Mads Mikkelsen Revels in Latest Scars
Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen has faced his biggest challenge since opposing James Bond as the villain, Le Chiffre, in "Casino Royale." Mr. Mikkelsen, 44 years old, appears with armies of monsters and Hollywood A-listers as Draco, leader of the Praetorian Guard, in the remake of the 1981 film, "Clash of the Titans," in an experience he describes as "extremely demanding."
The action adventure, which will be released in the U.K. and U.S. on April 2 and then opens throughout the rest of Europe, stars Liam Neeson as Zeus, Ralph Fiennes as Hades and "Avatar" star Sam Worthington as Perseus, whom Mr. Mikkelsen's character accompanies on an epic mission. They performed many of their own stunts. "When we came home in the evening we all used to compare scars and bruises," Mr. Mikkelsen says.
Mr. Mikkelsen is also starring as a one-eyed mute warrior in the Viking epic "Valhalla Rising," which opened earlier this month in some European cities and will open in the U.K. on April 30.
His film acting career began in his early 30s when a chance introduction to Danish film director Nicolas Winding Refn led to Mr. Mikkelsen's casting as the junkie, Tonny, in Mr. Refn's cult film "Pusher" (1996),the first in an acclaimed trilogy. The film successfully launched both of their careers. Since then, Mr. Mikkelsen has proved his versatility in a number of intense roles ranging from an adulterous doctor in Susanne Bier's 2002 Dogme film "Open Hearts," to a morally conflicted charity worker in Ms. Bier's Oscar-nominated 2006 film "After the Wedding." It was his role in "Casino Royale" that brought him to Hollywood's attention.
Casually dressed in jeans and a beanie hat, Mr. Mikkelsen met with The Wall Street Journal over lunch in Copenhagen's Caf[eacute] Dan Tur[eacute]ll to discuss the challenges of his latest role, the renaissance of Danish cinema and how playing a Bond villain boosted his career...
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http://commanderbond...quicknews/57667 - The Wall Street Journal
