The 'baddies' make the most interesting lead characters!
Just look at Shakespeare's Tragedies!
On stage, too. Javert was the best part in 'Les Miz'.
The Phantom was the best part in that stage show.
Just think back to movies of the '30's-'50's, & all the 'bad guys' then.
One of the best I've seen was the late, great Orson Welles, in 'Touch
of Evil' (1958), in which he played the vile looking, corrupt cop. He also directed that film. It's now considered one of the classic 'noir' films.
It had Charlton Heston playing a Mexican policeman, no less! He was in this before 'The Big Country', which gave William Wyler the idea of casting him in 'Ben-Hur', as Messala.
The actors' he'd requested to portray 'Judah Ben-Hur', either declined the role, or failed the screen test.
So he gave the role to Charlton Heston, & as is said, the rest is history!