Some actors are known for playing villains. Others are always playing the hero. But there are a handful of talented actors out there who can do BOTH, and do it incredibly well.
Redditor u/rigorousthinker recently asked, “Who’s an actor who’s both played the ‘good’ guy and the ‘bad’ guy amazingly well?” And the responses are a who’s who of some of the best actors in the business, who definitely have the range. Here are the most upvoted responses:
1. Christian Bale in The Dark Knight and American Psycho
AMERICAN PSYCHO, Christian Bale, 2000. u00a9Lions Gate/courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1804″,”width”:”1804″,”x_offset”:”426″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/dbc875876982/sub-buzz-4926-1670962131-1.jpg?crop=1804:1804;426,0″,”alt_text”:”Patrick Bateman”}], “id”: 130913994, “index”: 3, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130913994}”} } ]]>
2. David Tennant in Doctor Who and Jessica Jones
JESSICA JONES, (aka MARVEL’S JESSICA JONES), David Tennant, ‘AKA Three Lives and Counting’, (Season 2, ep. 211, aired March 8, 2018). photo: David Giesbrecht / u00a9Netflix / courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1596″,”width”:”1596″,”x_offset”:”676″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-4866-1670962248-10.jpg?crop=1596:1596;676,0″,”alt_text”:”David Tennant”}], “id”: 130913998, “index”: 4, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130913998}”} } ]]>
3. Lupita Nyong’o in Us
US, Lupita Nyong’o as doppelganger Red, 2019. ph: Claudette Barius / u00a9 Universal / courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1246″,”width”:”1246″,”x_offset”:”669″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/3427e8fc6805/sub-buzz-4211-1670962368-8.jpg?crop=1246:1246;669,0″,”alt_text”:”Lupita Nyong’o in “Us””}], “id”: 130915987, “index”: 5, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130915987}”} } ]]>
4. Bryan Cranston in Malcolm in the Middle and Breaking Bad
BREAKING BAD, (from left): Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston, ‘Live Free or Die’, (Season 5, ep. 501, airing July 15, 2012), 2008-2012. Photo: Ursula Coyote / u00a9 AMC / Courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1365″,”width”:”1365″,”x_offset”:”873″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-4891-1670962854-60.jpg?crop=1365:1365;873,0″,”alt_text”:”Screenshot from “Breaking Bad””}], “id”: 130914004, “index”: 6, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130914004}”} } ]]>
5. Denzel Washington in Philadelphia and Training Day
TRAINING DAY, Denzel Washington, 2001″,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1440″,”width”:”1439″,”x_offset”:”464″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/3427e8fc6805/sub-buzz-4240-1670962974-9.jpg?crop=1439:1440;464,0″,”alt_text”:”Denzel Washington in “Training Day””}], “id”: 130914055, “index”: 7, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130914055}”} } ]]>
6. Robin Williams in Good Morning, Vietnam and One Hour Photo
ONE HOUR PHOTO, Robin Williams, 2002. TM & copyright u00a920th Century Fox Film Corporation/courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1119″,”width”:”1120″,”x_offset”:”1418″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/dbc875876982/sub-buzz-4966-1670963052-1.jpg?crop=1120:1119;1418,0″,”alt_text”:”Robin Williams in “One Hour Photo””}], “id”: 130914067, “index”: 8, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130914067}”} } ]]>
7. Cate Blanchett in The Lord of the Rings and Thor: Ragnarok
THOR: RAGNAROK, Cate Blanchett as Hela, 2017. u00a9 Marvel / u00a9 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”720″,”width”:”720″,”x_offset”:”732″,”y_offset”:”54″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/dbc875876982/sub-buzz-4959-1670963231-23.jpg?crop=720:720;732,54″,”alt_text”:”Hela”}], “id”: 130915753, “index”: 9, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130915753}”} } ]]>
8. Ian McKellen in The Lord of the Rings and X-Men
THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES, from left: Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Luke Evans, 2014. ph: Mark Pokorny/u00a9Warner Bros./courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1146″,”width”:”1147″,”x_offset”:”549″,”y_offset”:”148″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/fd35fa931afd/sub-buzz-4351-1670963443-9.jpg?crop=1147:1146;549,148″,”alt_text”:”Gandalf”},{“index”:1,”number”:2,”has_caption”:false,”image_type”:”jpg”,”image_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-4913-1670963406-17.jpg”,”images”:{“mobile”:{“height”:”667″,”url”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-4913-1670963406-17.jpg?resize=990:*”,”width”:”990″},”original”:{“height”:”1800″,”url”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-4913-1670963406-17.jpg”,”width”:”2672″},”standard”:{“height”:”421″,”url”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-4913-1670963406-17.jpg?resize=625:*”,”width”:”625″},”wide”:{“height”:”667″,”url”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-4913-1670963406-17.jpg?resize=990:*”,”width”:”990″},”idx”:1,”original_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-4913-1670963406-17.jpg”,”image_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-4913-1670963406-17.jpg”,”nojs_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-4913-1670963406-17.jpg?output-quality=auto&output-format=auto&downsize=360%3A%2A”},”original_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-4913-1670963406-17.jpg”,”width”:2672,”height”:1800,”attribution”:”20thcentfox / u00c2u00a920thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection”,”id”:”130916847″,”external_link_text”:null,”external_link_url”:””,”has_external_link”:false,”description”:””,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1162″,”width”:”1162″,”x_offset”:”801″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-4913-1670963406-17.jpg?crop=1162:1162;801,0″,”alt_text”:”Mystique and Magneto”}], “id”: 130914072, “index”: 10, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130914072}”} } ]]>
9. Imelda Staunton in Vera Drake and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, Imelda Staunton, 2007. u00a9Warner Bros./courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1170″,”width”:”1170″,”x_offset”:”903″,”y_offset”:”62″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/ca080e2c362a/sub-buzz-8149-1670964249-9.jpg?crop=1170:1170;903,62″,”alt_text”:”Delores Umbridge”}], “id”: 130915856, “index”: 11, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130915856}”} } ]]>
10. Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained and Inglourious Basterds
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, Christoph Waltz, 2009. Ph: Francois Duhamel/u00a9Weinstein Company/Courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1586″,”width”:”1586″,”x_offset”:”165″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/ca080e2c362a/sub-buzz-8178-1670964367-6.jpg?crop=1586:1586;165,0″,”alt_text”:”Screenshot from “Inglourious Basterds””}], “id”: 130914074, “index”: 12, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130914074}”} } ]]>
11. Lena Headey in The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Game of Thrones
12. Hannah Waddingham in Ted Lasso and Game of Thrones
TED LASSO, Hannah Waddingham, Rainbow’, (Season 2, ep. 205, aired Aug. 20, 2021). photo: u00a9Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1054″,”width”:”1053″,”x_offset”:”1236″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/dbc875876982/sub-buzz-5014-1670964911-11.jpg?crop=1053:1054;1236,0″,”alt_text”:”Rebecca”},{“index”:1,”number”:2,”has_caption”:false,”image_type”:”png”,”image_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/ca080e2c362a/sub-buzz-8203-1670964907-12.png”,”images”:{“mobile”:{“height”:”719″,”url”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/ca080e2c362a/sub-buzz-8203-1670964907-12.png?resize=990:*”,”width”:”990″},”original”:{“height”:”764″,”url”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/ca080e2c362a/sub-buzz-8203-1670964907-12.png”,”width”:”1052″},”standard”:{“height”:”454″,”url”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/ca080e2c362a/sub-buzz-8203-1670964907-12.png?resize=625:*”,”width”:”625″},”wide”:{“height”:”719″,”url”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/ca080e2c362a/sub-buzz-8203-1670964907-12.png?resize=990:*”,”width”:”990″},”idx”:1,”original_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/ca080e2c362a/sub-buzz-8203-1670964907-12.png”,”image_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/ca080e2c362a/sub-buzz-8203-1670964907-12.png”,”nojs_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/ca080e2c362a/sub-buzz-8203-1670964907-12.png?output-quality=auto&output-format=auto&downsize=360%3A%2A”},”original_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/ca080e2c362a/sub-buzz-8203-1670964907-12.png”,”width”:1052,”height”:764,”attribution”:”HBO”,”id”:”130917141″,”external_link_text”:null,”external_link_url”:””,”has_external_link”:false,”description”:””,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”764″,”width”:”764″,”x_offset”:”171″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/ca080e2c362a/sub-buzz-8203-1670964907-12.png?crop=764:764;171,0″,”alt_text”:”Septa Unella”}], “id”: 130915711, “index”: 14, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130915711}”} } ]]>
13. Alan Rickman in Harry Potter and Die Hard
