10 Actors Who Died As Heroes (& Then Lived To Become Villains)

8. James McAvoy

Died A Hero - Atonement

Based on Ian McEwan's exceptional novel, Atonement is notable for way more than its one stunning tracking shot. It has the ultimate sucker punch sad ending, as it turns out that a huge chunk of the story we've all just watched - and any sense of a happy ending for its lead characters Robbie (James McAvoy) and Cecelia (Keira Knightley) was the fictious work of the latter's sister, whose lie led indirectly to both of their deaths.

It sucks the wind out of you, as Robbie's life was ruined and he was sent off to war for a rape he didn't commit and died thanks to an infected wound on the day he was to be evacuated from the Second World War in Dunkirk.

But Became The Villain - Split

In one of the most unexpected performances in recent memory, McAvoy turned up playing multiple characters sharing the same body in the latter two parts of M Night Shyamalan's subversive superhero trilogy. Known for traditionally heroic leading man roles, seeing him offering a far more visceral, terrifying performance as The Beast in particular was incredible.

He might not have got the best ending - which was sort of the point - but he was hugely impressive up to that point with way darker material than you'd normally link to him.