Mads Mikkelsen - About

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Mads Mikkelsen — ABOUT

The Man

A star, an axiom, a face of the resurgent Danish cinema.

— A. O. Scott, The New York Times

Mads Dittmann Mikkelsen, born 22 November 1965 in Copenhagen, is a Danish actor. He rose to fame at home as Tonny in the Pusher films, Detective Sergeant Allan Fischer in Rejseholdet, and in Open Hearts, The Green Butchers, Adam's Apples and After the Wedding.

Worldwide recognition followed with Le Chiffre in Casino Royale (2006), opening the door to Doctor Strange, Rogue One, Fantastic Beasts and Indiana Jones, and to his defining turn as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in Hannibal.

Mads Mikkelsen in a tuxedo standing in a dimly lit hotel corridor, photographed by Greg Williams
At a Glance

The Facts

Full nameMads Dittmann Mikkelsen
Born22 Nov 1965Østerbro, Copenhagen, Denmark
Years on screen30Active since 1996
Former careerProfessional dancerFor nearly a decade
FamilyMarried to Hanne JacobsenTogether since 1987 · 2 children
BrotherLars MikkelsenAlso an actor
LanguagesDanish · English · Swedish
Knighthoods2Dannebrog · Arts et Lettres
Black and white portrait of Mads Mikkelsen looking over his shoulder
YouthGymnast
~10 yearsDancer
1996Actor
Early Life

From Nørrebro to the Stage

Mikkelsen was born on 22 November 1965 in the Østerbro district of Copenhagen, the son of Bente (née Christiansen) and Henning Dittmann Mikkelsen, a cab driver. He and his older brother, actor Lars Mikkelsen, grew up in Nørrebro.

As a boy he trained as a gymnast and wanted a career in athletics. Instead he studied dance at Balettakademien (The Ballet Academy) in Gothenburg, where he also became fluent in Swedish.

While dancing he met choreographer Hanne Jacobsen, whom he married in 2000. After nearly ten years as a professional dancer he left to study drama at the Århus Theatre School, and his acting career began in 1996.

Career

Three Decades, Three Eras

Era I

1996
—2005

The Danish Breakthrough

A film debut for Nicolas Winding Refn, then a run of off-beat, often comic roles that made him a household name in Denmark.

  1. 1996PusherFilm debut as the drug dealer Tonny, for Nicolas Winding Refn.
  2. 1999BleederLead role as Lenny, a shy film obsessive, opposite Kim Bodnia.
  3. 2000Flickering LightsAnders Thomas Jensen's Copenhagen gangster film, the start of a long collaboration.
  4. 2000–04Rejseholdet (Unit One)Best ActorHis breakthrough and longest-running role: 32 episodes as a sensitive policeman.
  5. 2001Shake It All AboutThe comedy that widened his popularity in Denmark.
  6. 2002Open HeartsRobert and Bodil nominations, and Best Actor at the Rouen Nordic Film Festival.
  7. 2003The Green Butchers · Torremolinos 73FantasportoAn orphaned butcher's assistant, and a Spanish comedy for Pablo Berger.
  8. 2004Pusher II · King ArthurBodil · Robert · ZuluA sweep of Best Actor awards as Tonny, and his first Hollywood role as Tristan.
  9. 2005Adam's ApplesIvan, the unorthodox country vicar who takes on a neo-Nazi.
Era II

2006
—2010

Going Global

A Bond villain who weeps blood brought him worldwide fame, while he kept making acclaimed European films.

  1. 2006Casino RoyaleLe Chiffre, the main antagonist of the 21st James Bond film. “He's bloodcurdling.” — New York Magazine
  2. 2006After the Wedding · PragueZulu AwardAn Oscar-nominated drama, and Best Actor at Palm Springs in 2007.
  3. 2008Flame & CitronThe WWII resistance fighter “Citronen”. He also voiced Le Chiffre in the Quantum of Solace game.
  4. 2009Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky · Valhalla RisingA hot-blooded Stravinsky, then One-Eye the Norse warrior for Refn.
  5. 2010Clash of the TitansKnightedDraco, leader of the king's guard. Named Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.
Era III

2011
—Now

The Icon

The Cannes Best Actor award, a cannibal psychiatrist, franchise villains and an Oscar-winning drinking comedy.

