“I Was a Mess”: Alexander Ludwig On Meeting His Newborn Son A Week Late

Alexander Ludwig’s life lately feels like something straight out of a movie script — literally. The Vikings star, 32, recently became a father for the second time, welcoming his son Townes in July with his wife, Lauren. The couple also shares a 20-month-old daughter, Leni. But unlike most new dads, Alexander experienced an emotional twist: he missed his son’s birth.

While speaking with PEOPLE for their PEOPLE in 10 segment, Alexander opened up about the bittersweet timing of Townes’ arrival. At the time, he was deep into filming his new series, Earth Abides. “In some weird, crazy universe, my life off screen was paralleling my life on screen,” he explained.

Without spoiling too much, Alexander shared that during one pivotal scene for his on-screen character’s son, his real-life son was being born. “…when something incredibly significant happened to my son in the show, that same day, my son was being born,” he shared.

Unfortunately, no amount of planning — or rocket ships, as he put it — could have gotten him to the hospital in time.

“Lauren and I had planned for this. Truthfully, if I had a rocket ship I wouldn’t have been able to make it to the hospital in time. And we knew that this was a possibility,” Alexander said, praising his wife. 

Still, nothing could have prepared him for the well of emotion he felt that day.

Despite the heartache of missing Townes’ arrival, Alexander channeled his emotions into his work. “There was this well of emotion that I had no problem dipping into, because it was so real and at the forefront of my mind,” he shared.

It was a week after his birth that Alexander finally got to meet his son, and the moment was overwhelming. “When I finally got to meet him a week later, I was just a mess,” he stated, adding, “My wife was just such a rockstar. I mean, I don’t know how she does it.”

Fatherhood has profoundly changed Alexander’s approach to life and his craft. He credits his children for adding a depth to his acting that he didn’t know he had. “Honestly, I’d be willing to bet that I wouldn’t have had the offer from this job had I not been a father,” he admitted, referencing his role in Earth Abides.

The experience has also reshaped the actor’s priorities. “I think that I’ve realized what actually matters,” he stated, adding, “I just want to be the most present father I can be, and I have to start by being a good example.”