is currently sitting on the throne. He’s the ultimate survivor.
The Villains and Visionaries
Every good saga needs someone to hate, and season 1 gives us a few.
- Jarl Olaf Haraldsson (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson): Harald's half-brother. The actor is Icelandic and was in Game of Thrones (he was the guy who killed Brother Ray). He brings a massive, intimidating presence to Olaf.
- Jarl Haakon (Caroline Henderson): The ruler of Kattegat. Henderson is a famous jazz singer in Denmark. Her casting was a bit of a "thing" online because she’s a person of color playing a Viking leader, but the show explains it through her character's backstory as a trader’s daughter.
- Jarl Kåre (Asbjørn Krogh Nissen): The religious fanatic. If he gave you the creeps, he did his job. He represents the extreme end of the Christianization of Scandinavia.
Why the Casting Matters for SEO and Fans
When you look at the Vikings Valhalla season 1 cast, you see a deliberate choice by the creators. They didn't just grab a bunch of bodybuilders. They picked actors who could handle the "Old World vs. New World" theme.
The conflict isn't just between Vikings and English; it's between the old Pagan ways and the rising tide of Christianity. You need actors like Frida Gustavsson to sell that spiritual weight. You need someone like Leo Suter to make the transition to Christianity feel like a political necessity rather than just a plot point.
👉 See also: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume these actors are all Scandinavian. They aren't. It's a huge international melting pot. You’ve got Australians, Brits, Germans, Welshmen, and Swedes.
Another common misconception? That these characters are "replacements" for Ragnar and Lagertha. They aren't. The show is set 100 years later. When the characters talk about "The Great Ragnar Lothbrok," they’re talking about him as a myth. The cast had to work twice as hard to build their own legacy without just leaning on the ghosts of Travis Fimmel and Katheryn Winnick.
How to Follow the Cast Now
If you’re looking to see what these actors are up to after season 1, here is a quick roadmap.
- Sam Corlett: Check out the Australian series Territory on Netflix. It’s basically Yellowstone but in the Outback.
- Leo Suter: He’s taking over the lead in the BBC’s reboot of Lynley. He’s playing a DI now, so expect fewer axes and more trench coats.
- Frida Gustavsson: She continues to be a force in Swedish cinema. Keep an eye out for her in European indie films where she gets to show off her range beyond swinging a sword.
The best way to appreciate the Vikings Valhalla season 1 cast is to watch how they interact with the sets. Most of the filming happened in County Wicklow, Ireland. Those aren't green screens. Those actors were actually freezing their tails off on the Irish coast. It adds a layer of grit that you just can't fake with CGI.
If you want to dive deeper, look into the "behind the scenes" interviews on Netflix's Tudum site. They talk a lot about the training camps they had to go through. Apparently, the "Viking Boot Camp" involved a lot of rowing, axe throwing, and very little sleep. It shows in the performances. They look exhausted because they probably were.
The reality is that while the show takes some liberties with the timeline—like putting Leif and Harald in the same room—the cast makes you believe it could have happened. That's the hallmark of a good historical drama. It’s not about the dates; it’s about the vibe. And the vibe in season 1? It’s pretty legendary.
To truly understand the impact of this ensemble, your next step is to re-watch the "Battle of London" in episode 4. Pay close attention to the non-verbal communication between Bradley Freegard (Canute) and David Oakes (Godwin). That’s where the real storytelling happens—in the glances and the pauses, not just the blood and the guts.