When we think of movie villains, we often imagine them rocking terrifying makeup and hairdos that make them look unrecognizable from their real-life selves. However, some of these actors and actresses are actually stunning in real life, without all the movie magic. The following characters may be designed to disgust, but they’re all lovely in real life.
Here are the nine fantastic movie villains who look absolutely gorgeous when they’re not in character.
1. Ronan the Accuser – Lee Pace
Lee Pace is famous for portraying Ronan the Accuser in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, but his acting career goes far beyond that. Pace has appeared in various movies and TV shows such as The Hobbit trilogy, Pushing Daisies, and Halt and Catch Fire. In addition to his acting skills, Lee is also a trained stage actor and has performed in several plays. The performer has been nominated for and won numerous awards and is highly regarded in the industry for his acting versatility and range.
2. Doctor Poison – Elena Anaya
In her Doctor Poison makeup, Elena is wearing a mask covering her facial scars, but without all that, she looks really fantastic, with sharp features and piercing eyes. Anaya has worked on both Spanish and English-language projects, including the films Van Helsing and The Skin I Live In.
3. Azog the Defiler – Manu Bennett
Manu Bennett is a fantastic New Zealand actor best known for his role as the badass orc – Azog the Defiler in the Hobbit movies. Without his iconic makeup, Bennett is a ruggedly handsome man with a chiseled jawline and incredible Maori tribal tattoos covering his arms. He has also starred in CW’s popular series Arrow, where he played Deathstroke/Slade Wilson.
4. Rita Repulsa – Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth is widely known for her roles in Pitch Perfect, The Hunger Games, Spider-Man, and of course, the 2017 Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. In the latter, Banks played the villainous Rita Repulsa, an evil space witch with heavy makeup and silicone prosthetics. Without the cumbersome makeup, Banks looks like an actual angel with blonde hair and subtle facial features. Banks also admitted that she’d think twice before taking another role that relies heavily on makeup and props.
5. Predator – Brian Prince
Brian is currently one of the best stuntmen in Hollywood. He has lent his uncanny stunt skills to dozens of action-packed movies and TV shows, including the 2018’s Predator. Prince is also a trained martial artist, so doing flips, kicks, and jumps is easy for him. Without the Predator getup, Prince looks like, well, a real prince. He is a talented performer who has proven his skills both on and off the screen, and we can’t wait to see his next movie.
6. Aileen Wuornos – Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron underwent a complete transformation for the role of a serial killer, Aileen Wuornos, in Monster, gaining weight, shaving off her eyebrows, and wearing prosthetics to change her facial structure. Theron looks very different from her glamorous Hollywood self in her day-to-day life, with a more natural yet still appealing visage. Despite all the makeup, it was Theron’s acting skills that helped to bring out Wuornos’ messed-up character to life.
7. Lord Voldemort – Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Fiennes’s portrayal of the Dark Wizard, Lord Voldemort, in the Harry Potter films was a true feat of acting as he managed to bring an iconic book villain to life with just a little bit of help from the makeup and CG departments. Fiennes’ ability to convey the malevolence of the character through his voice, mannerisms, and facial expressions was truly impressive. He instilled fear and awe in the audience, making Voldemort one of the most memorable villains in film history.
8. The Red Queen – Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter is known for choosing the wildest roles in some of the most bizarre movies. One such iconic role has to be the Red Queen from the 2010 film adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. Thanks to the dramatic makeup and Helena’s over-the-top personality, the Red Queen’s performance was praised by both fans and critics. But what else did they expect from the legendary HBC?
9. Darth Maul – Ray Park
One of the best characters to come out of George Lucas’ prequel trilogy is undoubtedly Jar Jar Binks. No, that’s a lie. Of course, we’re talking about the epic badass Sith – Darth Maul, played by Ray Park. Park’s physicality and martial arts background made him a perfect fit for the nimble, acrobatic, and also deadly Sith Lord. Despite having just a few short lines of dialogue, Ray’s performance as Darth Maul left a lasting impression on audiences, especially the iconic fighting scene with his double-bladed lightsaber, which he’s often asked to demonstrate at comic cons and other fan events.
