# Best Performance By An Actor Whose Face Remains Wholly Unseen **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 10, 2012, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564 "2012-11-10T10:08:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/21 "2012-11-10T20:37:02Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Edward Norton as Baldwin IV in Kingdom of Heaven. Seconded with gusto. Love that role. Movie is somewhat flawed (even the Director’s Cut version), but Norton was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![irritant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@irritant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irritant)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/22 "2012-11-10T21:13:53Z")
Claude Rains in _The Invisible Man_ is the obvious winner, although (spoiler alert for an 80 year-old film) you do briefly see his face at the end, after he dies. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/23 "2012-11-10T22:43:14Z")
> [@DxZero](#): > > Seconded with gusto. Love that role. Movie is somewhat flawed (even the Director’s Cut version), but Norton was awesome. I didn’t think the movie was flawed, but I did like the director’s version better. Slower pace, better exposition and motivations. Norton stole every scene in that movie he was in, while in a supporting role that didn’t show his face. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/24 "2012-11-10T22:43:34Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > I’ll nominate Jeremy Bulloch as Boba Fett in ESB and (original, not SE) RotJ. Why? I never got the love for that character. He had what, one line in ESB? I can’t even remember him saying ANYTHING in ROTJ. He ran the gamut of emotions from A to B. Several of the Ewoks warrant more praise, and I hated the Ewoks. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/25 "2012-11-10T23:13:42Z")
> [@AlohaBear32](#): > > Question: Does Motion Capture count? (Woundn’t think so) > If it did, the Award would be a tie for me between Doug Jones (Pan’s Labrynth) and Andy Serkis ( **R.O.T.P.O.T.A.** ) … Return Of The Pain Of The Ass? ---
**Author:** ![Pitchmeister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pitchmeister/32/3459_2.png) [@Pitchmeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitchmeister)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/26 "2012-11-11T00:09:21Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > … Return Of The Pain Of The Ass? Rise of the Planet of the Apes ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/27 "2012-11-11T00:33:59Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Why? I never got the love for that character. He had what, one line in ESB? I can’t even remember him saying ANYTHING in ROTJ. He ran the gamut of emotions from A to B. Several of the Ewoks warrant more praise, and I hated the Ewoks. Oddly, I think most of the love for Boba Fett comes from the Holiday Special. There was an animated segment that introduced him and showed him as a far more complex and grey character than the movies ever did. Easily the only part of the HS worth watching. There may be some EU stories that built off of that version of the character, but I think that’s the one everyone is thinking of when they say how much they like Boba Fett. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/28 "2012-11-11T02:01:03Z")
[Douglas Rain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Rain) for his portrayal of the HAL 9000 in 2001 - A Space Odyssey. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/29 "2012-11-11T03:02:11Z")
> [@tanstaafl](#): > > Oddly, I think most of the love for Boba Fett comes from the Holiday Special. There was an animated segment that introduced him and showed him as a far more complex and grey character than the movies ever did. Easily the only part of the HS worth watching. > > There may be some EU stories that built off of that version of the character, but I think that’s the one everyone is thinking of when they say how much they like Boba Fett. Thanks. I was into Star Was as much as any 11-year-old boy when it came out in 1977. Loved Empire Strikes Back, but was always puzzled by the Boba-Fett love, even at that age. He wasn’t anything more than walk-on role - they might as well have fixated on John Ratzenberger’s portrayal of a Rebel soldier. ROTJ didn’t help me figure it out either. I began to think as I got older there was some sort of subliminal suggestion on-screen that I missed when I went to the bathroom. I actually saw the Christmas Special, but I must’ve put myself in a protective medical coma by the time Fett hit the screen. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/30 "2012-11-11T03:17:03Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Not a best, but Mila Kunis’ first film role was in Krippendorf’s Tribe. Her face wasn’t seen but her voice was unmistakeable. Her face was seen, though, through the bars of the cage. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/31 "2012-11-11T03:22:22Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > [Douglas Rain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Rain) for his portrayal of the HAL 9000 in 2001 - A Space Odyssey. The voice of HAL 9000 was initially to have been provided by Martin Balsam, but Kubrick decided he sounded “too New York.” Then a British actor was hired for the part, but after a few weeks Kubrick thought he was just “too English.” Canadian actor Douglas Rain wasn’t cast for the role until post-production, so during the filming an assistant director with a strong Cockney accent read HAL’s lines off-camera (“'Ere, Dave, I can tell yer upset; why not take a stress pill?”). [Keir] Dullea said it took some getting used to. From here: [I met Keir Dullea tonight! - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=616628) ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/32 "2012-11-11T03:24:57Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Edward Norton as Baldwin IV in Kingdom of Heaven. I came in to say this. Didn’t even know it was him til the credits rolled. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/33 "2012-11-11T03:32:42Z")
> [@tanstaafl](#): > > Oddly, I think most of the love for Boba Fett comes from the Holiday Special. There was an animated segment that introduced him and showed him as a far more complex and grey character than the movies ever did. Easily the only part of the HS worth watching. He also had an awesome action figure. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/34 "2012-11-11T03:53:42Z")
The very tall cop in _Police Squad_. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/35 "2012-11-11T07:07:17Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Why? I never got the love for that character. He had what, one line in ESB? I can’t even remember him saying ANYTHING in ROTJ. He ran the gamut of emotions from A to B. Several of the Ewoks warrant more praise, and I hated the Ewoks. I have no particular love for the character of Boba Fett; I think that Jeremy Bulloch, mostly though a subtle physical performance, conveyed the kind of menacing bad-ass that Fett was supposed to be (before dying like a little bitch, in what I still believe was Lucas’ middle-finger to the fans for elevating his one-off character into a fan-driven icon). Eh. Reading other people’s nominations, I’ll readily concede that mine is not the best nomination; Ed Norton in _Kingdom of Heaven_ is a very good nom. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/36 "2012-11-11T08:23:23Z")
Woody Allen, **Radio Days**. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/37 "2012-11-11T08:35:59Z")
Kevin Costner in _The Big Chill_, just because it’s the one role when he manages not to annoy me. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/38 "2012-11-11T08:45:28Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > I have no particular love for the character of Boba Fett; I think that Jeremy Bulloch, mostly though a subtle physical performance, conveyed the kind of menacing bad-ass that Fett was supposed to be (before dying like a little bitch, in what I still believe was Lucas’ middle-finger to the fans for elevating his one-off character into a fan-driven icon). > > Eh. Reading other people’s nominations, I’ll readily concede that mine is not the best nomination; Ed Norton in _Kingdom of Heaven_ is a very good nom. Lucas sure wasn’t shy about dragging him back into the story again though, was he? I mean, fercrissakes, Boba Fett’s DAD provided the genetic material for the clones? Yeah, I’m sure he had that scripted out for decades, and didn’t just pull that out of his ass for fanservice and toy sales. Dammit, you’re making me think about Star Wars again. Stop it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/39 "2012-11-11T14:04:33Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > In FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, the actor playing Blofeld gives a marvellous performance, although his face is never seen. He radiates evil. I think it’s a different actor in THUNDERBALL, but that guy also does a very threatening job. In both movies, Anthony Dawson does the body, with Eric Pohlmann providing the voice. Dawson had previously played Professor Dent in _Dr. No._ Some sources say that Joseph Wiseman did the voice in _Thunderball_, but wikipedia says they are mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564/40 "2012-11-11T17:29:13Z")
Alan Rickman as Marvin in _The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy_. Deadpan melancholic awesomeness. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-performance-by-an-actor-whose-face-remains-wholly-unseen/640564.md?page=3)