Alexander Ludwig has been absolutely crushing the game with his most recent role in the hit television show "Vikings". The actor plays the role of Bjorn Lothbrok who is a Norse Viking Chief and Scandinavian King, which is quite the character description if you ask us.
Prior to landing his lead role, the actor has also snagged a number of big projects, including his stint in "The Hunger Games", "The Seeker", and "Race To Witch Mountain", where he starred alongside mega movie star, Dwayne Johnson. It is clear that he has quite the resume, however, it might come as a surprise that his famous parents had the right resources to get him to where he is.
Despite some parental pushes, Alex and certainly made a name for himself and continues to work extremely hard in the projects he dives into. In addition to his acting career, Ludwig also enjoys singing and modelling, making him quite a triple threat. With all that being said, here are 20 surprising facts about Vikings star, Alexander Ludwig.
20 He Is Canadian
While it is sometimes fun looking up where celebrities are from, most of the time, they are assumed to be American. Well, in Alexander Ludwig's case, he is, in fact, Canadian! The star was born in Vancouver, Canada where he was raised up until officially moving to Los Angeles to further pursue his career in acting.
19 He Comes From A Big Family
While we don't know much about Alexander Ludwig's family, he has made it clear that he grew up in a large household. Not only does he have three other siblings, but sister Natalie and brother Nicholas, are twins! The big family of six spent their time together travelling a lot and enjoying lots of sports.
18 He Always Wanted To Be An Actor
While many of us might not know what our calling in life is until we are much older, it appears Alex Ludwig knew exactly what he was meant to do from the get-go. The star has mentioned on various occasions that he always knew he wanted to be an actor and that he was drawn to it as he "has a big imagination" and "loves performing".
17 His Mother Was Also An Actress
While making it in Hollywood is not easy, it looks like Alex Ludwig had a bit of help from his parents. His mother, Sharlene Martin, was also an actress! She starred in a number of films and television shows, including "Possession", "Breaking Point", and "Pure Luck". It seems as if the phrase "like mother like son", comes into full effect here.
16 His Parents Didn't Want Him Acting Till He Was Older
Considering both his parents worked closely in the industry, it is no surprise that they'd want to protect him from the chaos that is of Hollywood. Ludwig revealed that his parents did not want him to pursue acting until he was older and able to handle the pressure, however, he insisted and eventually got hit way.
15 He Studied Theater
Despite many actors debuting when they are kids, and completely skipping a traditional education, Alexander Ludwig was not one of them. The star not only went to school, but he also graduated with a degree in theatre from the University of Southern California, as he worked on projects here and there.
14 He Was In A Fraternity
In addition to receiving his degree from the University of Southern California, Alexander Ludwig also spent a lot of his time in a fraternity! The actor now lived in Los Angeles permanently and joined the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity during his time at the university. It's safe to say that this bit isn't super surprising!
13 His Dad Is The Co-Chairman Of Lionsgate
While Alex had a mother who had worked as an actress, he was also lucky to have a father be in a very powerful position. Alex's dad, Harold Ludwig, is the co-chairman of Lionsgate Entertainment. Considering his dad held a high profile job at one of the biggest entertainment company's in the world, it's safe to say he had the proper guidance and resources to break out into Hollywood.
12 His Lucky Number Is 7
Many of us have lucky numbers, whether they do anything for us or not is still unknown, however, Alex is amongst the many who believe in such luck. The actor has revealed his lucky number is 7, as he was born on May 7, at 7 minutes to 7, and weighed in at 7 pounds and 7 ounces! What are the odds?
11 He Was Rejected From 'The Hunger Games'
One of the actor's biggest roles has been playing the role of Cato in the 'Hunger Games'. While we loved him in the films, it appears he was originally rejected! Ludwig had auditioned to play Peeta Mellark, however, he was rejected and later pushed to the role of Cato. Peeta ended up going to Josh Hutcherson, who he has become very close to.
10 His First Acting Gig Was In A 'Harry Potter' Commercial
As mentioned, Alex Ludwig knew he wanted to be in the spotlight from a very young age. The actor only appeared in major films well into his teenage years, however, his first-ever television gig was starring in a 'Harry Potter' toy commercial at the young age of nine years old!
9 He Received The Coolest Gift On His 16th Birthday
One of Alex Ludwig's biggest roles was playing Seth in 'Race To Witch Mountain" alongside Dwayne Johnson. During the filming of the movie, Alex turned sixteen years old, which warranted a guitar from none other than his co-star. Not many of us can say we've received a guitar from the one and only, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson!
8 He Is Also A Singer
In addition to being a great actor, Alexnder Ludwig has also found himself dabbling in other areas of the industry, including music! The actor took his career in a different direction when he decided to also pursue singing. He released his first song 'Liv It Up' back in 2012 and has since continued creating music.
7 He Is Besties With AnnaSophia Robb
During Ludwig's time on 'Race To Witch Moutain', which came out in 2009, he co-starred alongside Dwayne Johnson and AnnaSophia Robb. Since then, he has remained very close with Robb and reportedly dated her shortly after the film. Despite said rumours, the two are still very much in contact, and he refers to her as his "bestie".
6 His Name Has A Meaningful Origin
While Alexander Ludwig has played in some pretty hardcore films, nothing takes the cake like his character in "The Vikings" does. Considering he plays a warrior in the show, it is only fitting that his actual name "Ludwig", meaning "famous warrior", in German. While we're certain it's just a coincidence, it's a pretty darn good one.
5 He Had To Audition 16 Times For 'The Seeker'
In addition to his work in the 'Hunger Games', 'Race To Witch Mountain', and his most recent project, 'The Vikings', Ludwig has also acted in the show 'The Seeker'. The star shared his memories of the auditioning process, claiming it was extremely strenuous and time-consuming, saying he had to audition a whopping 16 times before landing the part.
4 He Has Won Multiple Awards
With a career spanning over a decade, Alexander Ludwig has managed to find himself in some pretty extraordinary roles, many of which have landed him a number of awards. The actor won the MTV Movie Award for 'Best Fight' alongside Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence. Additionally, he was also voted as the 'Best Villain', for his role in 'The Hunger Games', too!
3 He Has Also Dabbled In Modeling
When you look as good as Alexander Ludwig, it only makes sense to dabble in modelling too! It appears acting and singing wasn't enough for the star, so becoming a triple threat was truly the next project. The actor has signed on to a number of agencies, starring in various campaigns and ads that showcase his rugged and prominent features.
2 He Takes Fitness Super Seriously
Staying fit is essential when working in Hollywood, and it is something that Alex Ludwig takes very seriously. Not only does he post a number of "thirst traps" on his social media accounts, but he has also shared some of his gym routines, which includes a lot of ab and arm workouts.
1 He Credits 'Vikings' For His Confidence
Acting and being in the spotlight is not an easy task, and can truly take a toll on one's self-esteem and image. Luckily for Alex, he regards a lot of his confidence to his role in "The Vikings". The actor claims the confidence he must exude playing the role of Bjorn has really changed him as a person, for the better!