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Original poster

Bill Sykes was sexy

105 replies

PrincessHoneysuckle · 20/12/2025 13:00

Wasn't he? Oliver Reed 1968.
Just watching Oliver! and I think i would

OP posts:
Sidebeforeself · 20/12/2025 20:46

HeadyLamarr · 20/12/2025 17:55

I can't separate one from the other in Bill Sykes. He's a violent psychopath, which kind of overshadows the "quite handsome" part.

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But he’s NOT REAL!!!

soupyspoon · 20/12/2025 20:46

Pedallleur · 20/12/2025 20:19

No he doesn't. He tries to drown him but Bullseye gets away and leads the angry mob back to Sykes. Hurrah for Bullseye!

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In the film

Im not sure about the book, is that also what happens?

He was an abused child wasnt he, victim of CCE and probably CSE

WithYouShortieWithYou · 20/12/2025 20:42

He is terrifying and had an even more terrifying dog IIRC. The red flags would be hanging off him if they hadn't also flown away in terror. No no no no!!!!

Jc2001 · 20/12/2025 20:38

NuffSaidSam · 20/12/2025 15:02

Oliver Reed, maybe.

The character Bill Sykes, definitely not.

It's the same person. If you're basing it purely on looks then they are one and the same.

CaptainMyCaptain · 20/12/2025 20:24

TheFretfulPorpentine · 20/12/2025 20:10

Gabriel Oak was not a bad boy! The sexy villain of that piece was Captain Troy.

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Yes. Gabriel Oak was the salt of the Earth solid, dependable good guy. Troy was a womaniser who got a girl pregnant and left her to die in the work house then married Bathsheba for her money.

CaptainMyCaptain · 20/12/2025 20:20

WaterVolePocketWatch · 20/12/2025 13:02

The character was a violent bully who brutally murdered his partner, and he was a child trafficker.

If you admire the actor, say so.

This.

Pedallleur · 20/12/2025 20:19

fishfingerbutty · 20/12/2025 18:50

He killed poor Bullseye

No he doesn't. He tries to drown him but Bullseye gets away and leads the angry mob back to Sykes. Hurrah for Bullseye!

Ponoka7 · 20/12/2025 20:17

Lovelyview · 20/12/2025 14:57

I'm not trying to be obtuse. I genuinely don't get it. Bill Sykes has no redeeming features whatsoever. What is attractive about him?

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Him and Nancy were two of Fagin's children. Bill Sykes earned enough to get their own lodgings, he was doing well by the standards of the day. Domestic violence was the norm. Nancy hadn't been continually pregnant, so there might have been some consideration there. He wasn't womanising. He wasn't particularly violent, given who he was. Up in the 'big houses' they were whipping children for not working hard enough and hanging starving children for stealing food. Out in the colonies, natives were hanging from trees as an example to the rest. There's affection between Bill and Nancy. Casual prostitution was the norm, even for married women. You can't look at history with today's judgement.

Wisperley · 20/12/2025 20:15

Yes, Oliver Reed was very attractive. Bill Sykes is a fictional character who is most unappealing however.

Pedallleur · 20/12/2025 20:13

You mean the murderous abuser/thief with his devil dog and club? And when he came home after a night of thieving I doubt he would take NO as an answer.Can't see it myself. Oliver Reed on the other was sexy but he was a victim of the lifestyle

TheFretfulPorpentine · 20/12/2025 20:10

Sgtmajormummy · 20/12/2025 13:29

Nancy certainly thought so…TO HER PERIL!

And Tom Hardy is usually too much of a low lifer, although he was great in Peaky Blinders.
My vote goes to Alan Bates as the bad boy with hidden depths. I loved him as Gabriel Oak.

Edited

Gabriel Oak was not a bad boy! The sexy villain of that piece was Captain Troy.

TempestTost · 20/12/2025 19:59

CalzoneOnLegs · 20/12/2025 15:24

Indeed, or Sean Penn in Dead Man Walking, I’m sure OP means that Oliver Reed was attractive, which of course he was.

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I thought Sean Penn seemed completely odious in DMW. He managed somehow to rein in his charisma, in the sense that he came across on screen, but not in a way that was actually appealing. I suspect that's quite difficult.

