A childless king, two men caught up in a battle for the throne, the women who stand by their sides, family members on a path to betrayal: Medieval Europe comes to dramatic life on screen in epic drama King & Conqueror.
A dramatisation of events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066 (depicted in part in the famous Bayeaux Tapestry), the series shines a light on a time that would change the course of English history, with James Norton (currently tearing up the screen in House of Guinness) and Emmy nominee Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones' Jaime Lannister) leading an impressively talented cast of English, French and Danish actors.
If you're wondering who the 'King' and the 'Conqueror' are in this epic historical drama, where else you've seen the actors playing them, and who appears as queens, other kings, brothers, sisters, an ambitious bishop and more, here's everything you need to know.
James Norton as Harold, Earl of Wessex
Norton, who not only stars but was also an executive producer, has said of the show, "We didn't want one hero or one villain". Instead, King & Conqueror introduces us to two men who initially have no interest in a throne, and become friends before ambition and circumstances get in the way. Norton, whose past roles include a villain in Happy Valley, a vicar in Grantchester, and a father making an agonising discovery in Playing Nice (streaming at SBS On Demand), plays English noble Harold Godwinson.
James Norton as Harold Godwinson. Credit: Lilja Jons
Interestingly, it seems 2025 is a year for extra interest in Harold: Australian author Paula Lofting wrote a book about Godwinson, released earlier this year.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William of Normandy
'William the Bastard' is the illegitimate heir to the Duchy of Normandy. He grew up running for his life, existing in a world of total chaos, as others tried to usurp his birthright. Raised with no consistent moral compass to adhere to, he was forced to simply create his own: the entire world is corrupt, and you do whatever you can to survive. He never shows weakness, and he never backs down. He plays his emotions close to his chest so they cannot be used against him. He is cool, controlled and difficult to read. The only person he trusts is his brilliant wife, Matilda. She is his confidante, and his rock, until her doubt starts to unseat him.
Coster-Waldau, the Danish actor whose career has taken in films and shows in Europe and the US, including Game of Thrones, Headhunters and Nightwatch, notes that William's fight for power isn't just about being king, but about protecting his young son. "It's such a compelling story about these two men who at first you think that could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and then it becomes something quite different...I think he doesn't want his child to go through what he went through – a childhood where people tried to kill him. When he has his son, the fear of the unknown is overwhelming to him. Once the idea of pursuing the English crown comes into play, it becomes all-consuming."
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William. Credit: Lilja Jons
Emily Beecham as Edith Swan-neck
Edith is Harold’s common law wife; they were hand fasted per Danish wedding traditions but were not married in a church. A beautiful woman, she efficiently wields the power that her beauty gives her with some men. She is ferociously intelligent and serves as Harold’s most trusted advisor. As Edith becomes a mother, her desire for Harold to protect their family and not focus on the throne becomes as consuming as his desire to seize it.
Beecham's CV is studded with impressive roles. Best Actress winner at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival for her performance in the feature film Little Joe, she is also known for her breakout performance in 2017's Daphne, and has more recently been seen in The Pursuit of Love, William Tell and Guy Ritchie's The Convenant.
Emily Beecham as Edith Swan-neck. Credit: Lilja Jons
Clémence Poésy as Matilda
Along with her work in multiple successful French TV series, French actress Clémence Poésy has also starred in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, In Bruges, three Harry Potter films, and her acclaimed role as a French police detective in French-English crime drama The Tunnel.
Here, she is formidable Frenchwoman Matilda. Daughter of the Count of Flanders, Matilda was raised in the cold and brutal world of the royal court. Her youth was, in its own way, just as emotionally isolating as William’s, and she grew up to be savvy and cunning. Her marriage to William is strong. They are a formidable team in which she is the expert politician and he is the unbeatable warrior.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Clémence Poésy. Credit: Lilja Jons
Geoff Bell as Godwin, Earl of Wessex
Godwin, Harold’s father, is a man who believes utterly in the protection of his people. Godwin has lived through four kings and decades of bloodshed and is focused now on one goal: to see a king with Godwin blood sit on the throne of England. British actor Geoff Bell has appeared in a variety of films and series, from Mobland to His Dark Materials.
Eddie Marsan as King Edward
Edward (often referred to by historians as Edward the Confessor) is cousin to William of Normandy and the only surviving son of the ambitious Lady Emma. He was not born to be king; his brother was murdered by Godwin and so Edward inherited the crown. But now that he has the crown, and heavily influenced by his puppeteering mother, he is determined to settle every score he ever tallied. And first on his list is Godwin. King Edward is played by British actor Eddie Marsan, who has built a strong career with character roles in films and TV series including recent 1960s-set drama Ridley Road.
