Linus Roache (“Batman Begins”) is polishing his armor and preparing for battle. The 50-year-old actor has joined the cast of the hit historical drama “Vikings,” now in its second season, as Ecbert, King of Wessex, a real historical figure whose nemesis, Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), is already established as a conqueror on the series.
Roache, who may be best known as Michael Cutter on “Law & Order” and for his role as Dr. Thomas Wayne in “Batman Begins,” boasts an impressive theatrical background, including his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company. A Golden Globe nominee for his portrayal of Robert Kennedy in “RFK,” Roache also co-starred in HBO’s “The Gathering Storm,” and PBS’s “The Making of a Lady.”
We spoke to Roache, who is married to Rosalind Bennett, about his latest role as an eighth century Viking king, why 1920’s Paris appeals to him, and how meditation has influenced his life and work.
“Vikings” is set in the eighth century. If you could go back in time, what time period would you like to visit, and why?
I think Paris in the 1920’s would have been a lot of fun, Gertrude Stein, all those fascinating people hanging around. Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” gives a good sense of what was going on during that whole era. A fascinating time.
The Vikings are expanding in scope, venturing to take over new territory, and with that comes new enemies. That’s where Ecbert comes in. He’s kind of a visionary ruler who is slightly ahead of his time, and thinks differently than those around him. He works not just as a warrior, but also as a politician, so when Ragnaer’s men realize he’s a very formidable foe, it becomes a clash of two great leaders.
How did you prepare to play the role of Ecbert, a “man full of strength, knowledge and undisguised ambition?”
When I was asked to join the show, I watched the first season, and I was completely blown away. I did a lot of reading, and learned as much as I could about the true historical character. But in the end, I gave myself to the genius of [creator] Michael Hirst, who is not only a brilliant dramatist, but a great historian. It’s rare, I’ve never seen someone take you into historical moments, and make them that visceral, that alive, that human. I just kind of abandoned all the research at that point, and followed that kind of intuition with Hirst. If I had history shows like this when I was a kid, I would have studied history.
King Ecbert sounds intriguing. Is he a good or bad guy?
He’s power hungry, but I can’t say he’s good or bad, but definitely a formidable foe. He’s a politician trying make the best of the situation, protecting his own country. I wouldn’t say he’s a bad man, but he’s a true leader and warrior.
Women played a prominent role in the first season of the show. What will Season 2 hold?
The show features so many strong women, and they become equal warriors on the battlefield. There is the greatest sexual liberation and freedom between man and woman. When you look at some of the Vikings, they look kind of like a hippie culture, where everyone is hanging free and doing their own thing. It breaks a rigid Christian way of thinking. Of course, Lagertha, Ragner’s wife, is becoming a leader in her own right. And we have an interesting female character this season, Princess Aslaug, who plays a prominent and powerful role.
Your parents are both actors, your father holding the title of the longest living actor in a continuous role, on “Coronation Street.” How do you think this influenced your career path?
Having parents in the business has influenced me, but I deeply fell in love with theater at a very early age. My parents were two very different types of actors, and I met a lot of people in the world of stage, film and television, but I quickly decided on my path. You could play so many different roles, and so many different styles and genres. So versatility was one the things that attracted me to acting.
If you weren’t an actor, you’d be…?
Unfortunately I am not much good at anything else. But I am moving into producing, developing a couple of ideas for television, and a movie, in the early stages. I guess that’s part of my own growing up, to be responsible for a project like this. I am very excited about that.
You gave up acting for a while and studied meditation. How does this spiritual practice influence your acting?
I gave up acting for a bit. All I knew about myself was that this is all I did and I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to stop for a while. I traveled throughout India, and it gave me a period of reflection. And when I came back to acting, I came back with renewed strength, and maybe a little bit more perspective. I don’t meditate regularly anymore, but it’s a beautiful and powerful practice. With the intensity of our lives, it’s important to just sit still and know that you can just be.