TempestTost · 20/12/2025 19:54

Brefugee · 20/12/2025 13:02

that has always been a problem for me when i watch that. Sykes is so thoroughly detestable. But Oliver Reed growling and being all savage? Phwoar!

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Yup.

It's a problem with actors, they tend to be very charismatic, an Oliver Reed was a really good looking man, sort of breathtaking imo. So when someone like that plays a shitwad like Bill Sykes, the character can be quite appealing despite his awful qualities.

Although - there is no reason to think Sykes couldn't have been a good looking man who could have some kind of charm, if he wanted to. Sure, maybe Nancy loved him just because she needed to love someone. But maybe it was also because she found him physically attractive. It's not unheard of.

KTheGrey · 20/12/2025 19:31

sorrynotathome · 20/12/2025 13:58

For a guilt-free, good-guy Oliver Reed film, try Hannibal Jones. You get an elephant as well.

Cracking film - also the ridiculous one with him and Diana Rigg - The Assassination Bureau.

RampantIvy · 20/12/2025 19:19

Nope.

2031MummyTBC · 20/12/2025 19:19

TheKeatingFive · 20/12/2025 17:21

People find very different things attractive, obviously. There are lots of examples of violent men with wives/girlfriends, it's not at all unusual.

Very high levels of testosterone and aggression can probably get translated into an expectation of high virility by the subconscious self. Back when we were hunter gatherers, it's easy to see the value in men who could be violent/aggressive in the face of threats. Not understanding this could be turned against them has always been something that some unlucky women live to regret.

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Honestly, I don’t think it’s even that deep. We’re talking about a work of historical fiction here.

I have no interest in bad boys IRL but Oliver Reed as Bill just does it for some of us clearly! I hate it when I end up liking the villain at times, but that’s a sign of good character development imo.

To the other posters here going on about him being evil, and how could you like him… how are you going to guilt people for liking a fictional character😂

Paperwhite209 · 20/12/2025 19:19

Breadcat24 · 20/12/2025 13:06

Met Oliver Reed in a pub/hotel in Dorking in 1988
Drinking beer at 8am, referred to me as Totty. Definitely not sexy then

Suspect that may be the hotel where my ex used to work and met him on a few occasions.

Largely playing himself in a lot of roles was ex's verdict.

Valeriekat · 20/12/2025 19:01

The character exists in real life with different names.

Valeriekat · 20/12/2025 18:59

PrincessHoneysuckle · 20/12/2025 14:10

Im talking about his looks not the fact he killed a woman ffs

Well use the actors' names then not the character name! Even in the movie he's vile.

Valeriekat · 20/12/2025 18:56

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/12/2025 13:06

Um, the character is fictitious …

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The OP says "Bill Sykes" was sexy. Bill Sykes is a violent criminal who murdered his lovely girlfriend. He was an abuser. Oliver Reed, Tom HArdy et al are attractive ACTORS.
The Bill Sykes character was vile. You are basically using the "Rough Sex" trope just because the character gets played by good looking actors.

fishfingerbutty · 20/12/2025 18:50

He killed poor Bullseye

NancyJoan · 20/12/2025 18:23

Catpiece · 20/12/2025 13:02

We went to the West End production last week. The actor playing Bill Sikes was lovely too x

Hard agree

soupyspoon · 20/12/2025 18:20

PineappleAndGrapefruitLilt · 20/12/2025 18:19

His uncle was Carol Reed, who directed Oliver

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Oh yes thats what Im thinking of

PineappleAndGrapefruitLilt · 20/12/2025 18:19

soupyspoon · 20/12/2025 17:44

Oliver Reed was incredibly handsome, not my type due to the drinking and behaviour but no one can say he wasnt decent eye candy

Wasnt he related in some way to Alan Bates or some director he worked with?

His uncle was Carol Reed, who directed Oliver

Lifelover16 · 20/12/2025 17:57

soupyspoon · 20/12/2025 17:44

Oliver Reed was incredibly handsome, not my type due to the drinking and behaviour but no one can say he wasnt decent eye candy

Wasnt he related in some way to Alan Bates or some director he worked with?

Was in a nude wrestling scene with Alan Bates in Sons and Lovers. Highly scandalous at the time.