8 Terrific Movie Performances Given Behind A Mask

No one cared they were until they put on the mask.

By Padraig Cotter / March 10, 2016

Its often said an actors most valuable tool is their face. When you think of the most iconic screen actors say Brando, Streep or Eastwood theyre able to hold your attention with a simple look or gesture, and they can be captivating even when theyre not saying anything all.

So their job becomes a hell of a lot trickier when they have to wear a mask or heavy make-up for a role, which can break the human connection with an audience. A lot of actors will avoid such parts like the plague, either because theyre afraid the performance wont register, or just for ego reasons; after all, whats the point of starring in a movie if nobody can see your beautiful face?

Even with the rise of superhero movies, the story will usually come up with an excuse for the hero to be unmasked regularly. The Dark Knight Rises, Deadpool and Iron Man 3, in particular, made sure to limit the amount of time the hero spends masked, lest the audience forget what the star looks like. On the flipside, more adventurous actors thrive on this challenge and find working behind a mask to be incredibly freeing. They can experiment with their voice and body language, without having to worry about pulling stupid faces; in a few cases, they even came out with their best work.