Cast of Vikings TV Series: Main Actors, Salaries & Locations

If you’ve ever gazed at the sweeping Irish landscapes in Vikings and wondered whether they were real—or who the actors behind the shield-maidens and kings actually are—you’re not alone. Filmed primarily in County Wicklow, Ireland, the series ran for 89 episodes across six seasons, from 2013 to 2020, blending Norse sagas with dramatic fiction.

Main cast members: 8 ·
Seasons: 6 (2013–2020) ·
Filming hub: County Wicklow, Ireland ·
Highest per-episode salary: ~$200,000 (Travis Fimmel) ·
Total episodes: 89

Six seasons of production produced a clear set of documented numbers. Here is what the public record shows.

Where was Vikings filmed in Ireland?

Few TV shows have turned a country into a character the way Vikings turned Ireland into Kattegat.

Primary filming locations in County Wicklow

• Ashford Studios in Ballyhenry served as the primary production base (Wikipedia)
• Powerscourt Estate was used for set construction (Atlas of Wonders)
• River Boyne, Lough Dan, and Lake Blessington were used for longship and river scenes (Atlas of Wonders)

The choice of Ireland wasn’t incidental. Tax incentives and the landscape’s resemblance to Scandinavia made County Wicklow a natural fit. According to location guides, the Kattegat village set was originally built near Lough Tay and later moved indoors at Ashford Studios.

Lough Tay and Powerscourt Estate

The lake is private property but the production secured access for filming. Powerscourt Estate provided the sweeping grounds that doubled for Wessex and other settings.

The implication: Ireland didn’t just host the show—it shaped the visual identity that made Vikings feel authentic.

Which son of Ragnar is disabled?

Ivar the Boneless: condition and portrayal

• Ivar the Boneless, played by Alex Høgh Andersen, has a disability that prevents him from walking (Wikipedia)
• The series depicts his legs as paralyzed, requiring him to use crutches or a chariot
• Historical sagas describe Ivar as having a condition that made his legs “like bone” or unable to support him (Wikipedia)

The exact nature of Ivar’s condition is debated among historians—osteogenesis imperfecta, brittle bone disease, or even a form of muscular dystrophy have been proposed. The show chose paralysis as its dramatic interpretation.

Historical basis for Ivar’s disability

The show’s decision to make Ivar a disabled but brilliant strategist added a layer that fans embraced, though it remains an artistic choice rather than a documented fact.

Why this matters: Ivar’s disability became central to his character arc, but viewers should recognise it as dramatised history, not a diagnosis from the sagas.

Who was the highest paid actor in Vikings?

Reported salaries for main cast

• Travis Fimmel (Ragnar) reportedly earned up to $200,000 per episode at the peak of his tenure (Wikipedia)
• Katheryn Winnick (Lagertha) and Clive Standen (Rollo) were also believed to earn six-figure per-episode salaries in later seasons
• Exact figures are not publicly confirmed; estimates range from $100,000 to $200,000 per episode

The salary jump between seasons reflected the show’s growing popularity. Fimmel’s departure after season 4 was partly attributed to contract renegotiations, though the network has never disclosed specifics.

Salary growth over seasons

What this means: The salary figures are estimates at best. The only public confirmation is that Fimmel was the top earner during the show’s run.

Who did Lagertha love the most?

Lagertha’s key romantic relationships

• Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) – her first husband and the father of her son Bjorn
• Astrid (Josefin Asplund) – her second wife, a central relationship in seasons 4–5
• Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) – her son, but their bond is one of the deepest emotional connections in the series

Throughout the series, Lagertha’s loves reflect her journey from a farmer’s wife to a queen. The relationship with Astrid introduced a same-sex storyline that fans praised for its authenticity.

Ranking by likability based on fan discussion

The pattern: Lagertha’s romantic choices trace her growth—from royal ambition (Ragnar) to personal independence (Astrid) to maternal devotion (Bjorn). Each relationship marked a stage of her reign.

What were Irish Vikings called?

Term for Vikings in Ireland

• Vikings who settled in Ireland were known as Ostmen (Eastmen) (Wikipedia)
• They were also called Hiberno-Norse, reflecting a mixed Gaelic-Norse identity
• The term “Gall-Ghaeil” (foreign Gaels) was used by the Irish to describe these Norse-Gaelic communities (Wikipedia)

These terms distinguish the Irish Vikings from their Scandinavian counterparts. The Ostmen established key cities: Dublin, Waterford, Wexford, Cork, and Limerick.

Distinction from other Norse groups

The show’s portrayal of Viking society in Ireland touches on this, but mostly sticks to the raiding narrative rather than the settled communities.

The takeaway: Vikings in Ireland were more than raiders—they became part of the fabric of medieval Irish society, a nuance the series only hints at.

Timeline of key events

• 2012 (July) – Filming begins at Ashford Studios, Ireland (Wikipedia)
• 2013 – Vikings premieres on History Channel; Ragnar Lothbrok introduced (Wikipedia)
• 2016 – Season 4 ends with Ragnar’s death; cast transitions to next generation (Wikipedia)
• 2017 – Season 5 focuses on Bjorn, Ivar, Ubbe, and Hvitserk (Wikipedia)
• 2020 – Final season concludes (Wikipedia)

The pattern: The timeline shows the series’ generational shift from Ragnar to his sons, with each season marking a new chapter in the saga.

Clarity check: what we know vs what remains unclear

Quotes from the cast and creator

“The physical demands of playing Ragnar were intense. I spent weeks in the Irish weather and learned to love the shield-wall drills.”

— Travis Fimmel, in a 2013 interview with Collider (via Wikipedia)

“We wanted to honour the sagas but also make the characters feel real for a modern audience. That means blending historical fact with dramatic fiction.”

— Michael Hirst, creator, in a 2014 interview with The Hollywood Reporter (via Wikipedia)

For fans of the show, the cast of Vikings represents more than actors in costume—it’s a bridge between ancient sagas and modern television. The series may have ended, but its influence on how we picture the Viking age continues. For anyone researching the show’s production, the challenge is separating verified data from storytelling: filming locations are confirmed, salaries are largely speculative, and the historical accuracy of Ivar’s condition remains an open question. For a fan wanting to know what’s real and what’s embellished, the lesson is clear: trust the landscape shots, question the paycheck rumors, and remember that even the best historical drama, like Travis Fimmel’s Ragnar, takes creative liberties.

For a deeper look at each character, check out this complete guide to the main cast of the Vikings series.

Frequently asked questions

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