Part of what makes these actors so remarkable is their ability to convincingly become either heroes or villains. It’s hard not to be a little envious of their skill. The best performers can inspire admiration and empathy when portraying a hero, then make you shiver or hate them in a villainous role. Using the classic countdown format, here are ten actors who can masterfully navigate the full spectrum of human morality.
10. Michael Keaton
Michael Keaton is as comfortable donning a superhero cape as he is a bad guy’s dark side. And as convincing as he is as the Caped Crusader in Tim Burton’s cult classic Batman (1989) and subsequent roles in The Flash and Birds of Prey as the masked crusader, he is as chilling as he is as the Vulture in Spider-Man Homecoming and as Morbius’s mild-mannered everyman turned evil Vulture.
9. Lena Headey
Rooting for Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones may have tested your moral compass—but that is the extent of Lena Headey’s gift. The manipulative queen enthralled audiences with her intelligence and drive. And yet, Headey has also portrayed heroes such as Queen Gorgo in 300 and Sarah Connor in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, demonstrating that she can work darkness and light equally well.
8. Christian Bale
Christian Bale is the master of transformation. He’s Batman’s dark hero in Nolan’s trilogy, but as vile as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. Bale even crossed over to the dark side once again, playing the part of Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love and Thunder. His talent for acting extremes of morality is what makes him a box office giant.
7. Helena Bonham Carter
Real-life chameleon Helena Bonham Carter shifts from scary monsters to sweet characters. She’s offbeat Bellatrix Lestrange in Harry Potter and quirky Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. Go from gothic horror to warm charm, that’s Carter’s range.
6. Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson takes over every universe he enters. He’s a superhero as Nick Fury in the MCU, Mace Windu in Star Wars, and Frozone’s voice in The Incredibles. But he can switch to evil overnight, as in Django Unchained, Kingsman: The Secret Service, and Unbreakable as Mr. Glass. Jackson’s charm in hero and villain roles is why he’s a legend.
5. Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman is the master actor of extremes. He can play villains such as Norman Stansfield in Léon: The Professional or heroes such as Jim Gordon in The Dark Knight Trilogy or Winston Churchill in The Darkest Hour, and make us believe every role he takes on. His ability to transform into the best and worst of human beings makes him memorable.
4. Oscar Isaac
Oscar Isaac thrives on variety. He’s bad (Apocalypse in X-Men: Apocalypse) and he’s good (singing Spider-Man 2099 in Across the Spider-Verse), and his MCU series Moon Knight delves into a hero with a broken mind. Isaac’s seamless transitions from moral extremes place him in the ranks of the most thrilling actors of today.
3. Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep is Hollywood royalty because she can do it all. She’s intimidating as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada and the witch in Into the Woods, but radiant as Roberta Guaspari in Music of the Heart or Katharine Graham in The Post. Streep has the rare talent of being loved and feared by us, often in the same movie.
2. Mike Myers
Mike Myers has pushed dual roles to the extreme edges of comedy. In the Austin Powers franchise, he plays both the suave hero and the bald villain Dr. Evil. Add on Fat Bastard, Goldmember, and even eight personas in The Pentaverate, and you can see why Myers is the sovereign of playing opposite sides with flair.
1. Heath Ledger
His Joker in The Dark Knight is indelible, perhaps the greatest villain of all time. But Ledger was also brilliant playing heroic characters like William Thatcher in A Knight’s Tale and Corporal Gabriel Martin in The Patriot. His ability to fully immerse himself in heroism and villainy alike made him a truly special artist.
Hollywood loves to cast out-of-type actors, and when it works, it’s cinematic magic. From studio-era risks to modern-day expensive blockbusters, the art of playing hero and villain shows the delight of excellent acting—and makes audiences guess on which side their favorite actor will land.