He’s the handsome Australian model who once starred in a series of sultry Calvin Klein underwear ads.
But Travis Fimmel seems a far cry from his days as an early 2000s pin-up in his new Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe.
The Vikings actor plays drug dealer Lyle Orlik in the hit show and is seen in an array of daggy ’80s-style outfits, while sporting a rugged salt-and-pepper beard, mullet and an earring.
The new look is very different from its sleek model ads.
The Victoria-born star made a name for himself in 2002 as the first male model to land a six-figure deal to pose exclusively for Calvin Klein for a year.
He’s the handsome Australian model who once starred in a series of sultry Calvin Klein underwear ads, but Travis Fimmel looks worlds away from his days as an early 2000s pin-up in his new Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe. (Travis pictured in Calvin Klein’s 2002 ad)
Travis appeared on dozens of billboards throughout LA, causing traffic jams in the area due to the raunchy nature of his images.
The character of Jerry ‘Smith’ Jarrod from Sex and the City is said to have been inspired by Travis, who also appeared in spreads and on the covers of magazines such as W.
Since then, Travis has turned his attention to acting.
He first made waves in the acting world in 2003 after landing the lead role in the Warner Bros. series Tarzan.
However, it wasn’t until 2013 that Travis really broke through and scored the iconic role of Ragnar Lothbrok in the popular TV series Vikings, which aired between 2013 and 2017.
The actor (right, with co-star Phoebe Tonkin) plays drug dealer Lyle Orlik in the hit show, and is seen in an array of daggy ’80s-style outfits while sporting a shaggy salt-and-pepper beard and mullet and an earring
He next appeared as Anduin Lothar in Warcraft (2016) and starred in the science fiction series Raised by Wolves (2020).
In 2023, he appeared in two Stan Original series: Black Snow and Caught.
Although Travis is based in LA, he spends a lot of time in Australia and recently even in his own Australian lager brand Travla with MasterChef judge Andy Allen.
His latest project Boy Swallows Universe has received rave reviews from audiences.
Adapted from Trent Dalton’s iconic novel, Boy Swallows Universe is an extraordinary story that explores the trials and tribulations of two brothers – Eli and August – growing up in suburban Brisbane in the 1980s.
The series was released in full on January 11, and many Netflix subscribers have already binge-watched their way through over seven hours, praising the show as “beautiful and brilliant.”
True to its Australian roots, the series stars an A-list of Australian actors, including Phoebe Tonkin as Frances Bell, Eli’s mother.
Adapted from Trent Dalton’s iconic novel, Boy Swallows Universe is an extraordinary story that explores the trials and tribulations of two brothers – Eli and August – growing up in suburban Brisbane in the 1980s. (Travis and Phoebe pictured with co-stars Lee Halley and Felix Cameron)
The troubled story first touched the hearts of many Australians when the book was released in 2018 – with certain elements of the story revealed to have been loosely inspired by some of the author’s own childhood experiences.
Speaking to the Townsville Bulletin in July 2018, Trent recalled growing up with two unconventional male role models.
One was his criminal stepfather, and the second was a family friend, Arthur ‘Slim’ Halliday, a convicted murderer and prison escapee known as ‘The Houdini of Boggo Road’.
Trent described his stepfather as the “first man I ever really loved” and as a boy looked up to the man he called “Dad” – despite his dark, shady actions as a criminal.
However, when his stepfather was taken away by the police, the novelist began to channel his desire to find out more about his father figure’s secret life into writing a book based on “answers that never came.”
The series was released in full on January 11 and many Netflix subscribers have already binged their way through over seven hours, praising the show as ‘beautiful and brilliant’