From Hannibal Lecter to Annie Wilkes, reprobates and wrongdoers throughout cinematic history have both terrified and intrigued audiences. These memorable characters exist thanks to the talented actors who breathe life into them—performers who have mastered the art of being bad. Check out nine actors who have perfected the art of portraying unforgettable villains, along with what makes their performances so wonderfully wicked.
The best performers taking on villainy and vileness have the following qualities:
- A physical presence that allows them to command a room, such as a stony-faced appearance, disarming grin, or distinctive looks.
- Vocal control, whether that means an eerily measured drawl, a seductive growl, or a ferocious outburst.
- Psychological depth, indicating the emotional nuances and internal conflicts that make villains more than one-dimensional monsters.
How to Be a Villain on Stage and Screen1. Cate Blanchett
Whether she’s the nearly omnipotent Hela in “Thor: Ragnarok,” the evil stepmother Lady Tremaine in “Cinderella,” or the Big Bad Wolf–like Marissa Wiegler in “Hanna,” Blanchett can project a mix of seductive confidence and pure iniquity—which she shapes through the lens of femininity. “There’s so much untapped potential villainy in women,” she explained of her complex, seething performances. “It’s really exciting. I think finally it’s beginning to be acknowledged that women and men want to see a diverse array of characters, and that’s race, gender across the sexual spectrum.”
2. Gene Hackman
The late Hackman’s lengthy career playing villains included the evil sheriff Little Bill Daggett in “The Unforgiven,” the nefarious ruler of the town of Redemption in “The Quick and the Dead,” and a gang leader in “Prime Cut.” “I always try to find in these bad guys something that’s human that makes them even more diabolical,” he said. “If you see someone that’s all bad, you kind of just put them in the monster category. But if you see someone who is really bad, but is also a father and a grandfather and all of that, that’s even worse, I think.” By finding the humanity in his villains, Hackman created characters that were both relatable and utterly terrifying.
3. Tom Hiddleston
Not all villains are unlikable. Hiddleston may have played some good guys, but he has also given us one of the most dastardly villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Loki Laufeyson, the troubled God of Mischief. He said that he develops a villain’s characteristics by asking certain questions: “A director I worked with in London said [to ask yourself] ‘Who do I want to be?’ and ‘Who am I afraid I am?’…
When you’re playing the good guy, it’s the first question: ‘Who do I want to be?’… And if I’m a bad guy, it’s, like, ‘Who am I afraid I am?’ Jealous. Proud. Angry. Destructive.” By adding a touch of charm to this jealous-proud-angry-destructive mix, Hiddleston created a complex antagonist that audiences can’t help but root for—despite his misdeeds.
4. Samuel L. Jackson
Jackson has played some of the most iconic villains of our time, including Mr. Barron in “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” Lazarus in “Black Snake Moan,” Richmond Valentine in “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” and Stephen Warren in “Django Unchained.” The actor has explained that he approaches villains the same way he does heroes. “They are both people in the human realm of possibility,” he said. “I don’t think their approach to society changes in terms of who you are as a person, who grew up somewhere, who has a specific set of morals, goals, or whatever. The goals are just different or a polar opposite so I don’t approach a villain differently.” This authenticity rings true in his villains, who are marked by a realistic intensity that can become explosive in an instant.
5. Neal McDonough
When McDonough came to Hollywood to be a comedian, he was told that he would make a great villain. “I decided I was going to be the greatest villain in Hollywood,” he told ComicBook.com. He has since made his career playing evildoers in “Justified,” “Desperate Housewives,” and “Tulsa King,” and even took on the role of Satan himself as the Benefactor in “The Shift.” With his nearly white head of hair and intense blue eyes, McDonough is nothing short of striking; when you combine his arresting appearance with his ability to project cold calculation, it’s no wonder he’s a go-to actor for villainous roles onscreen.
6. Alan Rickman
The late Rickman masterfully controlled his facial expressions and voice while playing Severus Snape in the “Harry Potter” franchise. With an air of arrogance, limited (but subtle) facial expression changes, and an iconic deep monotone, Rickman established himself as one of the most successful unlikable (but with a redemptive arc!) antagonists in film. Previously, his villainous repertoire included his spectacular film debut as Hans Gruber in “Die Hard” and the Sheriff of Nottingham in “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” both of which were elevated by his commanding screen presence.
7. Rufus Sewell
Known for his devious roles, Sewell has portrayed the American Nazi John Smith in “The Man in the High Castle,” as well as antagonists in “A Knight’s Tale,” “The Legend of Zorro,” “Bless the Child,” “Helen of Troy,” and “The Illusionist.” Portraying a villainous character—what he calls a “pervert or a weirdo or psychopath”—allows him to “do something different,” he explained, also noting that these characters “suited the shape of his face.” Indeed, Sewell brings a sophisticated menace to his antagonists, often portraying characters with intelligence and charm that mask their darker intentions.
8. Tilda Swinton
Anyone who read the “Narnia” series as a child knows that only Swinton could serve the seductive villainy required to take on the White Witch in the film adaptations. Beyond that, she’s also been the human-hating Gabriel in “Constantine,” authoritarian Minister Mason in “Snowpiercer,” and ruthless lawyer Karen Crowder in “Michael Clayton” (for which she won an Oscar), among several other villain roles. She’s said that she creates her equally repellent and magnetic evildoer characters by basing them on real-life people, such as Margaret Thatcher and Ivanka Trump.
9. Christoph Waltz
Waltz plays villains so well that it won him two Oscars. The first was awarded for his turn as the disturbingly polite SS officer Hans Landa in “Inglourious Basterds,” and the second for his role as the antihero bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz in “Django Unchained.” He also portrayed supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond films “Spectre” and “No Time to Die.” Waltz’s villains are extra disturbing since they combine a facade of gentility (intelligence, exceptional manners, and a pleasant smile) with underlying evil, making their capacity for cruelty all the more shocking.