Mark Strong: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

3. Lord Henry Blackwood - Sherlock Holmes

In many ways the role that helped Strong break through to the mainstream, his 2009 turn as the evil Lord Henry Blackwood was his third collaboration with director Guy Ritchie, and helped Sherlock Holmes rake in over $500 million at the box office. Blackwood has the appearance of a smooth aristocrat, but this disguises a more sinister interior, for he is a serial killer with dealings in the occult. Seemingly returning from beyond the grave after being executed from his crimes, he seeks control of the British Empire, and appears to possess supernatural powers. Though the full extent of Blackwood's character isn't revealed until Holmes himself realises the nature of his mystical trickery, Strong makes for a thoroughly imposing villain, and if somewhat outdone by Jared Harris' Moriarty in the second film, is still an extremely memorable presence here, more than capable of keeping up with Robert Downey Jr's quick wit.