Depardieu happy to get Russian citizenship

London, Jan 5 (IANS) French actor Gerard Depardieu is pleased to have been granted Russian citizenship.

The 63-year-old who officially became a Russian citizen Thursday penned a letter to thank President Vladimir Putin for granting his request to become a Russian national, and praised the culture of the country, reports contactmusic.com.

"I filed a passport application and I am pleased that it was accepted," he said in the letter.

"I love your country, Russia - its people, its history, its writers. I love your culture, your intelligence," he added.