Viggo Mortensen wears Ukrainian symbol on red carpet in Glasgow as he sends message to Russia
03.03.2024 - 19:01
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Viggo Mortensen, the star of Lord Of The Rings, showed his support for Ukraine at the Glasgow Film Festival. He wore the Ukrainian trident symbol, their national emblem, on his shirt as he walked the red carpet.
He was there for the UK premiere of his new Western film, The Dead Don't Hurt, where he stars alongside Solly McLeod.
The film is a touching romantic Western set in the 1860s. Mortensen plays Holger Olsen, a Danish immigrant who falls for the fiercely independent Vivienne Le Coudy, played by Vicky Krieps.
When asked if he had a message for the people of Ukraine, Mortensen told the PA news agency: "We support them against Russian aggression, against people who condone it. In Russia, but especially outside of Russia."
However, the 65 year old actor didn't comment further on what Western leaders should do to help Ukraine. Mortensen has criticised former US president Donald Trump and expressed his support for US senator Bernie Sanders.
He also backed Dr Jill Stein, the US Green Party's presidential candidate, in the 2016 election.
In the US, Republicans have tried to stop military aid to Ukraine due to a disagreement with Democrats in Congress over immigration. Mortensen not only stars in The Dead Don't Hurt but also directed, produced and composed music for the film.
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He shared that a lot of the movie's music was made and recorded before they began filming. He explained: "It helps me find the rhythm and know how long the scene should last in some cases, and what the mood we hope to get across is."
Mortensen talked about the years of effort he put into the film, mentioning his childhood surrounded by Westerns and