‘Vikings’ queen shrugs off exit rumors: I’m not going anywhere

Winnick at History Con—OLIVER PULUMBARIT

Canadian actress Katheryn Winnick had no idea that parts of the Philippines would be ideal tourist destinations, until her younger sister Daria told her about them. “She travels a lot, came here last year and she was like, ‘You need to visit the islands! They’re the most beautiful islands in the world,’” the “Vikings” star told the Inquirer on the first day of the recently concluded History Con. She was one of several celebrity guests of the three-day convention, which started last Friday at the World Trade Center.

On Instagram, the actress posted photos of her visit to El Nido, Palawan, among other places, days before the event. “It was beautiful; each one was a different landscape,” she recalled. “And visiting the sand bars, [swimming] in the ocean, having some great scallops, meeting the locals, having some fresh coconut—it’s very embracing as an actress and person.”

Winnick, who plays the legendary warrior-queen Lagertha in the popular History Channel show, added that being in the Philippines was a cozy experience, overall: “I want to come back more often, I really do. I want to know everything about you, guys. You are amazing—the culture and the people. And you’ve got great food.”

The 40-year-old actress is also a martial artist, well-versed in both taekwondo and karate. She previously appeared in the TV shows “Bones” and “Nikita,” and will be seen in Netflix’s upcoming film, “Polar.”

On her current series’ success, she said, “I’m realizing how popular it is just by being on the street and people coming to me [while] I’m in my baseball hat and running shoes and recognizing me still. ‘Vikings’ is huge in Asia.”

Katheryn Winnick as the fierce warrior Lagertha in “Vikings”

Excerpts from the interview:

What major changes in the industry affect you as an actor? In the last 10 to 15 years, there’s been a lot more great television-making … more epic [storytelling] in serialized television that can be done on a movie-scale budget and grand-scale cinematography. “Vikings” is a great example of that. We shoot in Ireland, and it looks like a movie.

As an actor, to be able to work on a character and find different ways of being creatively fired [up] for over six years and still wake up every day, saying, “I’m lucky to go to work!”—that’s fantastic!

So these changes mean more work for actors? A hundred percent! [And that’s made more possible by] digital platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, iTunes, Apple TV, [aside from] cable streams from History or HBO, and networks like CBS and NBC.

Are you currently filming the sixth season? They’re filming right now. I finished shooting already. I just directed [an episode].

So there’s no truth to the rumor that Lagertha is getting killed off? Don’t worry, I’m still on the air for a little while. Lagertha isn’t gonna be going anywhere anytime soon!

What is the significance of playing a powerful woman in this time of rampant bigotry and misogyny? That’s a great question. Right now is more relevant than ever to have a strong female voice, stick to what is right and what you believe in as a woman. Especially now, there’s misogyny around the world, in different cultures. Women have to unite, to be able to support each other and, moving forward, say, “We’re not going to take it anymore!” That’s what’s happening with the #TimesUp movement.

But, it’s also important to add that men have to be part of that conversation. They need to support the women’s movement and feminism—feminism is equality of both sexes—and to be able to say, “Hey, they’re not going to stand for anything less than equality.” [It] goes in terms of equal pay in Hollywood.

I’m starting to see a change. Having more women behind the camera as directors, writers, producers and studio heads … so young girls will be able to say, “That’s Lagertha. I could be her one day and have a strong voice.” That’s important for women or girls watching at home in the Philippines. The time is now to change.

What would Lagertha say to strongmen of the real world? “Move over, Lagertha’s here!”