EFA honours Mads Mikkelsen

In recognition of his unique contribution to the world of film, the European Film Academy has presented Mads Mikkelsen with the honorary award of European Achievement in World Cinema 2011.

Ever since his debut in Nicolas Winding Refn's crime films Pusher and Pusher II Mads Mikkelsen has played characters both fearful and attractive, including a butcher in The Green Butchers and a priest in Adam's Apples, both directed by Anders Thomas Jensen. Mads also played the doctor in Open Hearts and the manager of an Indian orphanage in After the Wedding - both by Susanne Bier. For the latter he was nominated for Best Actor at the 2006 European Film Awards.

He shot to international fame as the villain "Le Chiffre" in Casino Royale, and in 2008 he received another European Film Awards nomination for Best Actor for Flame and Citron by Ole Christian Madsen. He starred in Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky by Jan Kounen, in the Spain/Denmark co-production Torremolinos 73 and in the German production Exit by Anno Saul.

Mads issued the following statement from the set of the France/Germany co-production Michael Kolhaas: "There is very little to say when you are honoured with an award of this calibre other than that I am deeply grateful. Seeing the list of former recipients, all giants, and realising that people outside my family keep an eye on my work, makes me accept this award with great humbleness and a big smile."

Mads Mikkelsen will be an honorary guest at the 24th European Film Awards Ceremony on 3 December 2011 in Berlin, Germany. The European Film Awards 2011, held with support from the MEDIA Programme, will be streamed live on the dedicated website.

Publication date: 04 Nov 2011