It’s been years since Vikings bid farewell to Lagertha, but for Katheryn Winnick, the grief still lingers. In a heartfelt new interview with Collider’s Therese Lacson at the Italian Global Series Festival, Winnick revealed that she still hasn’t watched her character’s tragic death scene — and isn’t sure when she’ll be ready. The moment in question was one of Vikings’ most gut-wrenching episodes, as Lagertha — warrior, queen, legend — met her end at the hands of Hvitserk in a twist driven by prophecy. And for Winnick, filming that scene was just as emotionally brutal as watching it might be.
“I still haven’t seen her death. I still can’t bring myself to see that,” Winnick confessed. “I think I’ll get there eventually, maybe when I’m at home and years from now or something, and really feel separate from her. Right now, she still lives in a part of my heart that I am not sure if I’m ready to watch her death.”
Winnick added that, due to the inclement weather conditions, the timing of the shoot — it was one of the final days of the schedule — and how long she’d put into the series, she found the day and the aftermath just as hard.
“I remember that day, it was chronologically one of the last scenes we had to shoot. So, it was hard. It was in the rain. It was physically exhausting, emotionally exhausting, and it was very evident on the screen of how gutwrenching it was. The crew members were all there supporting me. It was just, you’re saying goodbye to a character that you’ve been with for seven years. I became her so it was hard. I remember being on a plane after and just breaking down in tears, and the stewardess is like, ‘Are you okay?’ And I’m like, ‘She died!’ She’s like, ‘I’m so sorry! Is your mom okay or something?’ I’m like, ‘No, no, it was my character!’”
Katheryn Winnick Still Misses Lagertha
Despite the emotional weight, Winnick is hopeful for the future — even if letting go of Lagertha is still a work in progress for her. The grieving process is real, even if the character isn’t.
“I still haven’t fully mourned her passing, but I’m excited what’s yet to come. I think it’s hard when you’ve been so attached to such a character, and people fall in love with your characters, how do you reinvent yourself and start again and find something else you’re passionate about?”
Vikings is streaming now on Netflix. Stay tuned at Collider for more.
