Mads Mikkelsen Opening Vodka During Interview

2016Image macro / reaction imagesemi-active

Also known as: Vodka Interview Mads · End of 2016 Mood

Mads Mikkelsen Opening Vodka During Interview is a 2016 image-macro reaction meme of the Danish actor pouring vodka mid-interview, captioned "End of 2016 mood," used to express the need for a stiff drink.

Mads Mikkelsen Opening Vodka During Interview is an image macro from a December 2016 press junket for *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story*, in which the Danish actor appears to crack open a bottle of vodka and pour himself a drink mid-interview. The screenshot was captured and captioned "End of 2016 mood," turning it into a recurring reaction image people dust off whenever life calls for a stiff drink.

mads mikkelsen memescelebrity reaction memesinterview memes2016 memesaccidental fame memes

Overview

The meme centers on a still frame (and sometimes GIF) from a German-language press interview promoting *Rogue One*. In the clip, Mikkelsen casually reaches for a glass bottle on the table, unscrews the cap, pours the clear liquid into a tumbler, and takes a sip. Whether the bottle actually contained vodka or just water was never confirmed, but the internet chose to believe the funnier option3. The image struck a chord because it paired Mikkelsen's effortlessly cool demeanor with a relatable desire to drink through life's chaos.

On December 20, 2016, the German media outlet Deutschlandfunk Nova uploaded a press junket interview with Mikkelsen for *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story* to YouTube. During the sit-down, Mikkelsen picks up a glass bottle, pours its contents into a glass, and drinks. The video picked up over 2,000 views across the next several years3.

One week later, on December 27, 2016, Twitter user @MrFilmkritik posted a screenshot from the interview with the caption: "End of 2016 mood: Mads Mikkelsen opening a full bottle of vodka in the middle of a Rogue One interview." The tweet collected more than 13,000 likes and 9,300 retweets3.

Origin & Background

Platform
YouTube (Deutschlandfunk Nova interview), Twitter (viral spread)
Key People
@MrFilmkritik, Deutschlandfunk Nova
Date
2016

On December 20, 2016, the German media outlet Deutschlandfunk Nova uploaded a press junket interview with Mikkelsen for *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story* to YouTube. During the sit-down, Mikkelsen picks up a glass bottle, pours its contents into a glass, and drinks. The video picked up over 2,000 views across the next several years.

One week later, on December 27, 2016, Twitter user @MrFilmkritik posted a screenshot from the interview with the caption: "End of 2016 mood: Mads Mikkelsen opening a full bottle of vodka in the middle of a Rogue One interview." The tweet collected more than 13,000 likes and 9,300 retweets.

How It Spread

The same day @MrFilmkritik posted the tweet, Tumblr user zombeesknees reblogged it, and the post exploded to over 100,000 notes. The image tapped into the collective exhaustion of late 2016, and people quickly adopted it as shorthand for "I need a drink."

From there, fans began circulating screenshots and GIFs from other Mikkelsen interviews where he appeared to be drinking clear liquid, fueling the running joke that the actor simply brings vodka to every press obligation. On August 9, 2017, Tumblr user kaninhus posted a GIF from one such interview, adding to the growing collection.

The meme kept circulating at a steady pace. On April 19, 2019, Twitter user @SitiMun6557 tweeted the picture with the caption "good night to nobody except vodka interview mads," keeping the image alive in fan communities.

The biggest second wave came on March 2, 2021, when Twitter user @dunwaIl posted an excerpt from a Dazed Digital interview with Mikkelsen. When asked about the viral image, the actor's response was simple: he was "simply not online" and apparently had no idea the screenshot had become a meme. That tweet pulled in over 50,000 likes and 8,000 retweets in under 24 hours, introducing a new generation to the image.

How to Use This Meme

The format is straightforward. People typically post the screenshot or GIF of Mikkelsen pouring his alleged vodka alongside a caption describing a situation so absurd, exhausting, or bleak that day-drinking during a professional obligation feels like the only rational response. Common setups include:

- "[Current year] mood:" followed by the image - Responding to bad news or chaotic events with the screenshot - Pairing it with "End of [year/month/week] mood" as a seasonal tradition

The meme works best when the gap between the formal setting (a Star Wars press tour) and the implied behavior (cracking open vodka) mirrors whatever disconnect the poster is experiencing.

Cultural Impact

Mikkelsen's obliviousness to his own meme status became part of the joke's appeal. In an interview with Dazed Digital tied to his *Doctor Strange* press tour, Mikkelsen discussed his general avoidance of social media and online reviews, saying he prefers to trust his own judgment rather than read what people think. This attitude made the vodka screenshot even funnier. Here was a man who had been turned into a universal "I'm done" reaction image and genuinely had no clue. His 2021 confirmation that he was "simply not online" only cemented the legend.

The image also benefited from Mikkelsen's broader reputation as one of cinema's coolest screen presences. Known for playing villains like Le Chiffre in *Casino Royale* and Hannibal Lecter in NBC's *Hannibal*, Mikkelsen carries an unflappable air that makes the idea of him casually pouring vodka during a Star Wars interview feel entirely plausible.

Fun Facts

The liquid in the bottle was never confirmed to be vodka. It could have been water, but the internet collectively decided that was boring.

Mikkelsen told Dazed Digital he has stopped reading reviews entirely because even the good ones don't make him happy.

The meme resurfaced at the end of every rough year from 2016 through 2021, becoming an unofficial annual tradition.