  1. 2011The Three MusketeersComte de Rochefort.
  2. 2012The Hunt · A Royal AffairCannes Best ActorA teacher wrongly accused, and the royal physician Struensee in an Oscar-nominated period drama.
  3. 2013–15HannibalDr. Hannibal Lecter opposite Hugh Dancy, a critically acclaimed reinvention of the character.
  4. 2013–14Michael Kohlhaas · The SalvationThe title role in a Cannes premiere, and a Danish western.
  5. 2016Doctor Strange · Rogue OneKaecilius in the MCU and Galen Erso in Star Wars. He also sat on the Cannes main-competition jury.
  6. 2018–19Arctic · At Eternity's Gate · PolarA survival thriller, a role in Julian Schnabel's Van Gogh film, and the assassin Duncan Vizla.
  7. 2019Death StrandingCliff Unger in Hideo Kojima's video game.
  8. 2020Another Round · Riders of JusticeBAFTA Nom.Martin in Thomas Vinterberg's Oscar-winning film, and Markus in Riders of Justice.
  9. 2022Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of DumbledoreGellert Grindelwald.
  10. 2023Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny · The Promised LandOpposite Harrison Ford, and Captain Ludwig Kahlen for Nikolaj Arcel.
  11. 2024–26Dust Bunny · The Last Viking · What Happens at NightA reunion with Bryan Fuller, more with Anders Thomas Jensen, and Martin Scorsese's new film. Also upcoming: North, Last Meals and Sirius.
Signature Roles

Faces He Became

Scroll →
Casino Royale poster 01
Le Chiffre
Casino Royale · 2006
 Hannibal series artwork 02
Hannibal Lecter
Hannibal · 2013–2015
 The Hunt poster 03
Lucas
The Hunt · 2012
 Another Round poster 04
Martin
Another Round · 2020
 Doctor Strange poster 05
Kaecilius
Doctor Strange · 2016
 Pusher poster featuring Mads Mikkelsen as Tonny 06
Tonny
Pusher · 1996 / 2004
 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story poster 07
Galen Erso
Rogue One · 2016
 Death Stranding key art 08
Cliff Unger
Death Stranding · 2019
 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore poster 09
Grindelwald
Fantastic Beasts · 2022
 Full
Filmo­graphy
In Their Words
“I believe that he's as close to Satan as can be — the fallen angel. He sees the beauty in death.”
Mads Mikkelsen on Hannibal Lecter
“Mikkelsen clicks his rectangular plaques as if he's a new breed of praying mantis. He's bloodcurdling.”
David Edelstein, New York Magazine · Casino Royale
“Mikkelsen is a master at being in on the joke while still delivering every line with imagination and feeling.”
Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com · Doctor Strange
“He's full of love for both the king and the queen… and I thought that was interesting, and very human.”
Mads Mikkelsen on A Royal Affair
Honours & Recognition

Knighted Twice

2004Bodil, Robert & Zulu AwardsBest Actor for Pusher IIDenmark
2010Knight of the Order of the DannebrogAppointed Ridder on 15 April 2010Royal Honour
2012Best Actor, Cannes Film FestivalFor The Hunt. Also Person of the Year, Danish American SocietyCannes
2016Chevalier, Ordre des Arts et des LettresAppointed by the French governmentFrance
2021BAFTA Nomination, Best Actor in a Leading RoleFor Another RoundBAFTA
2023Bambi Award, Actor InternationalDedicated to his granddaughter MariaGermany

He has also won the European Film Award for Best Actor, the European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award and a Game Award.

Beyond the Screen

Off Camera

Campaigns & Cameos

  • Carlsberg UK 2017 –
  • Zegna ambassador 2023 –
  • Campari 2025
  • Rihanna, “BBHMM” video 2015
  • Swatch 007 Villain launch 2008

Home

Mikkelsen has lived in Copenhagen all his life, apart from his time in Toronto filming Hannibal. He also has a home on Mallorca, which he first visited in the late 1990s.

He and Hanne Jacobsen have been together since 1987 and married in 2000. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Mads Mikkelsen in a navy suit on a red carpet premiere

The Story Continues

Explore the Filmography → View the Gallery

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.