Best Jeremy Irons Performances, Ranked | Pretty Reel

Jeremy Irons is a classically trained English actor and has won Tony, Oscar and multiple Emmy Awards. Irons began his acting career in 1969 in the West End and in 1984 transitioned to Broadway, where he won a Best Actor Tony in The Real Thing. In 1981, Irons starred in her first film role opposite Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant’s Woman. With over 100 acting credits, Irons has established himself as one of the finest living dramatic actors, and here are nine of his performances to prove it.

9/9 Lolita

The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Lolita is directed by Adrian Lyne and is the second screen adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 novel (the first was directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1962). The 1997 film is about Humbert Humbert (Irons), an English literature professor who rents a room in a widow’s house and falls in love with her 14-year-old daughter. The film struggled to find distributors due to how they handled the darker elements of the novel, but Irons received praise for his performance in the controversial role, the one that followed the similar psychosexual film Damage. , another dark classic based on literature.

8/9 Kingdom of Heaven

20th century fox

Kingdom of Heaven is a heavily fictionalized account of the life of Balian of Ibelin, who fought during the Crusades. The 2005 film, directed by Ridley Scott, has a star-studded cast with Orlando Bloom, Jeremy Irons, Eva Green, Brendan Gleeson and Liam Neeson. After Kingdom of Heaven received mixed reviews, Scott released a director’s cut that differs from the original, receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews in comparison. Kingdom of Heaven (Director’s Cut) is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

7/9 The Mission

Columbia-Cannon-Warner Distributors

The Mission is about the Jesuit missionary in South America in the 1750s. The 1986 film, directed by Roland Joffé, stars Robert DeNiro, Ray McAnally, Liam Neeson and Irons as Father Gabriel. De Niro and Irons are excellent in this film which is considered one of the best films with religious themes. The Mission was nominated for seven Oscars, winning Best Cinematography and winning the prestigious Palme d’Or at Cannes.

6/9 Dead Ringtones

20th century fox

Dead Ringers is a psychological thriller film directed by David Cronenberg. The 1988 film is loosely based on the lives of Steward and Cyril Marcus and stars Jeremy Irons as twins, Dr. Elliot and Dr. Beverly Mantle, gynecologists who operate a successful practice specializing in sexual problems. fertility. Dead Ringers is an interesting film filled with dread, and Irons is impressive as different twins. There have even been rumors that the makers of the Rabid remake would like to make Dead Ringers after their successful remake of Cronenberg’s other film. Dead Ringers is available now on HBO Max.

5/9 Casanova

Buena Vista Pictures

Casanova is a 2005 film loosely based on the life of Giacomo Casanova directed by Lasse Hallström. The film follows the notorious and promiscuous life of Casanova in Renaissance Venice. The late Heath Ledger plays Casanova while Irons plays bitter antagonist Bishop Pucci, who is determined to stop the beloved Casanova’s escapades. The entire cast (which also features Sienna Miller, Oliver Platt, and Lena Olin) of Casanova are excellent at lighthearted romantic adventure.

4/9 Reversal of Fortune

Warner Bros.

Reversal of Fortune is an adaptation (of all) of Alan Dershowitz’s 1985 novel, Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case. The 1990 film follows the true story of socialite Sunny von Bülow’s (Glenn Close) unexplained coma and the attempted murder trial of her husband, Claus von Bülow (Irons). Irons is terrific in this role as a man trying to clear his name with the odds stacked against him. Reversal of Fortune was nominated for three Oscars, with Irons winning Best Actor.

3/9 The Man in the Iron Mask

MGM Distribution Co.

The Man in the Iron Mask is loosely based on Alexandre Dumas’ Romances d’Artagnan and was written, directed and produced by Randall Wallace. The 1998 film brings the three musketeers, Athos (John Malkovich), Porthos (Gérard Depardieu) and Aramis (Irons), back to the reign of King Louis XIV (Leonardo DiCaprio). Irons is fantastic as the group leader and narrator of the film. Although The Man in the Iron Mask received mixed reviews, it became a cult classic for ’90s kids.

2/9 The Lion King

Buena Vista Pictures

The Lion King is arguably one of the best Disney films ever made and one of the highest grossing films of all time. The 1994 film tells the story of a young lion, Simba, who is supposed to take his father’s place as pride leader, but is sent into exile instead. Irons voices the main antagonist, a lion named Scar, and it’s easily one of his most recognizable performances. The film went on to receive two Oscars and became one of the most beloved films of all time. The Lion King is now streaming on Disney+.

1/9 The Borgias

Show time

The Borgias is a historical fiction series created by Neil Jordan and follows the Borgia family as their patriarch becomes Pope Alexander VI (Irons). Jeremy Irons is amazing as the head of one of the most infamous crime families in history and the head of the Catholic Church. The series was nominated for 16 Emmys throughout its run (winning three of them) but that unfortunately didn’t stop Showtime from canceling The Borgias after the third season. The Borgias is now streaming on Netflix and Showtime.