Just what is it about British actors and comic book adaptations? From Henry Cavill as Superman [1] to Letitia Wright as Shuri [2], there's a grand tradition of British stars playing superheroes and supervillains in big-budget blockbusters. Can you believe we found almost 60 examples of comic book movie and TV stars from the UK, and that's only from the more recent Marvel and DC adaptations? Why do our stars do so well in these films? Maybe they're more readily available, maybe they're more accommodating, or maybe there's just something about the accent? After all, can you imagine Loki delivering his most cutting lines with anything other than Tom Hiddleston's silver tongue? Check out all the Brits who've taken on comic-inspired roles now, and let us know any we've missed!
Tom Hiddleston
Tom Hiddleston has played many people's favourite Marvel universe character, the trickster Loki, in Thor, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok, and Avengers: Infinity War.
Henry Cavill
Chisel-jawed Henry Cavill made his first appearance as Superman in Man of Steel. He returned in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League.
Sophie Turner
Game of Thrones's Sophie Turner put Sansa Stark on pause to play another powerful redhead — Jean Grey — in X-Men: Apocalypse. She'll return for X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
Benedict Cumberbatch
It was only a matter of time before the dreams of a thousand Cumberb*tches came true. Benedict found his place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when he signed on to play Doctor Strange in the film of the same name. He had a cameo in Thor: Ragnarok and also appeared in Avengers: Infinity War.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Chiwetel joined Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange, playing Baron Mordo.
Andrew Garfield
Andrew Garfield took over the reins from Tobey Maguire [3] when he was cast as Peter Parker in the Spider-Man reboot The Amazing Spider-Man. His tenure lasted two films.
Letitia Wright
Rising star Letitia made her debut in Black Panther [4] playing Shuri, technical genius and younger sister of T'Challa. She returned in Avengers: Infinity War.
Tom Holland
Up-and-coming British talent Tom Holland [5] is the current Spider-Man in yet another reboot that saw the webbed wonder (finally) join forces with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He made his first appearance in Captain America: Civil War and has since appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War.
Daniel Kaluuya
Get Out star Daniel made his Marvel debut in Black Panther [6] as W'Kabi.
Karen Gillan
Scottish actress Karen Gillan famously shaved her head to play the villainous Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy. She also returned for the sequel and appeared in Avengers: Infinity War.
Christian Bale
DC took a darker turn when Christopher Nolan cast Christian Bale [7] as Batman. He made three films as the caped crusader before passing the torch to Ben Affleck [8].
Paul Bettany
Paul Bettany [9] voiced Jarvis in all three Iron Man films and the first Avengers movie before Avengers: Age of Ultron saw him turn into something even more exciting: The Vision. He returned in Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War.
James McAvoy
Scottish actor James McAvoy [10] plays the younger version of Professor Xavier in X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and X-Men: Apocalypse. He'll appear next in X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
Idris Elba
Idris Elba plays the mysterious Heimdall, guardian sentry of Asgard, who stands watch on the Bifrost in the Thor films, and he also makes appearances in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Avengers: Infinity War.
Charlie Cox
Charlie Cox has had rave reviews for his performance as Matt Murdoch/Daredevil in the Marvel/Netflix series of the same name. He's now joined forces with other New York heroes to become the Defenders.
Cara Delevingne
Cara left modelling behind to focus on her acting career, and she went at it full throttle with a starring role as June Moone/Enchantress in Suicide Squad.
Martin Freeman
Like his Sherlock costar Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman has a place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He made his first appearance as Everett Ross in Captain America: Civil War and returned for Black Panther [11].
Patrick Stewart
From Shakespeare to sci-fi, Patrick Stewart has done it all, but to younger generations, he is now best known for playing Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men film franchise.
Nicholas Hoult
Nicholas Hoult joined the X-Men universe when he was cast as Hank McCoy/Beast, first appearing in X-Men: First Class.
Hayley Atwell
Hayley Atwell was so loved in her role as Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger that she landed her own spinoff series, Agent Carter. She also makes various cameo appearances in Marvel films, including Ant-Man.
Dominic Cooper
Dominic Cooper ditched his British accent to play the debonair playboy Howard Stark (father of Tony "Iron Man" Stark) in Captain America: The First Avenger and Agent Carter.
Ioan Gruffudd
Ioan was Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic in the first iteration of Fantastic Four. A decade later, Miles Teller was cast in the same role for the reboot.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Aaron became the second actor to play Quicksilver (after Evan Peters) when he took the role in Avengers: Age of Ultron (after a quick introduction in the credits of Captain America: The Winter Soldier).
Jamie Bell
The boy behind Billy Elliot is now The Thing. Jamie Bell plays Ben Grimm and his orange alter-ego in the new Fantastic Four reboot.
Richard Armitage
The man known to his fans as "Rarmitage" put on an accent to play villain Heinz Kruger in Captain America.
