20 Famous Movie Tattoos (And What They Actually Mean)
6. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Role: Ray Parks as Darth Maul
It may not sound like a particularly coveted title to be called the best thing to come out of The Phantom Menace, but Ray Parks turn as the ominous Darth Maul makes Darth Sidious apprentice one of the best antagonists of any Star Wars film. Darth Maul is silent throughout but is given a tremendous amount of screen presence by the black, tribal-inspired tattoos covering his face.
According to Star Wars-mythology, Maul is a Dathomirian Zabrak who was branded with agonising Sith tattoos by Darth Sidious as a ritualised display of the apprentices commitment to the dark side.
The tribal element of the facial tattoos also hints at his prowess as a warrior, which is confirmed with aplomb in the film's climax as he does battle against the combined attack of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn.
Ray Park is a martial artist and professional stunt double so suffice to say Maul's mastery with that infamous double-edged light sabre is something to behold, likely providing inspiration for the Red Vipers fighting style in the most recent instalment of Game Of Thrones.