David Thewlis began his career differently from the actor (and writer/director) he’d become, playing in rock bands like QED and Door 66, but later found his love for acting. Landing a role in the critically acclaimed Mike Leigh film Naked skyrocketed his career, and he has now spent over 30 years in the industry and has been the face of an array of great characters from horrendous Nazi soldiers in World War II to a lovable werewolf in the Wizarding World, and we just can’t get enough. Let’s take a look at some of his best.
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8 The Theory of Everything
Universal Pictures
In the biographical drama about Stephen Hawking’s life Theory of Everything, one of Eddie Redmayne’s best movies, Thewlis appeared as Hawking’s real mentor, Dr. Sicama. Thewlis did a brilliant job at bringing Sicama to life and portraying his sincerity and intelligence. Dr Sicama was a huge encouragement for Hawking and assisted him in driving his ideas forward. Thewlis might have only been a supporting role but when he was on screen, he touched everyone’s heart. It was even reported that the film made Hawking, certainly not a sentimental man, especially emotional.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 The Sandman
Netflix
The new fantasy drama The Sandman is based on Neil Gaiman’s 1989-1996 comic book of the same name. The show follows Dream, also known as Morpheus, the king of dreams and one of the seven Endless; after being captured in an occult ritual for 105 years, Dream escapes with the hopes of bringing order back to his kingdom of the dreaming.
Thewlis’ most recent role is arguably the best part of The Sandman, appearing as John Dee, a strange man who had once possessed an object of Dream’s power, although, it backfired and unfortunately led him to do unimaginable things. In the two best episodes of the Netflix series, Dee escapes his private prison, recovers the powerful jewel he had lost, and wreaks utter havoc in the most philosophically disturbing way. Thewlis’ mannerisms and facial expressions bring his character to life brilliantly, and when he speaks of his hidious crimes, mostly murder, he is calm, creepy, and definitely mysterious, bringing a sinister and dark atmosphere to the show. Simply watching him watch people in a diner is thrilling.
6 Wonder Woman
Warner Bros. Pictures
Thewlis appears as Sir Patrick, but that’s his human disguise. As the main villain in Wonder Woman, Sir Patrick is actually Ares, God of War, and Wonder Woman’s fearsome half brother. Seeing Thewlis gleefully enjoy himself as a wicked villain (a role he’s perfect in recent years) is refreshing and exciting, bringing suspense, drama, and fear to all viewers and finally exposing one of the best actors working today to the masses.
5 Naked
First Independent Films
Thewlis’ breakthrough performance in the bleak dramedy Naked not only shaped the future of his career, but brilliantly showcased his talent. He plays Johnny, a complex and extremely intellectual misanthrope who we follow stumble round the streets of London, without a care in the world who he hurts, steals from, or even rapes. Thewlis does a fantastic job of showing the eccentric and horrible lifestyle that Johnny lives and gives a very natural and nuanced representation of the character in a masterful exploration of self-destruction. While Thewlis started out as an average man, this film threw him into stardom and sparked an amazing career.
4 The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Miramax FilmsWalt Disney Studios
Thewlis appeared in 2008 historical drama film The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, taking on the role of Ralf. Ralf is an SS officer and father of Bruno. When Ralf gets promoted, he moves his family to rural Nazi occupied Poland. After finding a concentration camp (which he mistakes for a farm) behind his garden, Bruno befriends a young Jewish boy, Shmuel, who is in the camp and completely unaware of the horrors surrounding him. Despite his father’s involvement with the Nazis and his horrendous beliefs, Bruno decides to help Shmuel find his father, but when he sneaks into the camp, the boys get dragged away and suffer a fate so tragic and horrible we can’t even begin to imagine.
Thewlis portrayed Ralf as a corrupt and dangerous man who actually has no sympathy or care for the children who died in the camps, until one of them was his son. Even his wife disapproves of his involvement with the Jews, and when their lives are turned upside down, he is taken away to be punished. Although Ralf is a hateful character and one viewers despise, we cannot deny that Thewlis’ performance is brilliant and explores the heartache of a father in a new light.
3 Harry Potter Franchise
Warner Bros.
While Naked kick-started Thewlis’ career, and the actor has played an array of interesting and captivating characters, it wasn’t until David Thewlis was in his forties that he garnered massive mainstream attention, as there is not a Harry Potter fan on Earth who doesn’t love Remus Lupin. When Lupin joined the Harry Potter franchise, we quickly discovered that he is a charismatic and lovable character, a brilliant wizard unfortunate enough to be stuck with lycanthropy. Harry instantly bonds with Lupin when he teaches him to use the Patronus Charm, although it might just be because Lupin was good friends with his parents.
Throughout his appearance in the Wizarding World of Rowling, fans love Lupin’s funny, generous, and caring nature, and his death is truly heartbreaking. Although, we were happy to see him re-appear even just for a moment when Harry uses the resurrection stone. Thewlis really did a great job of bringing Lupin to life, and he gave us one of our favorite and most-loved characters in the series; however, we only wish we could have explored his and Tonks’ relationship more and seen more of his personal life.
2 Fargo
Disney–ABC Domestic Television20th Television
Thewlis appeared in season three of Noah Hawley’s dark comedy crime series Fargo. The show is inspired by the 1996 film of the same name by the Coen brothers and each season follows an anthology format of investigating crime. Thewlis plays one of Hawley’s best creations, V.M. Varga, who is the main antagonist of the season and is the most horrific and cunning criminal mastermind at the heart of a money laundering scheme. He is someone who is extremely manipulative and feels as though he has to be in control, though he isn’t always, given his eating disorder and subsequently disgusting teeth.
Speaking with Yahoo! Entertainment, Thewlis discussed Varga’s bulimia: “the idea is bulimia in his life. He’s a man who is so ultimately in control of seemingly everything, and it’s therefore an expression of the one part of his existence that he’s not in control of, something that at times he loses control of… vulnerability.” Despite Varga being possibly one of the most evil characters Thewlis has portrayed, he is magnetic and intriguing; Thewlis really delves deep into the character, giving us someone that nobody should get on the bad side of.
