Mikkelsen’s best known role is probably the part of Le Chiffre in Casino Royale but he has also starred in Hollywood’s King Arthur, Valhalla Rising and the upcoming Three Musketeers.

Penelope Cruz

Penelope Cruz began her on screen career starring in advertisements as a toddler. By her teenage years she featured on Spanish TV before making the move into film.

Her role as Hermana Rosa in All About My Mother earned her critical acclaim and international recognition.

Cruz has now established herself as one of Hollywood’s leading ladies having starred alongside the likes of Jonny Depp in Blow, Matt Damon in All The Pretty Horses, Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky and current spouse Javier Bardem in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Salma Hayek

Mexican-born Hayek started her acting career in Mexican TV playing Teresa in the hugley popular soap opera with the same name. Hayek moved to LA in the early 90’s and went on to star in such films as Quentin Tarantino’s From Duck Till Dawn, teen horror The Faculty, Dogma and most recently Adam Sandler’s Grown Ups.

Christoph Waltz

Quentin Tarantino originally wrote the role of Col. Hans Landa for Leonardo DiCaprio, but he instead picked an actor in his 50s, who was a familiar face on German television but unknown to the rest of the world.

Many were shocked, but Waltz’s performance as the terrifying but strangely funny Nazi was universally acknowledged at the best thing about Inglorious Basterds, and it was no surprise when he walked away with an Oscar for his troubles.

He’s now been cast in the big screen versions of both The Green Hornet and The Three Musketeers, unsurprisingly playing the bad guy in both.

Jean Reno

Although having settled in France at 17, Moroccan born Jean Reno heads a strong line-up of successful French based actors in Hollywood that includes such talents as Vincent Cassell and Gerard Depardieu.

Reno continues to make films in France and the US and although his resume includes such movies as The Da Vinci Code, Hotel Rwanda and Mission Impossible, Reno’s best known role is still in the titular role in 1995’s Leon.

Recently Reno played retired Marseille Mafioso Charly Mattei in French action flick 22 Bullets.


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