The Best of Dominic West

Dominic West, famous for playing your favorite whiskey-guzzling detective Jimmy McNulty on HBO’s The Wire, is finally getting more small screen time almost ten years after the beloved crime drama closed up shop. West stars in Showtime’s The Affair, a sexy new series chronicling the (you guessed it) affair between a waitress and an author, both married, during a Long Island summer.

West plays Noah Solloway, a seemingly happily married father of four whose writing career is struggling—along with his manhood—after his wife (Maura Tierney) insists on living off her father’s millions. The family is off to the Hamptons for the summer to spend the next few months at his father-in-law’s estate, where he meets Alison (Ruth Wilson), a waitress trying to piece her marriage back together after the death of her child.

The underrated UK actor has been praised for his raw intensity on the Showtime drama, making longtime fans cheer that this guy is finally getting the air time he deserves. Here’s a look at West’s best, most intense roles from the past two decades.

[The Affair airs on Showtime Sunday nights at 10pm. Stream the Pilot for free on IMDb.com.]

'The Wire' (2001-2006)

dominic_west_the_wire — Photo: HBO/Everett Collection

Jimmy McNulty was one of Baltimore, Maryland’s finest police officers despite his gritty, non-conformist ways of working against the system. West’s poignant performance as a tortured alcoholic detective helped the series become universally acclaimed as the best drama to ever grace the tube. [Where to stream The Wire]

'The Hour' (2011-2012)

dominic_west_the_hour — Photo: BBC/Everett Collection

The acclaimed drama was canceled far too soon after just one season, but West’s performance as news anchorman Hector Madden helped push the BBC series into cult status. Revolving around the lucrative investigations during the Cold War, a rag tag group of journalists, producers, and anchors help get the truth to the public. [Where to stream The Hour]

'300' (2006)

dominic_west_300 — Photo: Everett Collection

Though the role of Theron was not in the comic books, writer-director Zack Snyder wrote in the role of the corrupt Spartan politician for West, who was chillingly perfect. He was ruthless, sneaky, unpredictable, and ultimately unrecognizable coming off his Jimmy McNulty streak. [Where to stream 300]

'Mona Lisa Smile' (2003)

dominic_west_mona_lisa_smile — Photo: Everett Collection

West plays the dashing ladies man Bill Dunbar, an Italian professor who sweeps Katherine (Julia Roberts) off her feet after her boyfriend’s proposal goes bust. When West’s roles call for a sexy side, the swagger switches on, making you realize that while he’s certainly a man’s man, he’s also a bonafide lady-killer. [Where to stream Mona Lisa Smile]

'Chicago' (2002)

West played the slimey, skanky Fred Casely, Roxie Hart’s (Renee Zellweger) deceitful lover who tricks her into sleeping with him for months after promising he’ll help her fulfill her dream of making it on stage. He’s only on screen for about five minutes, but the time he breaks Roxie’s heart, we wanted to reach for the gun, too. [Where to stream Chicago]

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