Mikkelsen has joked about his weak left eye being the reason filmmakers always take out the left one when his characters need an eye removed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mads Mikkelsen Opening Vodka During Interview

2016Image macro / reaction imagesemi-active

Also known as: Vodka Interview Mads · End of 2016 Mood

Mads Mikkelsen Opening Vodka During Interview is a 2016 image-macro reaction meme of the Danish actor pouring vodka mid-interview, captioned "End of 2016 mood," used to express the need for a stiff drink.

Mads Mikkelsen Opening Vodka During Interview is an image macro from a December 2016 press junket for *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story*, in which the Danish actor appears to crack open a bottle of vodka and pour himself a drink mid-interview. The screenshot was captured and captioned "End of 2016 mood," turning it into a recurring reaction image people dust off whenever life calls for a stiff drink.

mads mikkelsen memes celebrity reaction memes interview memes 2016 memes accidental fame memes

Overview

The meme centers on a still frame (and sometimes GIF) from a German-language press interview promoting *Rogue One*. In the clip, Mikkelsen casually reaches for a glass bottle on the table, unscrews the cap, pours the clear liquid into a tumbler, and takes a sip. Whether the bottle actually contained vodka or just water was never confirmed, but the internet chose to believe the funnier option. The image struck a chord because it paired Mikkelsen's effortlessly cool demeanor with a relatable desire to drink through life's chaos.

On December 20, 2016, the German media outlet Deutschlandfunk Nova uploaded a press junket interview with Mikkelsen for *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story* to YouTube. During the sit-down, Mikkelsen picks up a glass bottle, pours its contents into a glass, and drinks. The video picked up over 2,000 views across the next several years.

One week later, on December 27, 2016, Twitter user @MrFilmkritik posted a screenshot from the interview with the caption: "End of 2016 mood: Mads Mikkelsen opening a full bottle of vodka in the middle of a Rogue One interview." The tweet collected more than 13,000 likes and 9,300 retweets.

Origin & Background

Platform
YouTube (Deutschlandfunk Nova interview), Twitter (viral spread)
Key People
@MrFilmkritik, Deutschlandfunk Nova
Date
2016

On December 20, 2016, the German media outlet Deutschlandfunk Nova uploaded a press junket interview with Mikkelsen for *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story* to YouTube. During the sit-down, Mikkelsen picks up a glass bottle, pours its contents into a glass, and drinks. The video picked up over 2,000 views across the next several years.

One week later, on December 27, 2016, Twitter user @MrFilmkritik posted a screenshot from the interview with the caption: "End of 2016 mood: Mads Mikkelsen opening a full bottle of vodka in the middle of a Rogue One interview." The tweet collected more than 13,000 likes and 9,300 retweets.

How It Spread

The same day @MrFilmkritik posted the tweet, Tumblr user zombeesknees reblogged it, and the post exploded to over 100,000 notes. The image tapped into the collective exhaustion of late 2016, and people quickly adopted it as shorthand for "I need a drink."

From there, fans began circulating screenshots and GIFs from other Mikkelsen interviews where he appeared to be drinking clear liquid, fueling the running joke that the actor simply brings vodka to every press obligation. On August 9, 2017, Tumblr user kaninhus posted a GIF from one such interview, adding to the growing collection.

The meme kept circulating at a steady pace. On April 19, 2019, Twitter user @SitiMun6557 tweeted the picture with the caption "good night to nobody except vodka interview mads," keeping the image alive in fan communities.

The biggest second wave came on March 2, 2021, when Twitter user @dunwaIl posted an excerpt from a Dazed Digital interview with Mikkelsen. When asked about the viral image, the actor's response was simple: he was "simply not online" and apparently had no idea the screenshot had become a meme. That tweet pulled in over 50,000 likes and 8,000 retweets in under 24 hours, introducing a new generation to the image.

How to Use This Meme

The format is straightforward. People typically post the screenshot or GIF of Mikkelsen pouring his alleged vodka alongside a caption describing a situation so absurd, exhausting, or bleak that day-drinking during a professional obligation feels like the only rational response. Common setups include:

- "[Current year] mood:" followed by the image - Responding to bad news or chaotic events with the screenshot - Pairing it with "End of [year/month/week] mood" as a seasonal tradition

The meme works best when the gap between the formal setting (a Star Wars press tour) and the implied behavior (cracking open vodka) mirrors whatever disconnect the poster is experiencing.

Cultural Impact

Mikkelsen's obliviousness to his own meme status became part of the joke's appeal. In an interview with Dazed Digital tied to his *Doctor Strange* press tour, Mikkelsen discussed his general avoidance of social media and online reviews, saying he prefers to trust his own judgment rather than read what people think. This attitude made the vodka screenshot even funnier. Here was a man who had been turned into a universal "I'm done" reaction image and genuinely had no clue. His 2021 confirmation that he was "simply not online" only cemented the legend.

The image also benefited from Mikkelsen's broader reputation as one of cinema's coolest screen presences. Known for playing villains like Le Chiffre in *Casino Royale* and Hannibal Lecter in NBC's *Hannibal*, Mikkelsen carries an unflappable air that makes the idea of him casually pouring vodka during a Star Wars interview feel entirely plausible.

Fun Facts

The liquid in the bottle was never confirmed to be vodka. It could have been water, but the internet collectively decided that was boring.

Mikkelsen told Dazed Digital he has stopped reading reviews entirely because even the good ones don't make him happy.

The meme resurfaced at the end of every rough year from 2016 through 2021, becoming an unofficial annual tradition.

Mikkelsen has joked about his weak left eye being the reason filmmakers always take out the left one when his characters need an eye removed.

Frequently Asked Questions