Despite his work in the likes of Schindler’s List (1993) The English Patient (1996) and The Constant Gardener (2005) and his recent directorial debut Coriolanus (2011) Ralph Fiennes may end up being most famous for his portrayal of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise. However Fiennes may feel about this, it has been the one undoubted strength of the film series that the top quality supporting cast have added a real gravitas to proceedings. Along with the likes of Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith, Fiennes has ensured that the Potter universe has been inhabited by truly memorable heroes and villains. Fiennes in particular has brought real malevolence and malice to his part. Voldemort, a character of pure evil with no redeeming features, could easily have become flat and two-dimensional, but Fiennes gave him mannerisms, style and personality. Despite make up and CGI effects Fiennes shines through, and good though the effects are, it is the acting which makes Voldemort a truly intimidating screen baddie.
But of course, Ralph Fiennes is not the only actor to have played ‘He who must not be named’. He was not cast until the fourth film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) and even in the latter films the character of Tom Riddle, who grows up to be the Dark Lord, has to be played by much younger actors.
Young Actors Who Have Played Voldemort
In Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009) Tom Riddle appeared in two key scenes. The first as an eleven year old, in which he was played by Hero Fiennes-Tiffin. Although Fiennes-Tiffin is a nephew of Ralph Fiennes, he had to audition against thousands of other applicants to land the role. He already had film experience, having appeared in Bigga Than Ben in 2007. Director David Yates has however admitted that the family resemblance was one factor in the decision. If there had been nepotism in the decision, Fiennes-Tiffin’s performance would have justified it. His brief cameo made the child-Voldermort as sinister anyone could have imagined.
The other actor to play the character in The Half Blood Prince was Frank Dillane, who appeared as the 16 year old Riddle. Like Fiennes-Tiffin, Dillane had one previous film credit to his name, appearing in Welcome to Sarajevo in 1997. He is also from a theatrical family, the son of actors Stephen Dillane (The Hours (2002) King Arthur (2004)) and Naomi Wirthner (from television shows Soldier, Soldier among others) Dillane made Riddle a subtle and sophisticated teenager, although perhaps without the raw creepiness that Fiennes-Tiffin brought to the role.
Another actor to play Tom Riddle as a child was Christian Coulson, although by the time he played the sixteen year old Riddle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in 2002, Coulson was already 23 - his age was the main reason he was not able to reprise the role in the later film. Coulson had a reasonable amount of screen time, and was able to inject a degree of menace into the part. Prior to working on Harry Potter Coulson had appeared on television several times, notably on in The Forsyte Saga in 2002. He has continued to work as an actor, and has been seen in more television series, including Brief Encounters and Gossip Girl.
Actors to Portray Voldemort Before Ralph Fiennes
The very first Lord Voldemort was played by Richard Bremmer in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) Bremmer, who has appeared in numerous television shows, as well as films such as The 13th Warrior (1999) portrayed He Who Must Not Be Named in the iconic scene in which he curses Harry Potter. In the same film Ian Hart’s character, Professor Quirrell, is possessed by Voldemort at the finale. Hart, a vastly experienced actor from the likes of Michael Collins (1996) and Enemy of the State (1998) was the first actor to give a voice to the Dark Lord.
Jonathan Squirrell - Jon Squirrell is a freelance writer and 3-dimensional cartoonist currently living on Humberside. As well as writing for Suite 101, Jon ...
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