There are some new faces joining the cast of Vikings in season 3. Among them is Kevin Durand, who plays Harbard, “[a] wanderer who turns up unexpectedly in Kattagat when Ragnar and most of the men of the town are away raiding. Harbard will have a profound effect on Queen Aslaug, Siggy and Helga, all of whom have had the same dream, presaging his arrival.” OHSOGRAY participated in a conference call with Durand to discuss his experience on the show. While Durand remained tight-lipped about Harbard’s role in the grander scheme of things, there was some discussion about the first three episodes of season 3. So if you want to stay completely in the dark about season 3, stop reading! If you don’t mind a minimally spoiler-ish discussion, check out what Durand had to say below.
Vikings returns to History on February 19th at 10/9c.
How did you get involved with Vikings and what you like about it?
Kevin Durand: I’m a big fan of the show. I watched the first season before I first heard that Michael Hirst was interested in me coming in and playing this character. When I started to hear that, I just binge watched the second season and it became one of my favorite shows on television. They started sending me some pages and – I mean the words were so alluring that were on the page and I thought, wow, this is really interesting. I’ve never played anyone like this and how great to be a part of this great show.
We know that Harbard interacts with Siggy, Auslag, and Helga. Can you tell us a bit about whether or not you’re going to have any contact with the men when they come home and what we might see with that interaction?
Kevin Durand: You know I think that the interaction with the men from the show is more something of a reverberation of the action that will take place in [episode 4] which I cannot divulge to you at this point, but I can guarantee you that all the major characters in this show will definitely feel the impact of Harbard’s actions.
It’s obvious Siggy is not a fan of Harbard, while Princess Auslag is completely enchanted. Do you win Siggy over to your side?
Kevin Durand: You know I think she remains quite skeptical of what Harbard’s intentions are. […] She sees something in me that she doesn’t seem to trust, but if she’s right or wrong you’ll find out in [episode 4]. [Laughter]
What do you think separates Vikings from all the other shows on TV right now?
Kevin Durand: Well you know it being the type of period piece it is and involving all of this mysticism and it almost feels sometimes like it’s completely fantastical kind of like a Game of Thrones would be. But this is all rooted in true beliefs and the Vikings believed such – had such grand beliefs about the world that they were living in. It’s interesting to kind of get behind the looking glass and see how they actually thought and how they lived, and this pagan way of life; and Ragnar especially struggling with this newfound Christianity and struggling with his beliefs of both. I think it’s just a really interesting take, a really interesting angle on that time and these people, you know. Michael Hirst has been such an incredible showrunner and creator of this show. He always has history like right there at his side. He’s not straying away from the historical facts. They stretch a couple of things but it’s more of like kind of timeline like Rollo and Ragnar lived in different times, but these people all truly existed and it’s just a really amazing trip.
You’re known for playing villains. What are the challenges of that and how you feel about acting in a more romantic or comedic role?
Kevin Durand: You know for me, I think when I was younger I would categorize characters maybe as a good guy or a bad guy but now I don’t really judge them that way. It’s not really my job to judge them. All of us human beings have the potential to do great things in life. We have the potential to do horrific things. For me, it’s just really about trying to bring truth and sincerity to whatever it is I’m asked to do. Hopefully it ends up being compelling. [Laughter]
You mentioned working with Michael Hirst, can you talk about your interaction with him and what kind of guidance he’s given you about the character?
Kevin Durand: In our initial conversations we talked a lot about the character’s…the influence that Rasputin has on this character, as well as a couple of other figures that I can’t really mention. As you know you, if you have watched the first three episodes and you’ve read about him, he’s a mysterious character and nobody at this point knows who he is. I can’t divulge who [Laughter] the other people are but Rasputin was definitely a big influence in his creating this character and then me playing him.
What episode should people look forward to as far as your character and why?
Kevin Durand: Well I have to say the fourth episode is probably the most impactful one. Harbard’s actions will pretty much change the course of action for all of the other characters in that episode and he leaves a pretty deep kind of a wound I guess – a deep mark and I would say that that’s probably the one that probably has that – has the most impact.
Can you talk about your cadence and way of delivering your dialogue as this character? Was this something you discussed with Michael Hirst?
Kevin Durand: You know I’m really kind of experimental. That stuff I love – I love accents and voice and I love what these characters are doing on the show. So I think Harbard’s speech is very, very strongly influenced by Floki and Ragnar and at times he kind of veers off and becomes a little more Floki at times. Sometimes he sounds a little bit more like Ragnar. It’s kind of a part of who this fellow is which you’ll kind of find out in due time. [Laughter]
Kathryn Winnick said that she has some really challenging but inspirational lines in Norse. Did you have anything like that?
