Westworld’s Ben Barnes Is One Of Best Villainous Actors On TV

Ben Barnes is the newest actor to enter the inner circle of actors who are known for playing villains in movies.

What does Ben Barnes have in common with Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman and Glenn Close? Yes, they are all amazing actors who have captured the hearts movie goers everywhere. But each of these actors have portrayed more than one villain on screen.

Ben Barnes has recently joined the dark side with his nefarious Billy Russo character in Netflix’s The Punisher and as the ultra rich bully in HBO’s acclaimed hit series Westworld. In both shows, Barnes has turned himself into one of those characters you love to hate. When it comes to the world of scoundrels, sinister wizards and evil bosses, Ben Barnes is in some good company.

Here’s a few actors that have excelled at portraying some of our favorite villains.

Alan Rickman

[Credit: 20th Century Fox]Most people associate Christmas with Santa Claus, but for lovers of the action genre, it’s Die Hard that comes to mind. Sure, there’s a huge debate about this movie being a Christmas classic. But you can’t deny Alan Rickman’s menacing portrayal of Hans Gruber as he torments John McClane. Gruber’s plummet from Naktomi Towers has become one of the most iconic endings to a bad guy that makes us all want to yell, “Yippe ki yay, muther effers!”

Of course, you have to include his character Severus Snape from the Harry Potter franchise as well. His quiet darkness wraps around him like mysterious cloak. At the end of the series, we learned that he was really a good guy that was just misunderstood. But isn’t that what makes a great villain in the first place?

Ben Barnes Fellow Marvel Netflix Pal, Sigourney Weaver

[Credit: Netflix]Marvel’s Netflix shows have a way of turning out some impressive bad guys. Just take a look at the King Pin in Daredevil and Kilgrave in Jessica Jones (David Tennent just oozes evil). Now add Signourney Weaver into the mix. As the leader of the five fingers of The Hand in Netflix’s The Defenders, she gave the band of heroes a run for their money.

But before she played the villainess Reid, she won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in Working Girl. It was in this movie where Weaver paves a path of gold for Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) that leads to a destination of backstabbing and corporate sabotage.

Glenn Close

[Credit: Paramount Pictures]If you want to talk about women playing evil characters, then you have to discuss Glenn Close. The two time Best Actress nominee sent chills down our spines as she play the ultimate stage five clinger Alex in Fatal Attraction. She boiled a pet rabbit just to get attention!

Don’t forget her overly stylized baddie Cruella di Vill in Disney’s 101 Dalmations.

Ralph Fiennes

[Credit: Warner Bros.]But when it comes to famous actors just dominating the role of a bad guy, it has to be Ralph Fiennes. Everyone knows him as playing Harry Potter’s nemesis, Voldemort. But that character is just the tip of the iceberg.

Fiennes transformed himself into the serial killer Francis Dolarhyde aka “The Tooth Fairy” in Red Dragon. Just one of the many films that featured everyone’s favorite serial killer Hannibal Lector.

But if we are talking true evil, then it has to be, hands down, his character Amon Göth in Schindler’s List. Here he play a captain in Hitler’s army during World War II. And his acts against humanity would make Hannibal Lector coil into a fetus position.

In the world of bad guys in movies and TV, Ben Barnes can easily put his name into the hat. He has entered a special group of award winning actors known for playing some of the most memorable bad guys. Since the internet is always posting “The Best of X”, it’s possible to see Ben Barnes name added to list of actors known for playing some of the greatest villains of all time.