Where Did Mads Mikkelsen Go To College?
Mads Mikkelsen is a popular Danish actor known for his roles in films like Casino Royale, Hannibal, and Doctor Strange. He has had a successful career in both Danish and Hollywood films.
But before he became an actor, Mikkelsen pursued higher education. So where exactly did Mads Mikkelsen go to college?
Mads Mikkelsen’s Early Life and Education
Mads Mikkelsen was born on November 22, 1965 in Østerbro, Copenhagen, Denmark. As a child, he took up gymnastics and started acting in primary school. After finishing primary and secondary school in Copenhagen, Mikkelsen enrolled at the Aarhus Theatre School in 1982 when he was 17 years old.
Aarhus Theatre School
The Aarhus Theatre School, also known as Aarhus Theatre’s Acting School, is a 3-year higher education institution for actors in Aarhus, Denmark. The school provides education and training in acting, voice, body awareness, creative processes, and drama theory.
When Mikkelsen joined in 1982, the Aarhus Theatre School was still a very new institution, having been established only in 1961. It quickly gained a reputation for producing some of the best stage actors in Denmark. The training focused strongly on physical theater, improvisation exercises, and exploring sources of creativity.
Mikkelsen graduated from the Aarhus Theatre School in 1985 at the age of 20. The intensive 3-year program shaped him into the acclaimed actor he is today.
Mads Mikkelsen’s Acting Career
After completing his education at the Aarhus Theatre School, Mikkelsen embarked on his professional acting career.
Early Career in Denmark
In 1987, Mikkelsen made his film debut in the Danish youth drama Bødkerens Datter directed by Nils Malmros. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Mikkelsen acted in many Danish films and television series, working steadily yet staying under the radar internationally.
Some significant early projects include:
- The 1989 Danish comedy film Tro, håb og kærlighed
- The 1996 thriller film Pusher directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
- The 1999 drama The One and Only
Breakthrough in Denmark
In 2000, Mikkelsen had his breakthrough in Denmark with his starring role as a young doctor mistakenly accused of sexual harassment in the drama film Flickering Lights. His compelling performance won much praise and several Best Actor awards at Danish film festivals.
More critically acclaimed Danish films followed like Shake It All About (2001), I Am Dina (2002), and Open Hearts (2002). Mikkelsen won his first Danish Film Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the 2003 suspense film The Green Butchers.
Transition to Hollywood
In 2004, Mikkelsen transitioned to Hollywood with a supporting role as the villain Le Chiffre in the James Bond film Casino Royale alongside Daniel Craig. This exposed him to worldwide audiences. He continued playing villains in blockbuster films like Clash of the Titans (2010), Doctor Strange (2016), and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016).
Some of his notable Hollywood projects include:
- Casino Royale (2006) as Le Chiffre
- Clash of the Titans (2010) as Draco
- The Three Musketeers (2011) as Rochefort
- Hannibal (2013–2015) as Hannibal Lecter
- Doctor Strange (2016) as Kaecilius
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) as Galen Erso
Mikkelsen balanced his mainstream success with roles in independent and foreign productions like Michael Kohlhaas (2013), Men & Chicken (2015), Polar (2019), and Another Round (2020) for which he won the Best Actor award at Cannes.
Today, Mads Mikkelsen remains one of the most popular and respected Danish actors working in Hollywood. His education at the Aarhus Theatre School prepared him for his illustrious acting career spanning over 35 years and counting.
Other Notable Aarhus Theatre School Alumni
Mads Mikkelsen is undoubtedly the most famous alumnus of the Aarhus Theatre School, but many other successful Danish actors also graduated from this prestigious school.
Here are some other notable alumni:
- Nikolaj Coster-Waldau: Graduate of the 1992 class. Starred in Game of Thrones and films like Oblivion.
- Birgitte Hjort Sørensen: Graduate of the 2008 class. Acted in Game of Thrones, Pitch Perfect 2, and Katwalk Empire.
- Pilou Asbæk: Graduate of the 2005 class. Known for roles in Game of Thrones, Ghost in the Shell, Overlord, and Borgen.
- Danica Curcic: Graduate of the 2002 class. Acted in The Bridge, Equinox, The Chestnut Man.
- Lars Mikkelsen: Graduate of the 1988 class. Mads Mikkelsen’s older brother. Notable for roles in House of Cards, The Killing, Headhunter.
- Mette Agnete Horn: Graduate of the 1995 class. Starred in the TV series Riget.
- Lars Ranthe: Graduate of the 1995 class. Acted in The Killing, Borgen, 1864.
- Sonny Lindberg: Graduate of the 1981 class. Prolific theatre actor and director. Long-time instructor at the school.
