Casino royale — Interviews — Newspaper & Magazines

Casino Royale villain Mads Mikkelsen reveals friendship with Old Firm stars during Scots film shoot

THE last time Scottish film fans saw Mads Mikkelsen, he was a suave, black-suited villain who wept bloody tears and took on Daniel Craig's James Bond in games of cards and torture.

By Brian McIver 21 Aug 2008 00:00

THE last time Scottish film fans saw Mads Mikkelsen, he was a suave, black-suited villain who wept bloody tears and took on Daniel Craig's James Bond in games of cards and torture.

But the most successful Danish actor of his generation looks quite different today.

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The 42-year-old, who was in the Edinburgh-set indie film Wilbur Wants To Kill Himself and Hollywood blockbuster King Arthur, counts former Rangers star Brian Laudrup, ex-Celtic defender Marc Rieper and ex-Manchester United keeper Peter Schmeichel among his friends. He regularly plays with them in charity matches.

Mads has loved spending the summer on the hectic film shoot across the Highlands.

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"When we did Bond, I wasn't in the exotic locations. Everyone went to the Bahamas except me.

"This is a little less warm and there are a couple more insects, but to me this is very exotic.

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After appearing in the Clive Owen hit, King Arthur, in 2004, as well as a Pusher sequel the same year, he was picked to play the terroristfinancier villain Le Chiffre in Casino Royale, and his profile has exploded ever since.

Although Mads admits he wasn't really that interested in Bond films before the movie, you can tell he has become a convert when his mobile phone rings and the James Bond theme blares from his pocket.

HE loved being an 007 villain and is very proud of the movie which was widely seen as a return to form for the British secret agent franchise.

"To be honest, I hadn't seen any Bond films before I did that one," said Mads.

"I've seen them all now because I have a box set. But I did not have a great relationship to Bond at all, and I didn't go back and see the other movies before making Casino Royale.

"The reception the film got was well deserved. It was about time to move Bond into the new millennium.

"There is nothing wrong with the other ones. They were perfect for their time, but this script was fairly radical for a lot of people, and we had to catch up.

"I'm very proud to have been a part of it.

"Daniel Craig was excellent. He is a fantastic actor and a great guy to work with.

"We were a very tight unit making Bond, and I didn't think about the size of it that much when I did it.

"But the aftermath was bigger than making it, with all the premieres and interviews. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the new one.

"I was offered quite a few villain roles after Bond, and a surprising number of dramas in Europe and the US, so it opened up the market a bit more for me. I sometimes get recognised from that if I sit still long enough, but I now have long hair and a beard."

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Bond villain: Daniel can't play poker

By by KIERAN MEEKE - 8th March, 2009

Springing to fame facing 007 as the villain Le Chiffre in Casino Royale, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, 43, plays the hero in a local film, Flame & Citron, out today on DVD. Filmed in Germany and Prague, it is the story of two Danish Resistance fighters in World War II

Swatch named a range of a watches after Bond villains. Can you send me one?

I only got one of mine. They took me to Switzerland and it was really cool to get one and meet Richard Kiel [Jaws]. It’s the second best thing if you don’t get the action doll.

Did the film give you the gambling bug?

I already had it. I’d been playing poker for many years. All the crew played so the per diems were flying back and forth – mostly forth. I got a Royal Straight Flush one day and everyone else had good hands, so that was a big pot.

Did you ever beat Daniel Craig?

He never played. I’m not sure he knew a spade from a diamond. Ha-ha. He had to be up every day at 5am so he didn’t have the chance to play. I’ll catch him later.

Are people surprised you’re not a villain in real life?

Yes. I was surprised when I met Richard Kiel that he was a nice guy. It might be quite useful for discounts? That depends. Sometimes it might cost you extra.

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...and an effete bad guy ("There are some slight undertones that he might be interested in men," says Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, who plays the villainous Le Chiffre. "Some will see it, some won't.").

Daniel Craig dreading torture scene

10th March 2006

New 007 Daniel Craig is dreading shooting a nasty torture scene - which involves his manhood being whacked with a carpet-beater.The heartthrob actor confessed he is trying to forget about the painful scene in 'Casino Royale', which will see Bond's enemy, Le Chiffre, "tenderise" the dashing spy's private parts with a cane carpet-beater.He told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "I'm trying not to think about it."It's going to be the last day of shooting. The scene should feel tough. There's a definite wow factor. The men will be wincing… thought I'm sure some women will be applauding."Director Martin Campbell added: "The ball-busting scene is going to be scarier than anything Bond has faced before, including sharks."He will be naked and some of the shots are very horrific."
Meanwhile, Craig has rubbished recent claims he'll be a "wimpy" Bond.

He said: "I know there are a lot of fans out there who James Bond is incredibly important to. I want to make it clear he is incredibly important to me as well.

"I am putting everything I can into this movie. We are putting in something else as well - an X factor we haven't seen before."

I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER; Casino Royale's arch-criminal is gambling boss Le Chiffre - 'The Number' - who Bond has to bankrupt to defeat. Mads Mikkelsen tells Jon Wilde the joys of playing a Dr Evil for the 21st century.

By: JON WILDE, October 29, 2006

Ever wondered what it's like to knock seven bells out of James Bond?

Then Mads Mikkelsen is the man to ask.

As Casino Royale's chief villain, Le Chiffre, his brawls with Daniel Craig provide some of the most violent scenes of any Bond film.

'There are worse things to wake up to than the thought of beating the c**p out of Daniel Craig,' Mikkelsen laughs.

'Then you arrive on set, see Daniel's face and realise that he's fully pumped up for a fight. Not only is he a very hard puncher, he's also completely focused.

What made our scenes particularly severe was that a lot of the fighting was completely improvised. …