what happened to his career ?

Somewhere on this board is a link to an interview he gave not too long ago where he talks about the roles he's offered. I think it's an interview where he talks about "Downloading Nancy." He does show some dismay at being cast as the "heavy" quite often. Also that not many good roles come his way and the ones that seem to show promise, fizzle. He refers to his role in 11th Hour for example--he thought that show had promise, but as filming went on, it didn't and he wasn't happy with the character's development, etc. (Someone, please correct me if I'm wrong.)

I think he's terrific, underrated and highly deserving of a really superb leading man or maybe a strong character role. I think we know he can play the bad guy; let's hope he can snag a "good guy" role.

Maybe he needs a new agent???

The Tom Builder character is wonderful in the book.. a seemingly simple man, against great odds, finds strength and manages to make something amazing happen. It's a quietly heroic role for Rufus.

He's gotten even better since Dark City (which is not to criticize his outstanding performance there in the least) and there's no doubt about it -- he carries a film beautifully (not to mention a BBC miniseries.) I'm frankly disgusted that he hasn't gotten better leading man offers over the past decade.

I saw a brief interview of his (I think for 11th Hour) where he talks about having to choose roles from those that are "offered". ?!?! I was quite surprised to learn that someone at his level, with the variety and number of roles in major films he's had (let alone quality of work) would have to deal with roles that are "offered". Dang! You'd think the studios would be fighting over him!

And, like others who have posted, I can't understand this pigeon-holing into villain parts. Are they watching the same movies I am? How he didn't get "offered" every decent comedy out there after Taming of the Shrew is beyond me.

Well, I look forward to seeing "Pillars of the Earth" when released. Tom Builder is no baddie! Hopefully, some bright cable company here in the States will pick it up.

someone at his level, with the variety and number of roles in major films he's had (let alone quality of work) would have to deal with roles that are "offered". Dang! You'd think the studios would be fighting over him!

And on top of that, he's the sexiest, most attractive man working in film today, at least I think so, and I know quite a few women who would agree.

And, like others who have posted, I can't understand this pigeon-holing into villain parts. Are they watching the same movies I am? How he didn't get "offered" every decent comedy out there after Taming of the Shrew is beyond me

Couldn't have said it better. His comic timing and delivery in TofS is brilliant.

Well, I look forward to seeing "Pillars of the Earth" when released. Tom Builder is no baddie! Hopefully, some bright cable company here in the States will pick it up.
I may not get to see it then, but I look forward to buying the DVD. He is so stunning in period pieces.

As others have noted, I think he's the most under-rated actor of the last 15 years.

"And on top of that, he's the sexiest, most attractive man working in film today, at least I think so, and I know quite a few women who would agree."

Yep! I can certainly agree with you on that! Unfortunately for actors (and actresses) the astonishingly-good looking ones do get pigeon-holed by their looks. I think we can think of a number who have suffered that fate. How frustrating that must be!

I'm hoping RS's career will go the way of Anthony Hopkins--AH was, I think, well into his 40s before anyone on this side of the Atlantic finally realized what calibre of actor he is. Hopefully, the audiences over here will wake up to RS in the same way, the sooner the better.

I have learned that if you want to see some of RS's lesser-known works, buying the DVD is the only way. Have not been disappointed yet in anything I've bought of his sight unseen. Not a lot of actors I can say that about. I just hope that "Pillars" won't take 2 years to release on DVD.

I surely would have liked to see him in some of his stage work. If the movies are this good (and so under-rated), how good must, say, Rock 'n Roll have been to have garnered all those awards? For those of us living NOT in NY or London, a terrible thing indeed! :-)

I understand that this is a fan message board and I am not trying to bash him; but I think a lot of you folks are over-stating his abilities and appeal.
He is a good actor, and a good looking guy, I just don't think he has the chops to *carry* many of the movies that have come out in the last 15 years. Certainly if they were to tailor a character and plot around his abilities he could pull it off. But that can be said of many.
I may be wrong. But then again it looks, from the evidence at hand, the industry agrees.

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I'm surprised that everyone here seems to remember Dark City but nobody mentions the film that came out the same year (1998) right before that: Dangerous Beauty, in which he *did* have the romantic lead, and pulled it off beautifully. Critic Roger Ebert may have provided a commentary track for Dark City on DVD, but he liked Dangerous Beauty just as much; what, doesn't anyone here watch art films? (That was also probably the best role that Catherine MacCormack ever got: she was luminous in it.) I really expected Sewell's career to take off after Dangerous Beauty, but it didn't; I'm guessing that too few people in Hollywood saw it for it to make a difference.

Sewell was also great in Amazing Grace (2006) and as Alexander Hamilton in the HBO miniseries John Adams (2008), which also haven't been mentioned here. Why those would be ignored in favor of The Pillars of the Earth, I've no clue -- but I'm guessing that (again) Hollywood did the same. And the 2011 Zen trilogy, which was broadcast in the U.S. on PBS's Masterpiece Mystery: he was magnificent as Aurelio Zen, right down to that nonchalant Italian sense of sprezzatura (look it up, guys); I was SO looking forward to more installments of that -- Rufus Sewell in a tailored Italian suit: does it *get* any better than that?!? -- and so royally pissed off when BBC decided not to film any more episodes. Dumb move, that, but I'm guessing the Beeb didn't want the added expense of filming in Italy with a big recession going on.

Last year's role in the BBC-Sundance production of Restless wasn't a lead but was a good role; unfortunately, it was completely overshadowed by the appalling and preposterous Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Killer (and a sharp smack in the head to whomever thought up *that* scenario). So that probably didn't get him any closer to the lead in a really good film, and this year's role in All Things To All Men was a complete waste in an awful film that casting directors will probably hold against him.

Bottom line, folks here are right about one thing: all it takes is one great lead in one good film to make a career -- **BUT** you still have to get someone to take a chance on you. Maybe Rufus needs a new agent, 'cause the current one sure hasn't done the job.