Okay, so, possibly a controversial one to begin with. While there is no doubting Bettany's popularity with cinema-going audiences, he's never quite managed to turn that into being the first name on the credits. After a breakthrough performance in the Heath Ledger starring A Knights Tale the young Bettany was destined for big things. What followed, though, were a series of supporting roles, albeit in some major releases. He impressed in Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World opposite Russell Crowe, and was the only one to emerge with any credit from the otherwise terrible The Da Vinci Code. The main problem is that when he has the lead in a film, such as Wimbledon, Legion or Priest, that film has, politely speaking, tanked. That strike rate leaves studio bosses unwilling to gamble on an actor that doesn't deliver at the box office. So What Next? One decision that has paid off was in taking the role as the voice of Robert Downey Jnrs electronic butler J.A.R.V.I.S. in Iron Man, which at the time was by no means the guaranteed success a new Marvel film is today. Now, as The Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Bettany is set for global stardom, but will those leading roles follow? Now is the time to capitalise.
Film fan, horror obsessive and defender of found footage; The Blair Witch Project is one of the most important films of all time - fact! Squeeze in the odd book too.