Ian McKellan
Sir Ian McKellan is perfect as the complicated "villain" Eric Lensherr/Magneto in the X-Men films. He's appeared in five films in total, though his Wolverine cameo was uncredited.
Natalie Dormer
Natalie Dormer sported her best '40s waves for Captain America: The First Avenger when she played American soldier Pvt. Lorraine.
Anthony Hopkins
Who better to play Odin, ruler of Asgard in the Thor films, than the living legend that is Sir Anthony Hopkins [12]?
Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman played Jim Gordon (aka Commissioner Gordon) in the Christopher Nolan Batman films, alongside Christian Bale [13].
Alan Cumming
Scottish actor Alan Cumming played the blue teleporting mutant Nightcrawler in X2.
Mark Strong
Mark Strong is no stranger to playing the bad guy, but in Green Lantern, he played Sinestro before his fall from grace.
Rhys Ifans
Welshman Rhys Ifans played villain Curt Connors/The Lizard alongside fellow Brit Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man.
JJ Feild
JJ Feild added a dash of British charm to Captain America: The First Avenger when he played James Montgomery Falsworth, a member of the Howling Commandos, Cap's elite support unit. In the comic books, Falsworth eventually becomes the superhero Union Jack, though Feild never returned to the MCU.
Andy Serkis
He may be most famous for bringing Gollum to life, but Andy Serkis also put in a strong performance in Avengers: Age of Ultron as villain Ulysses Klaue. He returned in Black Panther [14].
Rebecca Hall
Rebecca Hall [15] was the catalyst for a lot of the action in Iron Man 3 in her role as scientist Maya Hansen.
Toby Jones
Character actor Toby Jones played both creepy man and creepy computer when he took on the role of Dr. Arnim Zola in the Captain America films. He also made a guest appearance in Agent Carter.
Tom Wilkinson
Tom Wilkinson, who usually plays affable characters in British films, went over to the dark side to play Gotham crime lord Carmine Falcone in Batman Begins.
Michael Caine
Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred, has had many faces in the many Batman films, but we like him best when he's played by Michael Caine.
Ben Hardy
Former Eastenders actor Ben Hardy plays Warren Worthington III/Angel in X-Men: Apocalypse.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje spent most of his time wearing a mask in Thor: The Dark World as Algrim/Kurse, and he sported some serious prosthetics as he made the move from Marvel to DC to play Waylon Jones/Killer Croc in Suicide Squad.
Ray Stevenson
Ray Stevenson is barely recognisable with his long red beard and wig as Volstagg, one of the venerable Warriors Three in Thor,Thor: The Dark World, and Thor: Ragnarok.
Alfred Molina
Who can forget Alfred Molina as the best villain in the first run of Spider-Man films? His turn as Dr. Otto Octavius/Doc Ock was the reason many people say Spider-Man 2 is the best of the lot.
Elizabeth Henstridge
Battling a plethora of Marvel villains without any superpowers to help her, Elizabeth plays scientist and ball-buster Jemma Simmons in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Jason Flemyng
Jason Flemyng appeared in X-Men: First Class as Azazel, the devil-like teleporting mutant.
Jenny Agutter
Veteran British actress Jenny Agutter played Councilwoman Hawley, a member of the World Security Council, in The Avengers and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Peter Serafinowicz
Comedian Peter Serafinowicz had one of the most memorable lines in Guardians of the Galaxy when his character Denarian Saal said of the protagonists, "What a bunch of a-holes."
Iain De Caestecker
The Glaswegian actor plays Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s superboffin Leo Fitz.
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons takes over the role of Alfred, Bruce Wayne's trusted butler, in DC's epic Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Nick Blood
Nick Blood joined Marvel TV show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Lance Hunter, a mercenary for hire with a past involving Bobbi Morse/Mockingbird.
Laura Haddock
British actress Laura Haddock played Chris Pratt's mother, Meredith Quill, in Guardians of the Galaxy and its sequel.
Brian Cox
Brian Cox was the reason for Hugh Jackman [16]'s pain in X2 films. He played Colonel William Stryker, the man responsible for Wolverine's adamantium-enhanced skeleton.
Ophelia Lovibond
As Carina, the assistant to The Collector, Ophelia appeared in Thor: The Dark World and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Vinnie Jones
Former professional footballer Vinnie Jones played Juggernaught in X-Men: The Last Stand, and more recently rocked up in DC series Arrow as villain Danny "Brick" Brickwell.
Ray Park
Martial arts expert Ray Park played one of the original X-Men villains, Toad, in the first film of the franchise.
Dominic Monaghan
Remember Dominic as Bolt in X-Men Origins: Wolverine?
James D'Arcy
D'Arcy is the man behind Edwin Jarvis, Howard Stark's butler. He ends up being Peggy Carter's right-hand man after Howard offers his services in Agent Carter.
Finn Jones
The British actor was chosen to play martial arts master Danny Rand, aka Iron Fist, in the Netflix show of the same name.
John Hannah
The Scottish actor joined Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as scientist Holden Radcliffe.