Jeremy Irons is a classically trained English actor and has won a Tony, an Oscar, and multiple Emmy Awards. Irons began his acting career in 1969 on the West End and in 1984 made his transition to Broadway, where he won a Tony for Best Actor in The Real Thing. In 1981 Irons starred in his first film role opposite Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant’s Woman. With over 100 acting credits, Irons has cemented himself as one of the best drama actors alive, and here are nine of his performances that prove that.
9 Lolita
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 the house of a widow and falls in love with her 14-year-old daughter. The film had difficulty finding distributors due to how they handled the novel's darker elements, but Irons has received praise for his performance in this controversial role, one which followed the similarly psychosexual film Damage, another dark classic based on literature.
8 Kingdom of Heaven
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 featuring Orlando Bloom, Jeremy Irons, Eva Green, Brendan Gleeson, and Liam Neeson. After Kingdom of Heaven received mixed reviews, Scott released a director’s cut which differs from the original, receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews in comparison. Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut) is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
7 The Mission
The Mission is about the Jesuit missionary in South America during the 1750s. The 1986 film, directed by Roland Joffé, stars Robert DeNiro, Ray McAnally, Liam Neeson, and Irons as Father Gabriel. Both DeNiro and Irons are great in this film which is considered one of the best films with religious themes. The Mission was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning Best Cinematography, and won the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes.
6 Dead Ringers
Dead Ringers is a psychological thriller directed by David Cronenberg. The 1988 film is loosely based on the lives of Steward and Cyril Marcus and stars Jeremy Irons in dual roles as twins Dr. Elliot and Dr. Beverly Mantle, gynecologists who operate a successful practice specializing in fertility problems. Dead Ringers is an interesting film filled with dread, and Irons is impressive as the different twins. There have even been rumors that Rabid remake directors want to do Dead Ringers next after their successful remake of Cronenberg's other film. Dead Ringers is now available on HBO Max.
5 Casanova
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 the bitter antagonist Bishop Pucci, who is determined to stop the escapades of the beloved Casanova. The entire cast (which also stars Sienna Miller, Oliver Platt, and Lena Olin) of Casanova are great in the light romance-adventure.
4 Reversal of Fortune
Reversal of Fortune is an adaptation of (of all people) Alan Dershowitz’s 1985 novel, Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case. The 1990 film follows the true story of the unexplained coma of socialite Sunny von Bülow (Glenn Close) and the attempted murder trial of her husband, Claus von Bülow (Irons). Irons is great in this role as a man trying to clear his name with the odds against him. Reversal of Fortune was nominated for three Academy Awards, with Irons winning Best Actor.
3 The Man in the Iron Mask
The Man in the Iron Mask is loosely based on Alexandre Dumas’ D’Artagnan Romances and was written, directed, and produced by Randall Wallace. The 1998 film brings back the three musketeers, Athos (John Malkovich), Porthos (Gérard Depardieu), and Aramis (Irons), during the reign of King Louis XIV (Leonardo DiCaprio). Irons is fantastic as the group leader and the film's narrator. Although The Man in the Iron Mask received lukewarm reviews it has become a cult classic for kids of the 90s.
2 The Lion King
The Lion King is arguably one of the best Disney movies 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 meant to take his father’s place as the leader of the pride but is sent into exile instead. Irons voices the main antagonist, a lion named Scar, and it is easily one of his most recognizable performances. The film went on to receive two Academy Awards and become one of the most beloved movies of all time. The Lion King is now streaming on Disney+.
1 The Borgias
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 incredible as the head of one of the most infamous crime families in history and the leader of the Catholic Church. The series was nominated for 16 Emmys throughout its run (winning three of them) but that unfortunately did not stop Showtime from canceling The Borgias after season three. The Borgias is now streaming on Netflix and Showtime.