12 Villain Actors Who Are Actually Pure Sweethearts

Some villains are so unforgettable that we can’t help but love to hate them. The actors behind these roles delivered such brilliant performances that it’s easy to blur the line between character and reality. Yet off-screen, these same performers are charming, kind, and completely unlike the dark personas they portray.

Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna

The actor became famous for his role as a villain in Stranger Things. Many are surprised to see him out of character: he is friendly and approachable with fans, and on set, he entertains the children.

Cate Blanchett as Hela

Cate Blanchett played the evil sister, Hela, to Thor in Thor: Ragnarok. In real life, she is an ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

Tom Hardy as Bane

The havoc-inducing, fearmongering Bane in The Dark Knight Rises seems very far off from the real Tom Hardy, who brought his dog Blue to a screening of his movie.

Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter

Anthony Hopkins won an Oscar for his bone-chilling performance as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. When asked about his Oscar, he said, “What about the nurses and the surgeons and the doctors in hospitals and the caregivers? Where are their awards? They saved lives.”

Rachel McAdams as Regina George

McAdams is iconic as the head of The Plastics. But in reality, she’s very environmentally conscious. She said, “The environment is a passion for me, and has been for a long time. I try to introduce it into every part of my life if I can, always looking for a greener, lighter way to do everything.”

Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly

Whilst playing the fashion titan, Meryl Streep stayed in character as the icy-cold Miranda. But when she met Anne Hathaway before filming, she gave her a big hug and told her they would have the best time making the movie.

Jason Isaacs and Tom Felton as Lucius and Draco Malfoy

The Malfoy family members make great villains in the Harry Potter film series. This father-son duo couldn’t be further from Death Eaters. Tom Felton said, “He’d be this evil father, and when we’d say cut, he’d come and give you a cuddle and say, ’Oh, did I hit you too hard?’ Real Jekyll and Hyde, that one.”

Tom Hiddleston as Loki

Tom Hiddleston played Loki, the God of Mischief, in The Avengers movie. Hiddleston is an ambassador and works with UNICEF in real life.

Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge

Imelda plays the cruel Dolores Umbridge perfectly. But she said, “I think she’s a bloody monster.” She also said she felt bad for a couple of days after filming the detention scene.

Charlize Theron as Queen Ravenna

Charlize plays the evil Queen Ravenna in Snow White and the Huntsman. But she is an ally of the LGBTQ community and goes to Pride celebrations annually. She said, “I try to always get my family to go and support these people live in my community, and I love them.”

Christopher Lee as Saruman

Christopher Lee was a genuine fan of The Lord of the Rings novels. He said, “The book is such a work of brilliance and majesty — Tolkien wrote an epic on the scale of The Iliad or The Odyssey.”

Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger

Although the actor became famous mainly for his villain roles, his filmography includes many other remarkable performances. Robert himself enjoys joking around and has a good sense of humor. “I’m on my third generation of fans now... I’ve just accumulated this great fan base, and for an old dog like me, that’s really great,” said Englund.

Here, you can see actors who are unrecognizable under layers of makeup.