10 Respected Actors Who Completely Hammed It Up To Play Flamboyant Villains

7. Tom Hiddleston As Loki - Marvel Cinematic Universe

Casting Tom Hiddleston as Thor's nemesis, Loki, was a master stroke by somebody over at Marvel. It's the role that made Hiddleston internationally famous, an instant star-making turn, but elsewhere the actor has been better known for his theatre work, and a more natural acting style in such smaller-scale dramas as Archipelago and The Deep Blue Sea. But going from low-key to Loki (yeah?) ain't no thing for Hiddleston, who casually makes the Marvel favourite into a deliciously duplicitous and sinister wrongdoer. Loki, with his cape, giant staff and antler head-dress, not to mention his love of withering putdowns and sibling betrayal, could only have been a villain out of a comic book. Hiddleston however looks to have competition in the Marvel flamboyancy stakes - the mid-credits teaser that followed Thor: The Dark World showed Benicio del Toro in rare form as The Collector, who'll hopefully be appearing in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy with shocked blonde wig and bafflingly affected mannerisms intact.