20 Famous Movie Tattoos (And What They Actually Mean)
5. Red Dragon (2002)
Role: Ralph Fiennes as Francis Dolarhyde
We already had a tattoo response to Da Vinci's Last Supper with Brad Pitt's Micky O'Neil, now fine art rears its head again with Francis Dolarhyde's ink inspired by William Blake's The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed in Sun.
Dolarhyde has become obsessed with the painting and the strength and power exuded by its titular dragon. This obsession has led to his harbouring an alternate personality The Great Red Dragon which tells him to kill seemingly random innocents. We learn of the pathology of his schizophrenia during the film - the abuse he suffered at the hands of his sadistic grandmother as a child gave him a strange lust for power which has reared its head in his adulthood.
As a piece in its own right, Dolarhyde's body art is some of the most impressive on this list a completely symmetrical dragon design covering the whole of his back, complete with detailed horns. Aside from making the serial killer look even more menacing and unhinged, the size and placement of the tattoo is symbolic of the total, stifling control The Great Red Dragon has over both the mind and body of Ralph Fiennes character.
You will be unlikely to forget this visually striking, intimidating tattoo in a hurry.