An accomplished actress and longtime muse to Karl Lagerfeld, Anna Mouglalis was the perfect choice to play Gabrielle Chanel. She previously starred in Romanzo Criminale and alongside Isabelle Huppert in Claude Chabrol's Merci Pour le Chocolat, Mouglalis also received exceptional praise for her role as Simone de Beauvoir in Les Amants de Flore. Alongside her acting career she continues to model for Chanel, fronting the Fine Jewellery campaign in 2010.
Mads Mikkelsen has cultivated a successful career that encompasses both Hollywood blockbusters and arthouse films. Having made his debut in Pusher in 1996, he went on to play the lead role in Oscar nominated After the Wedding, but perhaps to the general public he is most memorable as the Bond character "Le Chiffre", from Casino Royale. More recent credits include Flame & Citron, Valhalla Rising and Clash of The Titans.