How The Last Kingdom Gave Harry McEntire His Career-Defining Role

In this exclusive episode of The Stream Panther, actor Harry McEntire dives deep into his 10-year journey playing the unforgettable Æthelwold in Netflix and BBC’s The Last Kingdom.

From his surprising casting story to dissecting iconic moments like the “I love tits” scene, Harry reflects on the creative chaos, emotional complexity, and brotherhood that defined one of the most layered characters in the series.

He shares what it was like working alongside Matt LeBlanc in Episodes, why he walked away from musical theatre, and how acting has become a tool of survival—not just performance.

We also explore:

• Behind-the-scenes of The Last Kingdom’s most challenging scenes

• What Æthelwold as King could’ve looked like

• The camaraderie on set and his views on creative freedom

• A brutally honest take on mental health, ego, and staying grounded in the industry

💬 “People either loved or hated Æthelwold… but he always told the truth. Even when it was ugly.”

Whether you're a TLK fan, aspiring actor, or just love bold, honest storytelling—this is a must-listen.

📺 Now streaming on Spotify, YouTube & Apple Podcasts.

TIME STAMPS

00:00 Coming Up

02:40 Introduction   

04:41 10 Years of 'The Last Kingdom'

05:27 Harry's 2025 Schedule

07:11 Current Motivations as an Artist 

12:36 Why You Became an Actor ?

16:40 Quiting Musical Theatre

20:27 Breakthrough Callback 

27:02 Matt Leblanc & Episodes

36:37 Æthelwold Casting Call

39:05 The Æthelwold Mindset

43:52 Most Challenging Scene to Shoot 

45:04 'I LOVE TITS' Scene Decoding 

46:37  'I LOVE TITS' Crowd Response 

48:41 The Last kingdom 'Camaraderie' 

50:43 Æthelwold's EYE Burning Scene Discussion 

54:36 Death Plot : Little Finger VS Æthelwold

58:36 Creative Freedom on Set of 'THE LAST KINGDOM' 

62:06  WHAT IF Æthelwold became  the KING ? 

67:45 Not a 'Rapid Fire'

75:43 Learnings & Harry's Final Advice

78:35 Actors & Mental Health