20 TV Villain Performances That Are Practically Flawless
5. Mads Mikkelsen - Hannibal Lecter (Hannibal)
When he landed the role of the iconic Hannibal the Cannibal, Mads Mikkelsen was reportedly adamant that he was going to make the character his own, without attempting to emulate either Brian Cox or Anthony Hopkins' portrayals.
And make it his own he did, finding a haunting balance between the serial killer's love for fine arts and beauty and his unquenchable, depraved bloodlust with such grace that it's almost scary.
A transformative performance with few equals on modern TV, Mikkelsen's performance is a masterclass of subtly, as he works diligently to mask Hannibal's evilness under an unassuming air of sophistication.
When Hannibal was unjustly cancelled after just three seasons, the biggest reason fans were so mortified was because they'd never get to see Mikkelsen's harrowing performance ever again. It really is one of the greats.