Top 5 Jeremy Irons Movies:'The Man in the Iron Mask' to 'Appaloosa'

When I think about actor Jeremy Irons, I think about the various characters he has given life to and the eras his movies are set in. His range as an actor knows no limits. He is truly a master at his profession who should be listed right up with the likes of Laurence Olivier and Richard Burton in terms of leading men.

Whether Irons is starring in a movie set in the 16th century or lending his voice to Disney (remember Scar in "The Lion King?"), Irons gives his characters nothing less than his all, as demonstrated in the following movies.

Top 5 Jeremy Irons Movies:

"The Man in the Iron Mask" (1998) - Jeremy Irons stars as Aramis, one of King Louis XIII's guards (he, Porthos, and Athos have since retired). The new King, Louis XIV, has taken a fancy to a girl, Christine, who is engaged to Athos' son Raoul. To get Raoul out of the way, he sends him off to war and the young man is killed in combat.

Athos, Armis, and Pathos devise a plan to replace the King with his twin brother Phillipe, considered France's only hope, during the masquerade ball. Phillipe has been locked away in the tower and forced to wear an iron mask for many years. The switch made, they lock Louis XIV in the tower, gag him, and put him in the iron mask.

"Reversal of Fortune" (1990) - Jeremy Irons stars as Claus von Bülow who was accused of killing his wife, Sunny von Bülow by giving her an overdose of insulin. She remained in a coma for 28-years before dying in 2008.

"Reversal of Fortune" is based on the book "Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bulow Case" written by Harvard Law professor and von Bülow attorney
Alan Dershowitz.

Irons received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in this movie.

"The French Lieutenant's Woman" (1981) - The actor starred opposite Meryl Streep in this movie set in 19th century Englad.

This movie has two stories running parallel: In the first story are two characters in the book of the same name, Sarah Woodruff and Charles Henry Smithson. Charles' affair with Sarah ends his engagement and destroys his reputation. On the other side are two actors portraying Sarah and Charles, Anna and Mike. The latter are married but in the throws of their own affair. Anna and Mike must deal with the consequences said affair has on their lives.

"The Merchant of Venice" (2004) - Based on Shakespeare's play, Irons portrays a merchant named Antonio. The movie also stars Al Pacino as Shylock.

The merchant's financial interests are tied up in overseas shipments when his friend Bassanio approaches him for a large loan so that he may travel to Belmont to propose to Portia. Antonio borrows money from Shylock who tells him the money must be paid back with interest in three months or he would take a pound of flesh.

Needless to say, at the end of three months Antonio is unable to repay the debt when three vessels carrying Antonio's load sinks. Shylock takes his case to court for a pound of flesh per their agreement.

"Eragon" (2006) - Loosely based on Christopher Paolini's novel of the same name, Irons portrays Brom, a storyteller and dragon rider who mentors Eragon in such a way that Eragon thinks he's discovering his new life on his own.

This wasn't a "great" movie, but the presence of Jeremy Irons really made it worth watching - otherwise it would have sunk miserably into the depths of the abyss.

"Appaloosa" (2008) - Irons stars as bad guy Randall Bragg, a rancher who has been terrorizing the small town of Appaloosa. When he kills the Marshal and two of his deputies, the town brings in Everett Hitch and Virgil Cole. They capture Bragg but he escapes and is later pardoned by the president.

Bragg returns to Appaloosa, buys a hotel, and although it would appear he's a reformed man, Everett and Virgil suspect he's up to no good. Everett finds out Bragg is having relations with Allison French and challenges Bragg to a duel, gunning the rancher down as Virgil looks on.

"Appaloosa" also stars Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Lance Henriksen, and Renee Zellweger.

How about you? Do you have a favorite Jeremy Irons movie?

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