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2, Alan Rickman, 2011. u00a92011 Warner Bros. Ent. Harry Potter publishing rights u00a9J.K.R. Harry Potter characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and u00a9Warner Bros. Ent. All rights reserved./Courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”816″,”width”:”817″,”x_offset”:”825″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/21/asset/2585592c3a0f/sub-buzz-1774-1670966265-4.jpg?crop=817:816;825,0″,”alt_text”:”Professor Snape”},{“index”:1,”number”:2,”has_caption”:false,”image_type”:”jpg”,”image_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/3427e8fc6805/sub-buzz-4307-1670965021-12.jpg”,”images”:{“mobile”:{“height”:”668″,”url”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/3427e8fc6805/sub-buzz-4307-1670965021-12.jpg?resize=990:*”,”width”:”990″},”original”:{“height”:”1682″,”url”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/3427e8fc6805/sub-buzz-4307-1670965021-12.jpg”,”width”:”2491″},”standard”:{“height”:”422″,”url”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/3427e8fc6805/sub-buzz-4307-1670965021-12.jpg?resize=625:*”,”width”:”625″},”wide”:{“height”:”668″,”url”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/3427e8fc6805/sub-buzz-4307-1670965021-12.jpg?resize=990:*”,”width”:”990″},”idx”:1,”original_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/3427e8fc6805/sub-buzz-4307-1670965021-12.jpg”,”image_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/3427e8fc6805/sub-buzz-4307-1670965021-12.jpg”,”nojs_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/3427e8fc6805/sub-buzz-4307-1670965021-12.jpg?output-quality=auto&output-format=auto&downsize=360%3A%2A”},”original_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/3427e8fc6805/sub-buzz-4307-1670965021-12.jpg”,”width”:2491,”height”:1682,”attribution”:”20thcentfox / 20th Century Fox Licensing/Merchandising / Everett Collection”,”id”:”130917310″,”external_link_text”:null,”external_link_url”:””,”has_external_link”:false,”description”:””,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1682″,”width”:”1682″,”x_offset”:”276″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/20/asset/3427e8fc6805/sub-buzz-4307-1670965021-12.jpg?crop=1682:1682;276,0″,”alt_text”:”Screenshot from “Die Hard””}], “id”: 130914083, “index”: 15, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130914083}”} } ]]>
14. Daniel Day-Lewis in The Crucible and There Will Be Blood
THERE WILL BE BLOOD, Daniel Day-Lewis, 2007. u00a9Paramount Vantage/courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”2000″,”width”:”2001″,”x_offset”:”635″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/21/asset/ca080e2c362a/sub-buzz-8246-1670966462-12.jpg?crop=2001:2000;635,0″,”alt_text”:”Daniel Plainview”}], “id”: 130914093, “index”: 16, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130914093}”} } ]]>
15. Rosamund Pike in Pride & Prejudice and Gone Girl
GONE GIRL, Rosamund Pike, 2014. ph: Merrick Morton/TM & copyright u00a920th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved/courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1936″,”width”:”1935″,”x_offset”:”669″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/21/asset/dbc875876982/sub-buzz-5067-1670966541-4.jpg?crop=1935:1936;669,0″,”alt_text”:”Screenshot from “Gone Girl””}], “id”: 130915827, “index”: 17, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130915827}”} } ]]>
16. Sam Neill in Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders
PEAKY BLINDERS, l-r: Helen McCrory, Sam Neill, (Season 1, 2013). u00a9Netflix/courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1308″,”width”:”1308″,”x_offset”:”1641″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/21/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-5005-1670966625-13.jpg?crop=1308:1308;1641,0″,”alt_text”:”Screenshot from “Peaky Blinders””}], “id”: 130914100, “index”: 18, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130914100}”} } ]]>
17. Andrew Scott in Fleabag and Sherlock
18. Lee Dong-wook in Bad and Crazy and Hell Is Other People
19. Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road and Monster
MONSTER, Charlize Theron, 2003, (c) Newmarket/courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1117″,”width”:”1116″,”x_offset”:”824″,”y_offset”:”0″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/21/asset/fd35fa931afd/sub-buzz-4469-1670967279-11.jpg?crop=1116:1117;824,0″,”alt_text”:”Screenshot from “Monster””}], “id”: 130915817, “index”: 21, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130915817}”} } ]]>
20. Javier Bardem in Vicky Cristina Barcelona and No Country for Old Men
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, Javier Bardem, 2007, u00a9 Miramax/courtesy Everett Collection”,”thumbnail_crop”:{“height”:”1800″,”width”:”1800″,”x_offset”:”0″,”y_offset”:”432″},”thumbnail_src”:”https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-12/13/21/asset/1854a3e3d2bb/sub-buzz-5036-1670967396-1.jpg?crop=1800:1800;0,432″,”alt_text”:”Anton Chigurh”}], “id”: 130915957, “index”: 22, “bfa”: {“e”:”{idx:0,subbuzzId:130915957}”} } ]]>
Is there anyone missing on this list? Let us know which actors you thought crushed it as both the hero and the villain in the comments below!
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