Wearing a mask is something that people know about all too well these days. While generally accepted as something we have to wear, some can make basic tasks more difficult and communication can become a problem. And then there are the actors who wear masks for their most well-known and often underrated roles, often taking hours upon hours in the makeup chair to get ready.

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After all, conveying emotions and personality is difficult without facial expressions. Hence, when actors bring out stellar and even memorable performances on-screen with the added challenge of a mask, it makes sense that their masks become iconic. Whether they're a hero or a villain, these characters show that there's more underneath the masks that they wear.

Hero: V (V For Vendetta)

V for Vendetta

Arguably the most notorious of the bunch, V and his Guy Fawkes mask has become the rallying symbol for anarchism and other rebellious movements all over the globe right now, whether it's digital or physical anarchy. It's all thanks to Hugo Weaving's classy rogue, whose madness matches his sophistication and vengefulness.

The magic is that V remains anonymous throughout the movie. Not revealing the face under the mask made it easier to digest that V is more of an idea than a man, and that idea is all about fighting legal oppression and totalitarian rule. Needless to say, it was a rather effective display.

Villain: Boba Fett (Star Wars)

Boba Fett Return of the Jedi

Arguably, Boba Fett is the progenitor of Disney and Star Wars' most successful TV series to date, The Mandalorian. This strong and silent bounty hunter has always captivated Star Wars fans both young and old with his tenacity and arrogance, being able to stand up to the likes of Darth Vader without repercussions.

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Of course, he's also a villain, so that doesn't excuse all of his transgressions, including being a worthy enemy for Han Solo. Nevertheless, Boba Fett has spawned a cult following that has now reached pop culture status, thanks to that enigmatic helmet.

Hero: Judge Dredd (Dredd 2012)

Featured Karl Urban Wants To Return As Judge Dredd 1

He's more obscure than most heroes but liking masked protagonists and sleeping on Karl Urban's Judge Dredd act should be a sin. Because before Dredd came along, not many masked heroes were able to steal the screen with nothing but scowls and grimaces.

Karl Urban plays Judge Dredd in the titular 2012 movie. There, he acts as a prosecutor, cop, and executioner rolled into one because society has crumbled and the ratio of criminals to civilians is becoming increasingly lopsided. Dredd's boiling rage is easily reflected in his snarls, even though barely a third of his face is visible.

Villain: Darth Vader (Star Wars)

Darth Vader Standing in the Hallway in Rogue One A Star Wars Story

Apart from Boba Fett, the other most popular masked Star Wars character is none other than Darth Vader himself. He's the one responsible for several generations of Star Wars fans preferring Sith attire over Jedi rags. Just look at that elegant black armor and wavy cape.

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It's worth noting that there are several actors who have played Darth Vader under the mask, but all have that iconic voice. They've all brought the robotic villain to life and made him the most iconic masked character in film, and his backstory, as introduced by his unmasking, made the character all the more legendary.

Hero: Zorro

Antonio Banderas in a fighting stance in the Mask of Zorro

Zorro, much like Darth Vader, has been around for decades — even way back when cinema was still in monochrome. His mask and costume are simple and by today's standards, looks flimsy and cheap. The character also doesn't demand the same amount of acting energy compared to other masks, but it's nevertheless one of the most recognizable pieces of headwear in TV and movie culture.

The mask hasn't really changed much from its first media appearance in 1920. It's more like a hanky or black rag with holes cut out of it that any child can do today. Out of all the Zorros, however, Antonio Banderas from The Mask of Zorro stands out as the most convincing one, with his Inigo Montoya energy.

Villain: Jason Voorhees (Friday The 13th)

Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th

Similar to how simple Zorro's mask is, Jason Voorhees and the cheap DIY hockey mask with a machete is something that is immortalized in the annals of horror movie history. All his gear can be bought in a hardware store - consequently, it's now impossible to look at a hockey mask and not envision Jason Voorhees.

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Ever since the immortal slasher started cutting up hormonal American teenagers back in the 1980s Friday the 13th, Jason Voorhees quickly overtook his slasher contemporaries, such as Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers. Now if only some brave horror director could do him justice today.

Hero: Spider-Man

Tobey Maguire in an alleyway in Spider-Man 2.

Marvel's most popular superhero remains Spider-Man, despite Iron-Man's big sacrifice. In any case, a Spider-Man actor's performance is more valid than Iron Man's since everyone and his dog knows who Tony Stark is. Peter Parker, on the other hand, is just your average New Yorker trying to get by.

Such traits were captured vividly by Tobey Maguire. It's easy to imagine that underneath that all that latex is a vulnerable young man with financial issues and sky-high humility. It puts emphasis on how anyone can be a hero and be down-to-Earth at the same time.

Villain: Hannibal Lecter (Silence Of The Lambs)

Hannibal Lecter wearing the Bite Mask from Red Dragon

A villain doesn't have to show how physically imposing they are in order to scare an audience. That's how everyone feels the first time they see Anthony Hopkins breathe life into Hannibal Lecter's character. Even hearing his soft-spoken yet unwavering voice makes everyone uneasy.

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The fact that he did it all mostly underneath a muzzle, which is more like a mask, makes the character more terrifying than someone like Jason Voorhees. This mask also says a lot about what he's capable of — someone who can weaponize their teeth and has no hesitation in taking chunks out of their victim's skin.

Hero: Batman

Batman running down a hall with bats flying behind him in Batman Begins.

Superman is DC's most popular superhero but he doesn't wear a mask like Batman. He's the champion of all human-derived superheroes, whether it's the friendly every-man or the brooding antihero everyone loves in a bittersweet way.

Out of all the live-action Batman actors, Christian Bale wins in most polls. His iteration of the character in Batman Begins is the perfect encapsulation of the Year One Batman. Bale's raspy voice change and borderline growl are even more impressive when compared to his speaking voice as Bruce Wayne.

Villain: Bane (The Dark Knight Rises)

Tom Hardy as Bane looking down in The Dark Knight Rises

Too bad another masked character in the Dark Knight trilogy stole the show. This would be Tom Hardy's Bane in The Dark Knight Riseswhose screen presence was so large that Batman was overshadowed and felt more like a side character.

What Tom Hardy couldn't convey in facial expressions, he did so with imposing physicality and a British accent that would have made Sean Connery blush. Bane even became memorable enough in this movie to be quoted endlessly and aped by bodybuilders and weightlifters alike.

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