Travis Fimmel grew up on a massive dairy farm in Australia. Even at the height of his fame, he has often said he prefers the quiet life of a farmer over the “fake” lifestyle of Hollywood. He was the first male model in the world to sign a six-figure deal with Calvin Klein.

His billboards in London were famously rumored to have caused traffic accidents because drivers were so distracted by them. His original dream was to be a professional athlete. He moved to Melbourne to play for the St Kilda Football Club in the AFL, but a broken leg right before the season started ended his sports career and led him to modeling.

Fimmel is known for his “unpredictable” acting style. He often does not follow the script exactly, adding his own eccentric pauses and intense stares to make his characters, like Ragnar Lothbrok, feel more authentic and dangerous.