Ralph Fiennes: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

4. Lenny Nero - Strange Days (1995)

A few years after his major breakthrough role, Fiennes must have had his mailbox (they still used those back then right?) full of offers to play bad guys with thick accents and chilling death stares. But what does he do? In 1994 he takes the role of silver-spooned and reluctant Charles Van Doren in Robert Redfort's fantastic Quiz Show and a year later he kicks ass in sci-fi style with Kathryn Bigelow's Strange Days. Panned upon its initial release, Strange Days has a loyal cult following mostly because of its entertaining story, creative spirit, and fantastic performances from Fiennes, Juliette Lewis and Angela Bassett. Lenny Nero makes the cut because you'll rarely see him this loose and wild outside of heavy make-up. Thanks to the actor's MO of the super intense, serious, unassuming or dapper gentlemen Fiennes has never forayed into the world of sci-fi action since. In Strange Days, not only is he in it, but he's the hero and the perfect "Santa Clause of your subconscious". As ex-LAPD cop turned bootlegger with a heart of gold, Fiennes shows the world that he can shake off evil parts and turn on the charm, the laughs and the action while simultaneously doing a pretty sweet American accent. Along with some of his more prominent work, his Lenny Nero will be a fan favorite for generations to come.