Obamas welcome Nordic leaders, celebs for state dinner

President Obama hosted a state dinner Friday night at the White House to welcome the leaders of Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland.

{mosads}In addition to the four Nordic leaders and their spouses, several celebrities were in attendance.

Actor Will Ferrell and his wife,  Viveca Paulin snagged invites thanks to Paulin’s Swedish ties — she was born there and the couple visits frequently, according to the White House pool report.

Ferrell said the Friday night event was their first White House dinner. “I hope we don’t do anything wrong.”

Swedish-American actor Joel Kinnaman, who will appear in the upcoming super villian movie “Suicide Squad” said he wants Americans to know Sweden is ” a friendly country, well-educated and strong bearers of democracy in the world.”

Others in attendance, including Aziz Ansari and David Letterman, seemed to have less firm connections to the event.

“I honestly don’t know,” said actress Connie Britton when asked if she has a Nordic connection. “I’m a groupie at this point,” she said, noting she attended the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and the Easter Egg roll.

Asked about his Nordic connection, NBC’s Al Roker said joked that he’s “frolicked on the fjords. … Actually, I drive a Fjord.”

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said the night is “a chance to drink wine and make progress on the most serious issues of our time.”

Rapper Common, referred to as Mr. Common on the guest list distributed by the White House, said he was looking forward to attending a White House event where he doesn’t have to perform.

“I’m looking forward to the unknown,” he said.

The evening’s entertainment will come from singer Demi Lovato, who is scheduled to perform for the 350 guests.

“I’m here to see my First Lady,” said tux-wearing singer Janelle Monae. The first lady was wearing a blush-colored dress designed by Naeem Khan.

The dinner menu is meant to evoke the world-famous Noma restaurant in Copenhagen and includes a tuna starter and a main course of tender beef short ribs from Nebraska brined in red wine, herbs, and aromatics for two days, then braised for eight hours and served with hot kale salad and creamy lemon thyme dumplings.