The Witcher villain Leo Bonhart explained as actor makes honest admission about role

*Warning: This article contains minor spoilers for The Witcher season four*.

Netflix's fantasy series, The Witcher, has returned for its fourth season, introducing one of the most formidable villains from the original books by Andrzej Sapkowski.

One character making a significant appearance in this adaptation is Leo Bonhart. But who exactly is Leo Bonhart?

What role does he play in The Witcher's narrative and who portrays him on screen?

Here's everything you need to know.

Who is Leo Bonhart in The Witcher?

Leo Bonhart is a ruthless bounty hunter known for his ferocity. As in the original books, he is one of the most dangerous adversaries Ciri encounters , reports the Mirror.

He derives pleasure from witnessing brutal scenes and causing pain to others.

He owns several Witcher medallions, which he proudly displays around his neck. He alleges to have slain their previous owners, and given his proficiency with a sword, it's widely accepted as truth.

Stefan Skellen (played by James Purefoy), under orders from Emperor Emhyr var Emreis (Bart Edwards), hires him to locate and capture Ciri (Freya Allan). However, in the Netflix series, Skellen actually instructs Bonhart to kill Ciri, who is currently travelling with the outlaw group The Rats under the alias Falka.

However, following the Rats' assault on Baron Casadei's daughter's caravan, he too employs Bonhart to eliminate the Rats.

He demands that Falka AKA Ciri be captured alive, enabling him to exact his own revenge.

Bonhart orchestrates a snare for the Rats, luring them to a tavern where their clash unfolds in a manner that remains largely faithful to the source material.

The character additionally features in Netflix's spin-off film The Rats: A Witcher's Tale, attending his relative Houvenaghel's combat arena during the same evening The Rats execute a bold robbery.

Who portrays Leo Bonhart in The Witcher?

Producer Tomasz Baginski remarks about the character: "Leo Bonhart is one of the darkest, craziest villains of this continent. That's the Leo Bonhart I wanted to see, but that's the Leo Bonhart I never want to meet."

Remarkably, the programme has remained faithful to his physical portrayal from the novels.

He is frequently depicted as exceptionally tall yet disturbingly gaunt, sporting an impressive grey moustache.

He was described as possessing chilling, emotionless eyes that were regularly compared to those of a fish.

Information regarding the character and the performer was kept under wraps prior to series four's debut.

Taking on these traits is South African actor Sharlto Copley.

Viewers may be excused for not immediately recognising Copley as he has undergone quite a metamorphosis for his newest part.

He is renowned for prior roles in Oscar-nominated picture District 9, alongside The A-Team and Hardcore Henry. However, the actor confessed that stepping into his role in The Witcher was not entirely straightforward.

In a conversation with Netflix's Tudum website, he revealed: "I don't particularly enjoy playing villains, particularly if it's this level of brutality when you're playing against female actors. But you have to take the roles that you get that are interesting.

"Getting into the character was just an interesting role to see if I could make something that's a little bit more fun to watch than just a standard horrible psychopathic villain."

He further added: "He's the unstoppable force he appears to be. He doesn't mind if he dies, and there's nothing worse than fighting someone who doesn't care if they die."

The Witcher is streaming on Netflix now.