Eliza Butterworth, an English actress, is best known for her role in “The Last Kingdom,” playing Lady Aelswith, the Mercian Queen. The 28-year-old star, alongside Alexander Dreymon, appears in an adaptation of the books, The Saxon Stories, by Bernard Cornwell. “The Last Kingdom” was renewed for a fifth and final season earlier this year. Butterworth also played Hester in “The North Water,” which was a BBC five-part television series that premiered on AMC+ in July 2021.

How did you get your start in acting?
It is bizarre to imagine but I was actually an extremely shy child and wasn’t properly bit by the acting bug until my late teens. I was performing in a school play; it was a comedy and the thrill and joy of making the audience laugh was so exciting. That is where my love of acting began. At the age of 18, I went on to train at RADA for three years and learned about the craft of theatre as well as screen and radio. One of my first roles after graduating was playing Lady Aelswith in “The Last Kingdom,” and I have been so lucky to be a part of this incredible family ever since.

What did you do to prepare for the role of Lady Aelswith?
Lady Aelswith is such a fascinating character. She is extremely intelligent, powerful, fierce, cunning, and severe. I am naturally a very goofy and warm person, so it was super exciting and challenging for me to step into a role that is so far from myself and to be able to transform emotionally as well as physically. Lady Aelswith is a mother and grandmother, who is a lot older than I am so it was interesting to find all of these emotional layers to her which I personally have not experienced. I love being able to tap into situations I have yet to go through and use my imagination to gain an insight into her world. To play Lady Aelswith, I found a new voice, physicality and demeanor to help me portray her age, wisdom, and authority.

Do you connect with your characters in a personal way?
Absolutely! I think in a way it’s impossible not to! Even though Lady Aelswith is such a stark contrast to me, and I don’t always agree with her methods; I have to find empathy for her actions and make sure to connect with the reasoning behind her behavior. Throughout the seasons, I have grown so fond of her and have been able to show so many more facets to her ever-evolving character. I love her wit, steeliness, and strength as well as her newfound compassion and sensitivity.

Were there any challenges in portraying such an important role in the first seasons?
In the first couple of seasons, it was challenging but also fun to find Lady Aelswith’s dark and villainous streak matched with her vulnerability as a mother. The scriptwriters on “The Last Kingdom” are so brilliant; the language and speech written for Lady Aelswith was so helpful to finetune her sternness yet also reveal her insecurities. I absolutely adore glamour and fashion so it was definitely challenging donning Lady Aelswith’s dowdy appearance.

Coat and dress by No. 21 @ Fenwick
Tights by Tabio
Shoes by Gina

How do you feel about the series ending?
It has been the honor of my life being in “The Last Kingdom” family. The cast and crew of this show are so unbelievably special! We have had the most phenomenal time and the audience can truly see the connection we all have with each other. I am so proud of how “The Last Kingdom” has evolved, and we couldn’t be happier with the work we have all created. It is obviously gutting to say goodbye, but this chapter of our story has been told so beautifully and I have no doubt that our audience is going to absolutely adore season 5.

Having the sensational Alexander Dreymon as not only our protagonist but also one of our fantastic directors in the final season has been utterly incredible. We are also so excited to announce the making of our spin off Netflix original film “Seven Kings Must Die,” which will delve into the creation of England under the rule of Aethelstan as well as taking us further into the journey of Lord Uhtred.

If you could work with one actor or actress, who would it be?
I have always been completely mesmerized by the work of Imelda Staunton, a character actor who can transform into anyone she puts her imagination to. A star of the screen and an icon of the stage. Imelda Staunton is one of the most captivating, dynamic, and moving actors. It would be an honor to be anywhere even near her one day.

How did the pandemic affect “The Last Kingdom?”
We were extremely lucky that we even had the opportunity to shoot throughout the pandemic. The film and theatre industry were hit massively during this time, and the production team did everything possible to ensure our safety, and we made the show without any problems. We filmed the show for eight months straight in Budapest, which is the home of the Last Kingdom. It was certainly tough to be away from our families and loved ones for such a long time, but we created our own family out there and became super close. We had a blast on set and got to film throughout all weather seasons.

What can we expect from Aelswith in the fifth and final season?
The fifth season has so many mind-blowing twists and turns. I have particularly loved this season as we find Lady Aelswith to be a much more heroic figure and she gets involved in situations you could never imagine. Lady Aelswith finds her heart as well as her courage in this season, and the audience is going to be so shocked at her newfound bravery.

If you weren’t an actress, what would you be doing?
I have always loved animals. If I hadn’t have gone into acting, I would have loved to explore the veterinarian world. That or party planning, I adore hosting events and parties, and I know my friends would vouch for me as a damn good party planner.

What are your socials?
My Instagram is @elizabutterworth
My twitter is @elizabutter909
(I’m definitely more of an Instagram girl so catch me on there!)

CREW CREDITS:
Photographer: David Reiss
Talent: Eliza Butterworth
Stylist: Rachel Davis at One Represents
Make-up: Andriani Vasiliou at Stella Creative Artists
Hair: Emma Small at Stella Creative Artists
Tearsheets: Daniel López, Junior Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview: Jessica Bally, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine

Eliza Butterworth

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