Hugo Weaving is an accomplished actor with a talent for playing complex villains and morally gray antagonists. From The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix to dabbling in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is also something of a fandom darling. While people around the world recognize Weaving for his contributions to “nerdom,” his roles extend far beyond that.
Early in his career, Weaving played acclaimed cricket player Douglas Jardine on the Australian TV series Bodyline. However, his big break didn’t come until his jump to the big screen. Proof won him the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, while the cult classic The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert earned him more praise and nominations. Now, Weaving is an established presence in entertainment, with voice-over roles only adding to an impressive filmography.
While narrowing down his best performances is challenging, here are the 10 best Hugo Weaving movies and TV shows in order of release dates.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) follows two drag queens (Weaving and Guy Pearce) and a transgender woman (Terence Stamp) on their tour through the Australian Outback. Based on the lives of three real-life drag queens, the movie’s comedy, dazzle, and zany candidness made it an instant cult classic with critical acclaim to back it up. Dubbed by many as “ahead of its time,” The Adventures of Priscilla delves into LGBT issues with heart and authenticity. For those who only know Weaving from his later roles, his performance as Mitzi Del Bra is unlike any other and well worth the watch.
The Interview
Looking for a lesser-known movie where Weaving sparkles? Enter The Interview (1998). This Australian psychological thriller takes place almost entirely in an interrogation room when a man (Weaving) picked up for stealing a car becomes connected to a serial killing. Best enjoyed without knowing too much about the plot, The Interview is a mind-bending crime story further amplified by Weaving.
The Matrix
For many, if they don’t think of Elrond when they hear Weaving’s name, they think of Agent Smith. A pop culture icon in his own right, Agent Smith became infamous as the villain hellbent on destroying humanity and the Machines in The Matrix (1999). With names like Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, and Carrie-Anne Moss, The Matrix has no shortage of heavy-hitting actors. Still, Weaving’s nuanced performance as Smith remains a standout. There’s a good reason Smith ranks as one of the most iconic movie villains of all time. Hence, Weaving’s reprisal of the roles in The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, and the video game Enter the Matrix.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Thanks to Peter Jackson’s acclaimed The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Weaving has become synonymous with Elrond, lord of the Elvish settlement of Rivendale. The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) kicks off Frodo (Elijah Wood) and company’s quest to destroy the One Ring in Mordor before the Dark Lord Sauron can rise to power again. Elrond remains vital throughout The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. However, Fellowship of the Ring cements his importance in the preceding events with the Council of Elrond. Weaving, of course, portrays the character with a quiet strength.
V for Vendetta
Stemming from the pages of Vertigo Comics, V for Vendetta (2005) takes place in dystopian London ruled by a fascist regime. Weaving portrays V, a masked vigilante set on restoring peace with the help of a new and unexpected ally, Evey (Natalie Portman). Not only was the movie’s cinematography and deeper allegory praised, but Weaving stole the spotlight as the movie’s faceless hero. Even hidden behind a mask, he manages to convey a compelling performance.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Long before Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) took over the mantle, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) soared as Captain America. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) marks the hero’s first solo movie and details how a rejected military hopeful transforms into one of the world’s most powerful superheroes. In his opposition is Weaving’s Johann Schmidt, who later transforms into Red Skull, one of Captain America’s most famous foes. While Weaving’s Red Skull would become a one-off villain, fans hold the portrayal in high regard. Let’s just say if Weaving ever wanted to return to the MCU, few would complain.
Cloud Atlas
The Matrix isn’t the only Wachowskis sci-fi movie Weaving is a part of. In Cloud Atlas (2012), he joins Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, and others in a five-century-spanning epic about reincarnation. Weaving gets to put his acting chops on display, playing six different characters during the movie’s runtime. Once again, Weaving proves he has a knack for playing villains by imbuing his characters with a subtle sinisterness.
Mystery Road
Mystery Road (2013) is a crime drama with a neo-Western flair. Aaron Pedersen plays Aboriginal detective Jay Swan, who returns to the Australian Outback to investigate the murder of an Aboriginal teenager. Weaving steps in as a police officer with an unsettling presence that you can’t quite pin down. Racial tension thickens the plot and shines a light on the hardships the Indigenous people of Australia still face.
Hacksaw Ridge
Directed by Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge (2016) tells the true story of Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), an American combat medic famous for refusing to carry a weapon due to his religious beliefs. While Garfield holds the spotlight as Desmond, Weaving shares it as Tom Doss, Desmond’s battle-scarred father. Delivering the expected electrifying performance, Weaving won a well-deserved AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Slow Horses
Apple TV continued its legacy of spy dramas with Slow Horses. The series follows a dysfunctional motley crew of MI5 agents and their boss as they investigate all manner of suspicious affronts throughout England. While Slow Horses is very much a Gary Oldman vehicle, Weaving enters the scene in Season 4 as former CIA operative Frank Harkness. Despite being a late addition to the show, Weaving commands presence as Harkness. If anything, Slow Horses reminds audiences that Weaving reigns as “King of the Complex Villains.”
Where to watch Hugo Weaving’s best movies and TV shows streaming online
While Hugo Weaving’s contribution to cinema can’t be summed up with just 10 entries, here’s where you can watch some of his best movies and TV shows in the US.
