Long before playing Freydís Eiríksdóttir in Netflix’s sequel series Vikings: Valhalla, Frida Gustavsson’s first audition was for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Michael Hirst’s Vikings chronicled the lives of Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), Rollo (Clive Standen), and subsequent generations spearheaded by Ragnar’s sons, Bjorn Lothbrok/Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) and Ivar the Boneless (Alex Høgh Andersen). Taking place during the late 8th and early 9th century—somewhere at the intersection of fact and myth—the series saw the Swedish Vikings establish themselves throughout Europe.
Jeb Stuart’s Vikings: Valhalla takes place 100 years after the flagship series and is set during the final years of the Viking Age, which is plagued by a conflict of belief between Paganism and Christianity. The spinoff’s first season introduces a host of new characters to its world of historical drama, including Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett), Harald Hardrada (Leo Suter), and Freydis, a shield maiden in the vein of Lagertha. While some Netflix viewers may recognize Gustavsson from her role as Ma in The Witcher, Valhalla’s Freydís is easily her most high-profile role to date.
In a recent discussion with Collider, Gustavsson talked about her successful career as a model and making the transition to acting. The actress revealed that the first audition she booked after opting to leave modeling behind was one for the role of Rey—which, of course, ultimately went to Daisy Ridley— in J.J. Abrams’ Episode VII—The Force Awakens. Read how her modeling agent booked the audition below:
“That was kind of in the death part of my modeling career. [Laughs] I was still living in New York. I had a modeling agent who was amazing at IMG Models, and she knew that I was kind of on the way out I think she wanted to help me facilitate the bridge and, of course, the first audition she comes up with is Star Wars…I think I did a decent enough job, but I was not prepared to do something of that scale and I’m incredibly glad that I didn’t end up getting it now because I would have absolutely tanked it. But it’s double, you know? In a way, I was like, wow, it’s incredible to get to read text of that quality and to work at that level, or to try to work at that level so soon. But also, it’s quite interesting when you approach it totally green and totally fresh, and you don’t really realize how big it is to get to do something like that and who the people on the other side of the self-tape are.”
Of course, throwing your hat in the ring to star in one of the biggest franchises of all time out of the gate sounds extremely daunting. In retrospect, Gustavsson said The Force Awakens audition influenced her process going forward—from doing self-tapes to meeting casting directors and filmmakers. She went on to talk about how working since she was 12 years old and enduring a litany of “no’s” helped her to understand sometimes “you’re not right for everything. I can honestly say so many of the projects that I’ve read for and then I end up seeing someone else go get it and you’re like, ‘Yeah, she’s probably gonna do a better job than me.’” While Ridley may have been the right person to cap off the Skywalker saga, Gustavsson recalls reading for Freydís and realizing immediately that she was meant to close out the Viking age: “No. No one else is gonna do this.”
Gustavsson has talked in the past about how Winnick’s Lagertha inspired her Freydís and, like the former ruler of Norway, she proves herself a force to be reckoned with in season 1. However, a major concern among the fandom following the casting and character announcements for Valhalla was that the series would lack a focal point, which was also a criticism leveled towards the original series following the departure of Ragnar. Amplified by her status as “the last,” Freydís is certainly at the epicenter of Valhalla’s narrative. Still, Gustavsson and company have a long way to go if they expect to rival the popularity of the Lothbroks. Thankfully, Vikings: Valhalla season 2 has already been renewed and preparation for season 3 had already reportedly begun before the first even aired, so not landing the role of Rey in The Force Awakens ultimately worked out in her favor.
