The Australian actor takes a leading role in the mega-production Dune: Prophecy. If the series becomes a hit, he plans to finally retire to his farm.
- Travis Fimmel, famous for Vikings, stars in Dune: Prophecy.
- Despite his success as an actor and model, he longs to return to his Australian farm.
- Fimmel intends to leave acting after the potential success of the series.
“If this series hits big, that’s it for me,” the 45-year-old said in a Zoom interview with 20 Minuten. “A million percent!” Then he’ll quit acting and head back to his farm in Australia. The odds are looking good, as Fimmel plays a central role in Dune: Prophecy, the prequel to the Timothée Chalamet-led films that smashed box office records.
During the interview, Fimmel wore a sweater featuring the logo of his beer brand. On Instagram, he showcases his life at home: playing with snakes, riding an ATV through the bush, and tinkering with vehicles. It’s a stark contrast to what he says about his work life. “I’ve never enjoyed acting, not even once,” he recently admitted to Esquire. Ironically, he’s very good at it.
Travis Fimmel’s Underwear Campaign Caused Car Accidents
Fimmel originally aimed to become a professional footballer, leaving his family’s cattle farm to move to Melbourne as a teenager. However, a broken leg ended his dream before the season even began. Staying in Melbourne, he began studying architecture and working out at the beach, where a modeling scout’s friend discovered him. With his last savings, he flew to Los Angeles and reportedly walked barefoot into Calvin Klein’s offices, according to The Age Melbourne Magazine.
Instead of being turned away, he was offered a groundbreaking deal, becoming the first male model to sign a million-dollar exclusive contract with Calvin Klein. One campaign featured him posing in white briefs, but in London, the billboards had to be quickly removed after reports of car accidents caused by distracted drivers.
“I Confuse People with My Smile”
Despite his modeling success, Fimmel lacked passion for it and began taking acting lessons. In 2003, he returned to screens in underwear, starring as Tarzan in a TV series. His breakout came in 2013 with his role as Ragnar Lothbrok in Vikings.
Many fans remember his mischievous grin as the Viking warrior. “I like it because my smile confuses people. It gets in their heads. I could get away with anything, even murder,” Fimmel joked. He’s now showcasing that same grin in Dune: Prophecy, where he plays a soldier who is swallowed by a giant worm, transforms into a space Jesus, and develops the power to make people spontaneously combust. “It sounded crazy when I read the script,” he said. “As an Australian, I’ve encountered all sorts of creatures—just not giant worms. Only the fishing kind.”
The Outdoorsman Dreams of Home
In the series, Fimmel’s character struggles against a sisterhood with extraordinary powers, including detecting lies, exploiting fears, and driving people to suicide. Compared to them, Fimmel’s character is a “good guy” who offers his abilities to the Emperor. “Being able to torture someone just a little, without touching them, and get away with it—that’s a gift I wouldn’t mind having in real life,” he quipped.
He appreciates the show’s complexity, where every character has a hidden agenda. For Fimmel, acting has always been a means to an end. “I wouldn’t do it for free,” he said, adding that he just needs a bit more money to focus on charity work in rural Australia, brewing beer with friends using local ingredients, and goofing around on his farm. After all, he’s just a big nature lover at heart.
Dune: Prophecy, only on Sky Show as of November 18.
