Top 10 John Hurt Scenes

In this adaptation of John le Carré’s 1974 novel, Hurt plays Control, the head of British Intelligence, who believes one of his top operatives is a Soviet agent. In this flashback we see Control detail his theory to British agent Jim Prideaux, before Prideaux travels to Hungary for an ill-fated trip which sets off the events of the story. Balancing clear sadness with obvious trepidation, Hurt ticks off his list of suspects, giving ominous meaning to the movie’s title by doing so.

Playing a previously unknown incarnation of the Doctor, John Hurt’s War Doctor is a warrior caught in the middle of the Time War. And, having travelled alongside Ten and Eleven, his final scene in the 50th anniversary episode becomes a bittersweet farewell. Reflecting on their efforts to save Gallifrey, the War Doctor realises that he won’t remember how the plan unfolded, but he is content knowing that he did the right thing. Not that he gets long to dwell on the matter. Mere moments inside the TARDIS and he’s regenerating into Nine.

Following the destruction of the Old Bailey at the hands of V, the giant, looming face of High Chancellor Adam Sutler begins barking orders to his subordinates. And Hurt tackles the dictator’s dialogue with venom and complete contempt for his lackeys, ordering Tchaikovsky to be blacklisted and spinning the Old Bailey bombing into an ‘emergency demolition’. Playing a huge, disembodied Head of State, Hurt’s performance is eerily reminiscent of Big Brother in “Nineteen Eighty-Four” - but more on that later.

Ollivander’s wand shop provides one of the most magical and memorable moments from the entire Harry Potter series, largely thanks to John Hurt’s performance. Not only does this scene give Harry a taste of his inner power, it also makes crystal clear the bond between the boy wizard and Voldemort, whose wands carry a feather from the same Phoenix. Hurt is captivating as the master wand maker, imbuing the character with great wisdom and a twinkle-eyed charm to reassure any Hogwarts student who passes through his shop.

In this tale about celebrity obsession, Hurt plays Giles, a lonely British writer who becomes infatuated with a young American actor, Ronnie Bostock. After pursuing his idol, this climactic scene sees Giles confess his love to Ronnie, suggesting that his current relationship with his girlfriend won’t last. But, a visibly moved Ronnie rejects his advances, leaving Giles alone in the diner - with desperation and heartache etched onto Hurt’s face.

As Quentin Crisp, the flamboyant writer and raconteur, Hurt shines as a homosexual man growing up in conservative England. In this scene, Crisp has a heart-to-heart with a female friend who has just declared her platonic love and admiration for him. In response, Crisp divulges his ultimate dream; a ‘great, dark man’ whose love Crisp hopes to win, although he knows that society would never allow it. Crisp’s yearning for true love is evident, yet he remains pragmatic and painfully frank.

Having waged war on Neptune and upon returning to the Senate, here we see John Hurt’s Emperor Caligula rant and rave over the lack of celebration greeting his arrival - even though he explicitly requested no celebrations be held. Hurt nails the crazed Emperor’s gradual crescendo from self-important leader to unpredictable madman, creating a subtle but terrifying mood, exacerbated when he draws his sword with murderous intent. And just in case his insanity’s in doubt, Hurt shows off his seashell spoils from the war.

Having been arrested by the Thought Police in a dystopic future world, Winston Smith is taken to Room 101 for the high-tension ending of this George Orwell adaptation. A torture chamber individually designed with the victim’s worst fear in mind, Winston’s phobia of rats is realised when he has a cage of the ravenous rodents strapped to his face. Ultimately, the punishment finally breaks his spirit, and Winston’s re-education is complete, for the story’s dark and depressing finale. Hurt’s cries and whimpers truly highlight the horror of Winston’s situation.

As we’ve seen, John Hurt’s handling of a character’s desperate situation is second to none. But this is the actor at his most moving. Playing the eponymous ‘Elephant Man’ John Merrick, he’s unmasked at a London train station by cruel commuters who are shocked by his deformities. Chased by the mob until he’s cornered in the toilets, John Hurt roars Merrick’s immortal line. A short outburst stacked with emotion, it gives an instant insight into Merrick’s tragic position, as someone whose only wish is to be treated with dignity and respect.

Could we ever have ended on anything else? In Ridley Scott’s sci-fi/horror masterpiece, John Hurt’s Kane is central to one of cinema’s scariest and most gruesome scenes. Having previously been attacked by an alien egg parasite, Kane’s apparent good health doesn’t last long, as Hurt’s character starts to choke, before writhing on the table in agony. A sudden spurt of blood signals the iconic arrival of the titular monster, before it drives itself out of Kane’s chest in fantastically gory fashion. It’s all eyes on the alien, but Hurt brings breathtaking tension for an unforgettable movie moment.