In a recent interview, Dianne Doan said that she was already familiar with the show even before she auditioned for the part of Yidu.
She said that she had watched a couple of episodes of “Vikings” but admitted that she did not follow it from season to season. She said she is just excited that the show is introducing a character from the East and that the showrunners are incorporating the Asian culture to the show.
The actress also explained about her character’s relationship with Ragnar. She said that Yidu’s appearance intrigues King Ragnar, adding that the production has succeeded in differentiating Yidu from the people of Kattegat.
She added that the relationship she developed with Ragnar stemmed from the King of Denmark’s curiosity for her past, where she comes from, who rules it, and what her thoughts are about religion and death.
When she was given a personal overview of the Vikings’ way of life, Yidu’s initial reaction was shock because the lifestyle of the Kattegat natives is so different from where she comes from.
Doan said that Yidu is now a slave in a foreign land where she does not know the customs or language. Her main priority is survival too so if it means assimilating to the culture and religion of the Vikings, she actually embodies the same characteristics as Athelstan.