Eddie Marsan as King Edward. Credit: Lilja Jons
Juliet Stevenson as Lady Emma
Lady Emma is a survivor. She is devious and vindictive and believes the English throne is the property of her family by right. Born in Normandy as the sister to William’s father, she was widowed by two different English kings. As the series opens, her son Edward (from her first marriage) has just been crowned. Lady Emma is played by leading British stage and film actress Juliet Stevenson, whose long CV spans many roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre, along with roles in films including Truly, Madly, Deeply and Bend it LIke Beckham and TV series such as Professor T.
Juliet Stevenson as Lady Emma. Credit: Lilja Jons
Clare Holman as Gytha
Gytha Thorkelsdóttir, a Danish noblewoman who became Godwin's wife and later mother to Harold and his many brothers and sisters, is played by Clare Holman, whose varied career includes the role of Laura Hobson on the long-running series Inspector Lewis and who has more recently been seen in The Diplomat.
Clare Holman as Gytha. Credit: LiljaJons/Lilja Jons, @_liljajons
Elliot Cowan as Sweyn of Wessex
Sweyn is Harold’s elder brother and heir to the Godwin dynasty. He shares the explosive intensity of his brother, but not his duty to their people. For Sweyn, everything he sees in the world is his for the taking without consequence. He is a dangerous psychopath with his hands inches from power.
Bo Bragason as Gunhild
Harold’s young sister Gunhild (the actual historical figure was named Edith; it seems likely the writing team took creative licence to avoid confusion with Harold's wife) is married to King Edward in order to solidify ties between their families. When we meet her in series, she is a deer in the headlights - scared scared and out of her depth. In time, and with tutelage from Edith, she grows into a woman every bit as cunning as her brother. Young English actress Bo Bragason has been seen in the TV series Renegade Nell and has been cast as Princess Zelda in upcoming film The Legend of Zelda.
Bo Bragason as Queen Gunhild. Credit: Lilja Jons
Luther Ford as Tostig of Wessex
Tostig is a natural follower who idolises his older brother Harold. He serves as the conscience of the Godwin family as a whole. He can be a voice of reason, but his bad luck was to be born in a family of alphas, so his voice is not always heard. He compresses his emotions, and he is an emotional volcano waiting to erupt. Some will recognise Ford from his role as a young Prince Harry in The Crown; he has also appeared in TV series Black Doves.
Luther Ford as Tostig. Credit: Lilja Jons
Indy Lewis as Margaret
Margaret becomes a key figure in Harold's battle for the throne. Indy Lewis plays this young woman based on the historical figure of Edith of Mercia (clearly, Edith was a popular name in the 11th century; That's at least three Ediths caught up on the eddies around Harold and William, so it's perhaps not surprising that in dramatising the events of the time, the series gave different names to two of them, to lower the risk of confusion). You may have seen Indy Lewis' face before in House of David, Industry and La Fortuna, alongside Stanley Tucci.
Indy Lewis as Margaret. Credit: Lilja Jons
Léo Legrand as Odo, Bishop of Bayeux
Odo is William’s maternal half-brother. Like William, Odo is a survivor. Unlike William, Odo is a coward and an opportunist who is only out for himself. Though William protects him for the sake of their mother, he is well aware that Odo must be kept on a short leash. Odo is named the Bishop of Bayeux, solidifying a vital connection between Normandy and Rome. French actor Léo Legrand has appeared in Film and TV, including recent TV series Anthracite.
Jean-Marc Barr as Henry, King of France
The King is one of the most powerful men in Europe. He was a mentor and surrogate father figure to William in his childhood and has always been his greatest ally. Marriage to Henry’s niece Matilda strengthened his ties to William. But circumstances is about to make him William’s greatest enemy. French-American actor Jean-Marc Barr rose to fame in Luc Besson's hugely popular French film The Big Blue, and has since appeared in a wide range of films and TV series, including playing writer Jack Kerouac in Big Sur.
Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson as Harold Hardada, King of Norway
Thief, mercenary and warrior turned king, Hardrada is the most famous and feared leader in all of Europe with his own legitimate claim to the English throne. He is starting to feel the grip of his age, and he seeks one final, grand adventure to cement his place into the mythology of his people. With Viking colonies still plentiful in the northern isles of Scotland, and a history of conquest throughout the lands beyond, Hardrada’s eyes have begun to wander south across the North Sea. Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson is an award-winning Icelandic actor and screenwriter.
King & Conqueror premieres in Australia from Sunday 12 October on SBS and SBS On Demand, beginning with a two-episode premiere at SBS on Demand. Find the full details of how to watch, and more about the epic drama here:
