20 More TV Acting Performances That Are Totally Flawless

Bryan Fuller's uber-violent, incredibly stylish interpretation of Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lecter is one of the most popular and viscerally disturbing dramas on offer, made all the more remarkable by Mads Mikkelsen's searing portrayal of the titular psychiatrist/serial killer.

Much like Antony Hopkins' turn in the same role, Mikkelsen brings his own vision to the cinematic icon, finding the perfect line between eerily charming and devastatingly evil. This is boosted to further greatness by Hannibal's relationship with Hugh Dancy's FBI agent Will Graham, with whom he forms a troubling bond during his descent into deeper darkness.

Mikkelsen is a natural in the role, finding the sophistication and cunning within Lecter's insanity, and finding a way to scare, disturb or confuse with only a single facial twitch.

Hopkins may be the actor most associated with the role, but Mikkelsen was given more time with the ingeniously cruel killer, and from his performance was able to make Lecter feel more dangerous, complicated and dastardly than any actor before him.