Yeah, why do Brits always play baddies???

Who is your fave British baddie?

Who is your favourite American baddie??

are you thinking Alan Rickman from 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves'?

not always.
look at James Bond.

what about Hugh Grant's many characters?

I know what you mean! I'm even saying this as a Brit myself! Haha!

Here are the ones I can think of -

Gary Oldman in the film with Milla Jojovich and Bruce Willis set in the future (Can't remember what it's called!)

Hugh Grant in "Bridget Jones"

I can think of quite a few more. Why are we wlways the baddies... cos we're scary I suppose! Hahaha!

Take care!

Bronte I've just got back from Norfolk - Burgh Castle. So nice to get away from London. Very windy but nice.

Hugh Grant was a cad in BJ and left someone at the altar in 4 Weddings - hardly nice behaviour.

I'm thinking Rufus Sewell in A Knight's Tale, Alan Rickman in Die Hard and Robin Hood. Jeremy Irons in Die Hard 3 (and voicing Uncle Skah in the Lion King, Joss Ackland in Lethal Weapon 2. Ian McEllan as Magneto, Christopher Lee in LOTR the list goes on and on. Even the females get in on the act - Pam Ferris in Matilda.

Can others think of more????

Bronte I believe the movie your thinking of was the 5th element. But Gary Oldman spoke with a southern accent in that film. (even a good ole boy can be a bad nasty in Hollywood)

But I have noticed that one name has not been mentioned yet. In my opinion he was a large reason for Errol Flynn's success as a hero. Lets face facts to be a great hero you need a great villain.

Basil Rathbone, King of the British bad guys from the "golden age" of Hollywood.

I think Vincent Price is the best American villain, again from the elder days of Hollywood.

[ 04-11-2002, 10:33 AM: Message edited by: War_Wizard ]

Yep. you're right about Bazzer - I think apart from Sherlock he never played a goodie. George Sanders was always a bit of a cad too.

Mentioning Gary Oldman - he never plays anyone "straight" - Leon, Hannibal etc. And speaking of Hannibal.......Anthony Hopkins...ha ha the plot thickens.

Oh and Tim Roth in "Planet of the Apes". I could just go on for hous....somebody stop me please.

Forgot about Peter Cushing, Grad Moff Tarkin in the first Star Wars movie.

and scads of other classic monster movies.

It's Ian McKellan...

I'm like the celebrity name police over here.

and when you say British
do you just mean Wales, England and Scotland?
I mean, that term does not include the Irish, right?

Northern Irish are still counted as British. Southern Irish are independant.

Bit of a tangent, but when an English (as opposed to British) character is portrayed in a Hollywood film, why are they always either ridiculously middle class (a la Hugh Grant) or have a "gor blimey guvnor" Mockney accent? There are a fair few of us north of Watford you know! About the only time I've heard a Northern accent in a non-British film is Christopher Ecclestone's character in Gone In 60 Seconds, and yes... he was the bad guy

Yesterday I watched a film called "Blow Dry", which was a good film, but it was British and to appeal to the American box office they had 2 American stars....Josh Hartnett and Rachel Lee Cook.

Josh Hartnett's Northern accent was even worse than Dick Van Dyke's cockney accent I promise you. I'm from London, but even I was embarassed....don't think you'd've appreciated it auteur.

You don't have to be North of Watford to have your accent neglected in films. Ordinary southern counties folk are not represented either. I personally don't know of anyone who talks like Hugh Grant or any character out of 'Eastenders' and I live not too far away from London.

I suppose English film characters have to fit stereotypes, so just ordinary speaking people won't do. It's a bit like Americans represented in English shows, sketches etc. tend to have accentuated drawls and loud voices.

I guess it's all a matter of how we think of each other.

Having said that I can't think why the English actors tend to be cast as a baddies... but I have to say that they do make good ones.

Dougray Scott in MI2...another one!!

I agree tellywellies, we do make a good baddie. I absolutely adore Alan Rickman in RH: POT as the sheriff....most excellent. Why would you cut his heart out with a spoon "Because it would hurt more". Brilliant.

What about a lad called Ewan MacGregor? Did you see him in Shallow Grave or Trainspotting? I suppose he wasn't a baddie but a sort of anti-hero. Maybe Brits play baddies because they are better actors?

are you sure, amberg?

I always thought that Great Britain was composed of three provinces: England, Scotland and Wales.
that would qualify as British.

Now, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is that actual full name of your country and that comprises all four provinces.

That's why I like to delineate between British and Irish. Irish is Irish no matter what country you live in. Ireland or the UK.

I Dunno... I wouldn't say that English actors are better but there is an indefinable difference. In a way it may be the English reserve that shows through in the acting. Words are said relatively quietly and calmly and that gives them a sort of power.

I haven't seen the film but The words: Why would you cut his heart out with a spoon "Because it would hurt more" said calmly and in precise English or British fashion (is that how it was?) would scare the hell out of me more than if they were shouted in my face.

The shout is a threat whereas the calm voice means it's going to happen.

Ian McKellan was great as the Baddie in X-Files, and he was also great as the brave, wonderful wizard in LOTR.

Aha, W_W, you bring up my favorite subject--Old Horror Flicks!!!! Thanks!! Vincent Price, wasn't he American? Did you ever see The Great Mouse Detective-- he was So wicked (you forgot it was animated!) as Prof. Rattigan.

Did anyone ever watch Jeremy Britt as Sherlock Holmes, David Suchet as Hercule Poirot, or John Thaw as Inspector Morse? Wonderful heroes of the first order! (I hope nobody minds me putting them in--a Baddie thread!)

Oh, I almost forgot the Great Christopher Lee--Wow!! Remember him in LOTR??? Dracula?? Isn't he Great???

And who will ever forget Scar-- voiced by Jeremy Irons unhooking his brother's claws and pitching him down to be trampled??
The Lion King sure would not been the same without that sneering, sarcastic voice!

I donot care who knows it--I own almost All of the Disney animated movies!! The Villians are Wonderful in them!

Anthony Hopkins scared me silly in Silence Of The Lambs---He was So delightfully wicked thru and thru.

And you know, Anthony Perkins's crazy dual personality Norman and Mother was horrifying, too, in Pyscho!!!

I will tell you why the English play the baddies, its because of they way they acted years ago killing innocent people and taking over land and beacuse of that their reputation shall live on please god.

I keep thinking of the voice of Scar in the Lion King but can't think of many more.

Linda, I can confirm that 'The Lion King' is not the same without the sneering voice of Jeremy Irons! I saw it first in Spanish, and the Spanish actor (I have no idea who) who dubbed Scar's voice was just not mean enough!