Mads Mikkelsen chats about his recent work in Hollywood
26-Mar-2010 • Actor News
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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.
Was making "Clash of the Titans" fun or was it a laborious, special-effects-heavy production?
The key word was definitely having a lot of fun. It was a fantastic crew and cast and everyone had an amazing time together. We just seemed to bond really fast. The special effects were hard work. It is easier to have dialogue with somebody who is there. I had a gimble (like a mechanical ball) as my scorpion, which I was sitting on and fighting with, but the rest of the guys only had tennis balls to imagine their scorpions.
Was playing Draco physically demanding?
Yes, it was extremely demanding for all of us. The Praetorian Guard is what is left of the army. We are retired soldiers. There was me, a slightly older guy played by Liam Cunningham, and then some very young and inexperienced warriors. I think when you do a film like this everyone takes pride in doing the stunts themselves. Obviously you have some really dangerous stuff that the stunt guys do (we all had our own personal doubles) but they also take pride in teaching us so that we can look good doing it.
How was working with Sam Worthington?
All my scenes are with Sam. He is fantastic. He has a "Pusher" club back in Australia in homage to the "Pusher" films I did, so he knew my work well. I was supposed to meet this "Avatar" star but instead all I met was this boy looking at me as if I was a soccer star. (Laughs) Half an hour later, though, he gave me a dead arm and we were just good friends.
Was the A-list cast part of the appeal of making the film?
It was really the director, Louis Leterrier. He was so enthusiastic and energetic. He was jumping up and down showing me what he had in mind and I was thinking how cool, he is really into this. Another bonus is the fact that I have finally done a film my kids can see.
You have described Draco as a "full blooded guy" and "a classical Greek warrior." What research or preparation did you do for the role?
The script is always the main preparation for me. Sometimes you have a period piece where you have to research around it but, if the writers have done their homework well enough, the information is all in the script. Preparation consisted of physically training me and the guys to look as if we are a unit. I also grew my hair and a beard.
"Clash of the Titans" is being converted into 3-D. Are you excited by the 3-D revolution, or is it just a gimmick?
I think they tried the 3-D revolution at least five times throughout history and it never seemed to work. However, finally, "Avatar" did it. It may make it slightly more interesting but that is not the reason to see the film. You should see the film because hopefully it is a good, entertaining, family story. The 3-D is just the icing on top.
You also play a warrior/Viking in "Valhalla Rising." Are you hoping to reinvent yourself as an action hero with these parts?
It is a little late for me, isn't it? Well, look at Mel Gibson, he is still doing it. (Laughs) It is a coincidence that these parts are coming along when I'm in my 40s. I've always been extremely physical. I was a gymnast for 15 years and then I was a dancer for nine so I was kind of looking for these parts. But we have a tendency in Denmark not to do many action films. My career abroad started a little late and these kinds of roles have just popped up.
"Valhalla Rising" is your fourth film with the Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn. Why have you worked with him so many times?
I think he is a brilliant director. He is very radical with everything he does. If he is making something realistic he always does it extremely realistically, like a documentary style that has an edge. It is the exact opposite of TV drama. It is his edginess that appeals to me....We have an unspoken language that works. His films are always inside his head and what comes on paper is never what we are going to do. So my job is to translate his "inner film." I think we are a good match, which is basically why I did it.
Describe "Valhalla Rising."
This film is like a dance or a meditation. It is an epic, mythological film where I play a nonperson. I am religion, the past, the future, an animal. It is not about psychology but more about the energy or melody of the film. I think it is inspired by the old Russian films and is a big tribute to cinematic masters like Sergio Leone and Kurosawa.
You came to prominence with the renaissance of Danish cinema in the 1990s. Why did Danish films suddenly become so popular?
I believe that there is a certain language for every generation and I think maybe it was time that Denmark had a language of its own. That means that we had a certain feeling for certain films which we weren't doing but wanted to do. So we all had the same kind of focus which was the big secret for the whole change.
In 2006, "After the Wedding" was nominated for best foreign film and you starred as Le Chiffre in the Bond film "Casino Royale." How did these films' success affect your career?
I think there is a tendency that more people recognize me now. Also, if people find the Bond film interesting they will go back and see some of my Danish work before they decide whether to call me. I also have more parts to choose from so the chances of there being something good are obviously bigger.
How do you choose your projects? Do you like to alternate between a Hollywood and a European production?
I've never worked in Hollywood. I choose work with the people I like to work with. First I have to read something and find it interesting and like the story. If I don't understand it fully but there is something in there that is interesting, then it takes a director to convince me. If he can't do that then I don't go with it. It doesn't matter where the project comes from.
You live with your family in Copenhagen. Would you ever move to Hollywood?
I might have considered it if I were 20 but I don't see myself over there at all. I go over there once or twice a year. I do my meetings and shake the hands that I have to shake and hopefully the work I have done will speak for itself. I think I would get very frustrated trying to establish a life there when I have a fine life here in Denmark with a lot of good work.
Does your training as a dancer come in useful as an actor?
Sometimes I ask myself that question. I think I have an awareness of what I do. For example I am aware when to sync; when to get fast, when to get slow, how to move in a room, how to be drunk or not be drunk.
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