The Aarhus Theatre School has an impressive list of alumni working successfully in Scandinavian film, television, and theatre. The school has played an integral role shaping major acting talents like Mads Mikkelsen.
The Legacy of Aarhus Theatre School
Founded in 1961, the Aarhus Theatre School is a relatively young institution, but it has left an indelible mark on the Danish and Nordic performing arts scene. Here’s a look at the legacy of this prestigious school:
- Training ground for significant actors: As seen through its famous alumni, the Aarhus Theatre School has been a training ground for many actors who became major stars in Denmark and Hollywood like Mads Mikkelsen.
- Reputation for excellence: The school is highly selective, choosing just 10-12 students a year through rigorous auditions. It has built a reputation for honing actors thoroughly in physicality, improvisation, creativity, and collaboration.
- Pioneer of avant-garde theater: Its emphasis on experimentation, corporeal training, and non-traditional methods made it a pioneer of avant-garde theater in Denmark.
- Feeder for the Danish film industry: Danish cinema rose to international prominence in the late 90s and 2000s through the Dogme 95 movement and directors like Lars Von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, and Susanne Bier. Aarhus Theatre School graduates like Mikkelsen and Coster-Waldau were ready collaborators in this emerging scene.
- Training ground for stage actors: While it has produced many screen stars, the school remains dedicated to training actors primarily for the stage. Most alumni still actively work in Danish theatre.
- ** Bringing recognition to Danish actors:** The success of its alumni like Mikkelsen has brought greater international recognition to Danish actors and Denmark’s acting schools.
Even over 60 years after its founding, the Aarhus Theatre School continues to excel at training the next generation of Danish acting talent.
Mads Mikkelsen’s Acting Style and Techniques
Mads Mikkelsen is acclaimed for his understated yet powerful acting that often reveals darkness and depth beneath a calm surface. Some key aspects of his acting style likely cultivated at the Aarhus Theatre School include:
- Physical precision: Mikkelsen has an incredible awareness and control over his physicality. He can convey a lot through subtle gestures and facial expressions.
- Stillness: He knows how to command attention through silence and stillness. Mikkelsen deliberately underplays scenes, letting the camera intensify the effect.
- Emotional restraint: Rather than overplaying emotions, he conveys feelings like grief, rage, or sadness through nuanced body language and strategically chosen words.
- Intensity: There is always great intensity simmering under his composed exteriors. With just a look, Mikkelsen can turn from calm to frightening quickly.
- Transformation: Mikkelsen is utterly convincing when transforming into characters like Lecter or Le Chiffre, adopting unique physicalities and voices.
- Authenticity: He chooses roles that let him tap into universal human truths. Mikkelsen always makes the character feel authentic, even if fictional.
Mikkelsen clearly mastered the physical theater training offered at the Aarhus Theatre School. His skills align perfectly with the Danish acting tradition that values naturalism and finding truth in each moment.
Conclusion
In summary, acclaimed Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen received his professional training at the Aarhus Theatre School from 1982 to 1985. The prestigious 3-year program provided a thorough foundation in physical acting techniques, improvisation, and creativity that shaped Mikkelsen into the masterful actor he is today.
The education Mikkelsen received at the Aarhus Theatre School allowed him to have a successful career spanning brilliant performances in Danish cinema and Hollywood films alike. He remains one of the school’s most famous alumni along with other stars like Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Pilou Asbæk.
Mikkelsen is acclaimed for his nuanced acting style that often conveys great intensity beneath a calm exterior – skills he likely honed during his formative years at the Aarhus Theatre School. His education and training at this pioneering school was the springboard for his illustrious acting career.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mads Mikkelsen’s College Background
Here are answers to 5 of the most common questions about Mads Mikkelsen’s educational background:
Where did Mads Mikkelsen train as an actor?
Mads Mikkelsen trained as an actor at the Aarhus Theatre School from 1982 to 1985. This 3-year higher education program groomed him in physical theater, improvisation, creative processes, and acting techniques.
What level of education did he complete at Aarhus Theatre School?
The Aarhus Theatre School offers a 3-year diploma program in acting. Mikkelsen completed the entire diploma program and graduated in 1985 at age 20.
Did Mikkelsen attend university for acting?
No, Mikkelsen did not get a university degree. The Aarhus Theatre School’s 3-year diploma program was his only formal acting education. He entered the school after finishing secondary school.
Did Mads Mikkelsen study anything before acting?
Before embarking on acting training, Mikkelsen studied gymnastics as a youth. He started acting in primary school productions. However, he did not pursue any other fields of study beyond secondary school.
Where do most acclaimed Danish actors train?
Most major Danish actors train at the three national theatre schools, namely the Aarhus Theatre School, Odense Theatre School, and the National Theatre School in Copenhagen. Like Mikkelsen, many Danish stars got their initial training at the Aarhus Theatre School.