Kevin Durand: I didn’t have any Norse lines. I mean I spoke of different places that the enunciation of these words took a couple of runs at – before I could get them right but I didn’t have any or no parts of my speeches or anything where I really had to dig in to the Norse itself.
Did you have memorable lines that stuck with you?
Kevin Durand: Well there’s really lot of – the speech that Michael wrote for Harbard when he’s first taken in by Princess Auslag and when I basically kind of tell the them story and kind of enchant them – well, at least I enchant Auslag and Siggy’s still a little bit skeptical of me, but that speech that – when I first read that I was so excited to get a chance at saying those beautiful words that Michael wrote.
What was it like joining this cast? Because we hear there are a lot of jokesters and pranksters on set. Did they get you? Is there any memorable story?
Kevin Durand: You know what? They didn’t get me because most of my work was with the girls. So the guys didn’t get a chance to torture me, but the one thing that I did notice is that I hadn’t really experienced before was this crew and this cast they’re so tightly woven and so tightly knit and have such a great chemistry. It’s really like kind of being accepted into a family and it was really kind of – just such a wonderful experience to kind of be welcomed in and what a pleasure to work with such a great bunch of folks.
Is Harbard a Laplander?
Kevin Durand: Well, there’s an element to Harbard that I think he can be many different – I can’t go too far into that without divulging too much information and getting in trouble – getting my hand smacked – but he’s kind of mystical. He’s – man, I don’t know how to get around this without – just spelling it out for you and getting in trouble but I am not what you just said. [Laughter]
How many episodes are you in as this character?
Kevin Durand: I am in three.
Does Dee Corcoran ever braid your hair like she does the rest of the cast?
Kevin Durand: Oh yeah. Oh my god, it’s amazing. It’s amazing what they did. I don’t have – like that’s not my regular beard either. I can’t grow a beard like that in a hundred years so when they take the beard off at night and I kept those extensions – my huge braids, I felt like I was like – I feel like I was in Avatar or something that I was going to plug it into some magic dragon and fly away. It was kind of incredible – just amazing group of artists over there, you know?
Can you describe your character in one word?
Kevin Durand: At this point, it’s exactly the way that History’s been pushing it. He’s mysterious. I mean even for me – I’m not even 100% sure. You know what I mean? I have a very, very good idea but it will be interesting to see what you think as the episodes move along and I’m really interested in seeing what people think.
You probably have a really awesome workout routine already, but did you have to do anything special to prepare for this role?
Kevin Durand: I kind of live Viking-ready to tell you the truth. Yes. I kind of – it’s been part of my life. You know, out of the 365 days a year I’d say that I’m probably doing my Viking workout probably at least 320 of those days. [Laughter] It has more to do with my obsessive nature and just overall – just kind of always striving for good health.
Will you be sporting an awesome tattoo too during this season?
Kevin Durand: Yes. I haven’t seen the episodes. So I don’t know if you ever actually see them. I actually kind of added to some of my own tattoos and covered some of mine. They gave me some new ones. Yes. They’re quite – they’re gorgeous. They’re really interesting.
As a culture, the Vikings were quite violent. Is that Harbard comes into contact with? Do you get to have any fight scenes?
Kevin Durand: At this point, no, but it doesn’t mean we don’t feel that violence is a part of his nature, as well. Which I guess you’ll see more often in episode four. No, I don’t take out an axe and go into a field and charge against a bunch of the English or the Normans or anything like that. Not yet. [Laughter]
Michael Hirst loves exploring Viking mysticism. Can you talk about how that manifests with the Harbard character?
Kevin Durand: Yes. I mean those dreams were obviously foreshadowing my arrival. He’s kind of a – he’s a mystical character. He’s a healer. Where do these powers come from? Why does he seem to have kind of a hold over some of these characters and as you’ll see in episode four that mysticism I think plays into why he ends up being so impactful on many of the lives of the main characters. So yeah, I really enjoyed that aspect of it and Michael does it so brilliantly. I’m so glad that I could help him tell that side of the story.
The Seer seems a bit rattled by Harbard. Do you have any scenes wit him?
Kevin Durand: No. No. It’s so interesting, I get so excited when people are asking questions like that because a lot of that stuff will be answered in due time but literally – I so don’t want to ruin it for anyone. It’s more of dealing with that mysticism with Harbard definitely and hopefully more in episodes to come. Hopefully.
You had said earlier that Rasputin was an influence on the character. Did you do any additional research on that or any other research on the timeframe the Vikings is set in?
Kevin Durand: Most of what I did was read about Rasputin, along with a couple of other figures that I cannot mention. Yeah, I read about his life. I read about – he’s such an interesting character and such a walking circus of contradiction. [Laughter] It was really fun to get to play with those extremes with Mr. Harbard here.