Eliza Butterworth

The actress who brought Lady Aelswith to life in The Last Kingdom.

Eliza Butterworth is an English actress best known for her role as Lady Aelswith in the medieval drama The Last Kingdom, which ran from 2015 to 2022. Born on 24 July 1993 in Lincoln, England, she portrayed the wife of King Alfred the Great (played by David Dawson), starting as a recurring character before joining the main cast for four subsequent series. Beyond this defining role, Butterworth has appeared in the BBC Two miniseries The North Water and the Sky Max series A Town Called Malice.

Quick Facts

Birth name: Eliza Jane Butterworth
Born: 24 July 1993
Birthplace: Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England
Education: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation: Actress
Years active: 2014–present

Lore & Background

Butterworth began her journey on screen in 2015 with guest spots as Holly in DCI Banks and Lucy Hamilton in WPC 56. That same year, she entered the world of The Last Kingdom. Her character, Lady Aelswith, was introduced as a recurring role during the first series but quickly proved essential to the narrative fabric. Recognizing her performance's impact, the production promoted her to the main cast for the next four series. This arc spanned the entire run of the show from 2015 through 2022, establishing Aelswith as a central figure alongside King Alfred.

Reader's Guide

Fans can trace Butterworth's career from her early days at Lincoln Minster School, where she attended from age 4 to 18 and served as Head Girl, through her 2014 graduation from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). While training at RADA, she performed lead roles in The Daughter in Law and The Witch of Edmonton. Her filmography includes voice work in 2023's science fiction romantic comedy The Pod Generation as Masha, starring opposite Emilia Clarke. For those interested in her personal background, note that she holds dual citizenship, with an English father from Lancashire and an Italian American mother from Iowa.

Did You Know?

Her parents met in Nebraska where her father was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base with the Royal Air Force.
She is a trained dancer skilled in both ballroom and flamenco styles.
Butterworth studied at the University of Birmingham and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.