Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen and film director Thomas Vinterberg have been appointed Knight of the “Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” by François Zimeray, French Ambassador to Denmark at a ceremony at the French Embassy in Copenhagen this afternoon.

Mads Mikkelsen has starred in the James Bond film Casino Royale, Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinskij, Michael Koolhas and the TV series Hannibal. In 2012, he starred in The Hunt directed by Thomas Vinterberg for which he won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2016, Mads Mikkelsen will appear in Doctor Strange and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He has just been chosen to be in the Jury of 69 th Cannes Festival.

François Zimeray, French Ambassador, states: “An all-round actor, whose face tells it all: the hardships and joys of life; Mads Mikkelsen takes a risk every time he embodies a new character, a fascinating actor like a man on the edge of the abyss”

Mads Mikkelsen declares: “My love for France goes way back. Cannes 2012 was a turning point in my career. My return to Cannes as member of the jury next month will be a new chapter in my love story with France”.

Thomas Vinterberg has won numerous nominations and awards, including the Jury Prize at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival for The Celebration, the first of the Dogme movies. Thomas Vinterberg started with Lars von Trier Dogme 95, an avant-garde filmmaking movement. His graduating short-film Last Round was nominated for an Oscar in 1994 and he is also the director of Submarino and Far from the Madding Crowd. His latest movie is The Commune.

“I am particularly proud to be awarded this distinction by France, a country which relentlessly fights to protect, encourage and respect arts and culture”, states Thomas Vinterberg.

According to François Zimeray, “Thomas Vinterberg has fought back standardized film productions. He exposes the dark sides of human nature with audacity”.

The list of members of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres includes Bob Dylan, David Bowie and Donald Sutherland. View the full list on Wikipedia here.

Stay tuned for news about Mads Mikkelsen 5pm Copenhagen time https://t.co/g0sj4Z81ka via @theofficialmads — Frankrigs ambassadør (@francedk) April 27, 2016

I just appointed Mads Mikkelsen @theofficialmads Knight of the highest French distinction for Artists @MinistereCC @Festival_Cannes — Frankrigs ambassadør (@francedk) April 27, 2016