Mads Mikkelsen shares theory on why he was cast as a villain in American films – master class in Marrakech

Mads Mikkelsen has stood out throughout his career for his ability to switch between art house hits in his native Denmark and major Hollywood franchises such as James Bond, Doctor Strange, Star Wars, Fantastic Beasts and Indiana Jones.

During a masterclass at the Marrakesh Film Festival on Saturday, the actor was asked about his tendency to be cast as a flawed hero in Europe and a villain in Hollywood, such as Marvel supervillain Kaecilius or Le Chiffre. Casino Royale.

“It’s very easy. It’s the funny accent. It’s that simple: Before it was German, then British; then the Russians, and for some reason they fell in love with the Danish accent. It’s definitely part of it,” he says.

“When Americans see something they like, they tend to copy it, right. But I’ve been lucky enough to play different villains in different universes. There is a big difference between Marvel and James Bond… but I never think too much about it. In Denmark, we don’t divide it into bad guys and good guys, but instead look at more complex characters.”

Mikkelsen will receive the honorary Etoile d’Or career award at this year’s Marrakech Film Festival, which will also host a gala screening of his new film and Denmark’s Oscar entry. The Promised Land.

During the masterclass, he spoke to a packed theater full of young, lively crowds, mostly aspiring actors and filmmakers.

A young actress asked Mikkelsen for advice on acting in a non-native language film.

“I’ve made a few films in different languages, but I don’t speak any of them, or at least not fluently,” he said. “The trick when I first did something in English was to rehearse it over and over, and then once you shot the scene, it’s over. Don’t think about it anymore. If mistakes are made, if people say, “Oh my God, what an accent,” that’s how it will be. That’s all I could do.

“Forget that, as soon as you enter, concentrate on the scene. You cannot stand on stage or in front of the camera and concentrate on the language. At worst, you can resolve the issue later during ADR sessions.”

The actor said it is important that the director is on the same page and is willing to accept a performance with an accent.

“If they expect perfect speech without an accent, you should tell them to find someone else.”

When asked if there is a director with whom he feels a special affinity in his sixty film and television appearances, Mikkelsen said he would not compare “apples and oranges”.

“I try to make them all equally important. Everything I do is the most important thing, the next thing I do is the most important thing in my work. It will be the best pitch in history. That is the goal. Fortunately, it never worked out, so we get another chance,” he said.

“I will not compare oranges with apples. Each one changed my career or was a stepping stone to something else, each one was a part of it. So if they’re not equally important, I love them all.”