The essential rule of epic storytelling lies in making the heroes of the movies just as good as the villains. And certainly, the James Bond franchise understood the assignment quite well. While presenting Britain’s most iconic hero through malevolent mayhem, the film franchise simultaneously focused on its villains.
While Daniel Craig turned out to be one of the most popular Bond actors of modern day cinema, his nemesis Mads Mikkelsen playing Le Chiffre in Casino Royale, turned out to be the most terrifying Bond villain. Getting into the making of Le Chiffre, Mikkelsen discussed how he simply went for it and ended up making the character the most iconic movie villain.
Mads Mikkelsen Turned Le Chiffre Into An Iconic Bond Villain
Navigating from international cinema to Hollywood, Mads Mikkelsen found mainstream success in the entertainment industry with his 2006 performance as the most iconic villain of the James Bond franchise. Appearing in Casino Royale, alongside Daniel Craig, Mikkelsen went on to reinvent the most terrifying Bond villains during Craig’s era of the 007 franchise.
Often known for reinventing major movie villains, the Danish actor turned out to be the perfect typecast as a Bond villain in the Hollywood blockbuster. There’s absolutely no denying that Mikkelsen’s depiction of Le Chiffre in Casino Royale changed people’s modern expectations for a 007 villain.
Representing the collective qualities of a man with a calm exterior and a desperation to save his skin, Mikkelsen led the infamous torture scene with Daniel Craig. Proving how Daniel Craig’s new James Bond era will be a lot darker than previously known, Mads Mikkelsen delivered an uncompromising depiction of Le Chiffre. But how exactly did he pull it?
Mads Mikkelsen’s Making Of Le Chiffre For Casino Royale
Discussing his infamous Bond villain role as Le Chiffre, Mads Mikkelsen broke down the process, professionalism, and dedication that went into the making of the malevolent character. According to an interview with IMDb, the Danish actor recalled how he turned Le Chiffre into the most iconic Bond villain.
“I didn’t watch any Bond films. I did lie a lot throughout the audition. I told them I watched them all.”
Further, recalling how Daniel Craig was a difficult casting as a James Bond lead, Mads Mikkelsen mentioned realizing soon enough that nothing can be perfect. Thus, he simply admitted going for it and doing his job, which eventually turned out to be phenomenal according to the audience.
“I didn’t focus too much on it and then I had Daniel Craig…he was the new Bond and the crowned jewel of England. And everybody had an opinion that he was too blonde, his nose was too crooked, whatever, before he even made a scene. So, I think we just dived in there together and we felt like the naughty guys who had a shot at this and we went for it.”
So eventually, without watching any James Bond movies before, and having Daniel Craig by his side, Mads Mikkelsen mentioned how they both “just went for it”. Without giving it much thought and consideration, Mikkelsen and Craig became the iconic hero-villain pair.
Watch Casino Royale on Amazon Video.
Source: IMDb
