Indeed, few actors dream of playing negative characters when they enter the profession. However, the external data, charisma and vision of the director lead many to the slippery slope of villainy. And if almost everyone loves positive characters, it is especially difficult to become a popular antagonist.
Often, actors become hostages of a successfully played negative image, after which the directors refuse to shoot them in a different role. On the one hand, this is not entirely fair, but the audience is always satisfied, because they get not just stereotyped “bad guys”, but outright villains, whose images are embodied by really experienced masters.
Christoph Waltz
Curiously, the popularity came to Christoph Waltz already in adulthood, when he played Hans Landu in the picture "Inglourious Basterds". Quentin Tarantino noticed a little-known German actor at one of the castings and decided to involve him in his own project. Since then, Christoph has become really in demand, but attempts to make him a "good guy" have not yet been successful.
"Water for Elephants!", "Big eyes", "Green Hornet" - far from a complete list of films where Waltz plays antagonists. In feed "Django Unchained" the hero of Christophe can only be conditionally called positive, the actor also contributed to the "Bondiana", playing in "007: Spectrum" и "No Time to Die".
Danny Trejo
Directors rarely take Denny for the main roles, but even an episode with his participation is sometimes worth a whole movie. Trejo got into the film industry by accident - in total he is more 11 years was behind bars and led an asocial lifestyle. This experience allowed Denny to play prisoners, bandits and just tough guys in a naturalistic way.
Even if Trejo plays a positive character, he looks like a negative character. However, the actor is loved by the audience - his unusual appearance and sincere play leave no one indifferent. Directors, among other talents, note Denny's ability to improvise if the scene is associated with physical impact on other characters.
Malcolm McDowell
This famous actor has built a fairly successful career in the film industry, and even in his old age, he continues to act actively. All major successes Malcolm are connected precisely with the embodiment of the images of negative characters, which is worth only the role Alex in the picture A Clockwork Orange, then was Caligula in project Tinto Brassa, serial maniac Chikatilo and even the devil himself.
After getting acquainted with such a rich track record, none of the viewers can associate MacDowell with goodies, no matter how hard he tries to change roles. However, this is even for the better, because the actor's charisma allows you to create truly intimidating characters.
Javier Bardem
Today, the Spanish actor can play positive characters as much as he wants, but it will be extremely difficult for him to get rid of the fame of the “bad guy”. Role Anton Chigur in the movie brothers Cohen "No Country for Old Men" brought Bardem Not only Oscar, but also the role of the villain, which he later repeatedly confirmed.
"007: Skyfall Coordinates", "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales", Escobar - far from a complete list of projects where talent Javier was used to embody villains. It can be assumed that Bardem will give us many more negative images, because he really knows how to do it.
Tim Curry
Speaking of filmography Tim Curry, there are not many significant roles to be found. However, the face of the actor is very familiar to moviegoers with experience. It was Tim who played the dancing clown, Pennywise in the adaptation of the novel Stephen King "It" 1990 years. Among the high-profile works of the actor, it is also worth noting such tapes as "The Ricky Horror Show" и "Home Alone 2".
Even if Curry got small roles, he always worked out 100%. A magnetic look and a peculiar smile allowed Tim to easily embody charismatic villains on the screen. The actor also has an interesting voice, thanks to which he is in demand when dubbing animated films.
Anthony Hopkins
It is difficult to find a more versatile and talented actor than Anthony Hopkins. Even in 83 years master is able to select Oscar young competitors, continuing to embody really complex images on the screen, on which a lot of work needs to be done. However, the world started talking about Anthony after the picture "Silence of the Lambs", where Hopkins had a chance to play a maniac.
The viewer liked this role so much that many do not imagine the actor in a different role, although he often plays positive characters and only occasionally returns to the images of criminals. Before us is a vivid example of how one role can leave a huge imprint on the career of an actor.
Samuel L. Jackson
Many people remember L. Jacksonwhen it comes to the MCU Marvel и Nike Fury. However, do not forget that world fame Samuel received thanks to the images of negative characters. The actor began his career with episodes - he played bandits and robbers, gradually climbing to a higher level. The finest hour for L. Jackson was the picture "Crime novel", where he played a charismatic hitman with good knowledge of the bible.
Later, the roles of an arms dealer happened Ordella Robbie, elderly slave Stephen of "Django" и Elijah Price from tape "Invulnerable". Indeed, L. Jackson, most often, plays the "bad guys", but he does it so well that no one wants him to change roles.
Joaquin phoenix
After the film's release "Joker" everyone was curious about what other projects he was involved in Joaquin phoenix. Let's be honest, no one was interested in the actor for a long time, although he continued to act actively, and in good films. Phoenix simply fell out of the field of spectator attention, playing the good guys, but as soon as he returned to the role of the villain, the audience was again delighted.
This is probably not an accident, because more than 20 years ago, all moviegoers unanimously hated the emperor Commodus, masterfully played by Joaquin. Then there was the memorable role of a mercenary in a western "The Sisters Brothers" and the iconic Joker. All of this suggests that Phoenix really does succeed with villains he could play more often.
Gary Oldman
An incredibly talented and versatile actor has spent many years to get away from the villainous role. oldman was so good in the movies "Fifth Element", "Dracula" и "Leon"that no one was going to shoot Gary in another incarnation. However, the actor showed his ability to skillfully cope with any task and gave us a lot of memorable diverse characters.
However, let's be realistic - it is the roles Zorga и Stansfield especially remembered by the viewer, bringing Oldman worldwide fame. Gary became a sought-after actor, having established himself as an excellent villain, and only then managed to reach his full potential.
Robert De Niro
It should not be at all surprising that Robert De Niro collected many villainous roles during his long career. The actor has worked with Martin Scorsese, the master of the gangster saga and often played mafiosi. Films like "The Godfather 2", "Taxi driver", "Good guyssecured De Niro's reputation. Thanks to his charisma, Robert, even playing villains, evokes sympathy, so the audience often does not perceive him as a negative character.
Despite his age, De Niro continues to work as part of his role - playing a cynical Murray Franklin в "Joker" and becomes a criminal Irish. We can already safely say that Robert is out of time, and his acting talent shines just as brightly, despite the venerable age of the master.
Also, do not miss the opportunity to get acquainted with the following materials:
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- 10 Actors Who Accepted Roles For Their Children
Have you lost your mind? where Lee Van Cleef is the best of the bad.
Christoph Waltz played a negative character (namely a killer) in one of the Commissar Rex series.