Harry Potter’s Ralph Fiennes Admits Some “Totally Misplaced Snobbery” Impacted His Initial Rejection Of Voldemort Role

Harry Potter star Ralph Fiennes admits some “totally misplaced snobbery” impacted his initial rejection of the role of Voldemort for the film series. The cast of Harry Potter are well-remembered for their iconic roles in the series, especially the main trio of Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. But one core performance that tied the series together was Fiennes’ Voldemort, a role that has since defined the Dark Lord across all forms of the franchise’s media ever since.

However, speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Fiennes admitted that, when he was first offered the role of Voldemort in Harry Potter, he almost turned it down. The actor explained that, although he knew the movies had been successful, he wasn’t sure he clicked with all the fantastical elements that were key parts of them. However, his sister, Martha, ended up convincing him to change his mind, resulting in his memorable portrayal of the famous antagonist. Check out what Fiennes had to say below:

I hadn’t seen the films in order to dislike them, I just hadn’t seen them and I hadn’t read the books. I was aware of their big success. I think I was probably guilty of a sort of totally misplaced snobbery of witches and goblins and things. I was resistant, until I told my sister Martha that I’ve been asked to play this Voldemort person. She said, ‘Voldemort, you’ve been asked to play Voldemort? You have to do it! Ralph you don’t realize, you don’t realize.’

What Fiennes’ Story Says About His Role As Voldemort

It Almost Didn’t Happen

Fiennes did not portray Voldemort during his first appearances in the Harry Potter movies. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Ian Hart played Professor Quirrell, who was being used as a conduit for the Dark Lord, while Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets saw him take on the form of his teenage self, Tom Riddle, with Christian Coulson taking the role. It wasn’t until the fourth movie, The Goblet of Fire, that Fiennes took on the role for the first time, later returning in the four movies that followed.

The seasoned actor ended up being a perfect choice, with his ability to play imposing figures being a massive upside to his portrayal. Voldemort’s conflict with Harry is also what disrupts the typified expectation of the main trio going to Hogwarts to learn every year, with growing threats breaking down what actually transpires throughout. Voldemort became one of Fiennes’ best characters because of his unique villainy and a classic look that’s since made the antagonist a massive pop culture icon that goes beyond the films.

Our Take On Fiennes Almost Turning Down The Role Of Voldemort

The Movies Wouldn’t Have Felt The Same Without Him

Because of how well Fiennes brought Voldemort to life on the big screen, it’s hard to imagine any other actor pulling off the role as well as he did. Had someone else been chosen to portray the evil wizard, their performance may not have been as striking and memorable, all thanks to the talent behind the antagonist. While the upcoming Harry Potter reboot TV show will inevitably cast a new actor in the role, the original talent from the movie will continue to be remembered.

Source: THR