20 Things You Somehow Missed In The Matrix

16. Walter Cronkite

One of the most striking elements of the Matrix was the performance of Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith. It's a performance that perfectly encapsulates the androgyny of a villain that is neither entirely man nor machine, whilst retaining hallmarks of both.

However, when researching the role and building the physical performance, Weaving began modelling parts of his delivery on the dry matter-of-factness associated with Mid-20th-Century newsreaders. Specifically, Walter Cronkite, the legendarily US journalist and host of the CBS Evening News show for almost two decades.

After famously reporting both the Moon Landing and the Kennedy assassination, he was dubbed 'The Most Trusted Man in America", giving Weaving's performance a sinister familiarity.