10 Actors Who Hid That They Were In Famous Movies

5. Kevin Spacey - Se7en

Throughout Seven, as Detectives Mills and Somerset gradually uncover the horrific murders of John Doe, the identity of the placeholder-named killer remains disturbingly unknown. It's only when it fits into his sadistic plan that Kevin Spacey is revealed as the mastermind. This helps build the viscerality of David Fincher's film, with us never ahead of the characters themselves. Had Spacey's role in the film been heavily publicised, the blood-splattered reveal would have been a lot less impactful - you have a strong inkling what the killer looks like.

Originally Spacey was going to have a top billing on the film, but the actor vetoed the idea, understanding that the mystery of the killer's identity drove the plot. Instead, his name was completely removed from any material pertaining to the film, including the opening credits. In some form of compensation Spacey's name was the first that appears in the closing credits, although the marketing trick had already had an unexpected pay-off for the actor; because he wasn't going to pushed as a part of the film he didn't have to be involved in any of the press junkets.

Almost twenty years on from the film's release Spacey is a central part of Seven's pop culture awareness, but his name is still absent from the DVD and Blu-Ray boxes. Very committed.