The Evolution of Lord Voldemort: From Sorcerer's Stone to Goblet of Fire

The Many Faces of Voldemort

Ralph Fiennes played Voldemort in many of the villains most iconic Harry Potter scenes, but he wasn't the first to play He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Lord Voldemort's movie debut was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, although Ralph Fiennes didn't play Voldemort in the first Harry Potter movie. In fact, Fiennes wasn't cast as Voldemort until the fourth movie, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. With such a prominent role in the Harry Potter story being recast, many viewers wonder who played Voldemort first and why they didn't return to play him again in later Harry Potter movies.

Tom Riddle seeing his role as Voldemort.

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, a flashback reveals that Lord Voldemort killed Lily and James Potter. The scene was key to explaining the Harry Potter timeline, as it revealed insight into the meaning behind the name 'The Boy Who Lived' though in this first glimpse of You-Know-Who, it was Richard Bremmer portraying Lord Voldemort in the flashback. Voldemort's body was destroyed in the attack, but his soul escaped and hid for nearly a decade. Lord Voldemort later managed to possess Professor Quirrell as a host body on his quest to acquire the Sorcerer's Stone and, in turn, regain his physical form. The first actor to play Voldemort, however, was soon replaced and not immediately by Ralph Fiennes.

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The Dark Lord plays a central antagonist role in the Harry Potter franchise, with several actors who played Voldemort in the movies. Before eventually facing his archnemesis, Harry Potter, Voldemort was portrayed in a few other forms: as a child, teen, in disguise as a Hogwarts teacher, and in his true form. A total of six actors have played Voldemort and with the upcoming HBO Harry Potter TV series, a seventh will presumably step into the role. While Ralph Fiennes is the most famous Voldemort actor, he wasn't the first (and, despite common misconception, he also didn't voice the face in Quirrel's head).

Voldemort Trying To Get Elder Wand From Grindelwald in Harry Potter

The Actors Who Portrayed Voldemort

Richard Bremmer was the first actor to play Voldemort. Other than the flashback, Bremmer didn't appear in any other scenes in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as Voldemort in his normal form. However, the actor did lend his body for additional scenes. Voldemort's face was hidden behind Quirrell's turban after he embodied the professor. Bremmer's own face was transformed through makeup and prosthetics for the visual effect.

Voldemort and Wormtail standing in the graveyard in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Ian Hart provided the voice for Voldemort during the scenes where Quirrel and Voldemort shared a head. A common misconception is that the voice of Voldemort in Quirrel's head was Ralph Fiennes, but it was the Professor Quirrel actor himself.

A closeup of Harry Potter and Voldemort facing off in a Deathly Hallows poster

A teenage Voldemort appears in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, played by actor Christian Coulson. Before he became the Dark Lord, Voldemort was a promising 16-year-old Hogwarts student named Tom Marvolo Riddle. Ralph Fiennes portrayed Voldemort in his true form from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire onwards. Apart from the fourth movie, Fiennes also played Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Voldemort holding the Elder Wand in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (1)

The Impact of Voldemort's Casting Changes

Before Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire premiered, Fiennes had acted in notable roles such as Schindler's List, The English Patient, and Red Dragon. Fiennes not only redefined the role, but was even integral to Voldemort's creepier film design, as it was Fiennes' idea for the character to have human eyes. Bringing in Fiennes certainly added more buzz, although it's unclear if the franchise really needed the extra hype.

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Harry Potter's Lord Voldemort actor changes are far from being the only successful recastings in the franchise. Griphook, the Gringotts Bank goblin, was first played by Verne Troyer in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, with his American accent and high-pitched voice being overdubbed by Warwick Davis. The voiceover actor then completely replaced Troyer as Griphook in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Meanwhile, Albus Dumbledore's best friend Elphias Doge was played by bit actor Peter Cartwright, who had no dialog in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, in which Doge actually speaks with Dumbledore, Doge was successfully replaced with 50-year film and theater veteran David Ryall. Out of all the recastings, the decision to sub in Mads Mikkelsen to replace Johnny Depp as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore had the most significant impact on a movie. Mikkelsen turned out to be far more effective at portraying Grindelwald's slimy but intoxicating charisma.

Professor Quirrell, with a side of Voldemort, in a scene from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Though he was the first actor who plays Voldemort in the massively successful franchise, Richard Bremmer doesn't seem to hold any grudges about being replaced later on. Bremmer admitted (via: DigitalSpy) that he accepts the decision to recast the role, saying 'I've been in the business a long time and it didn't surprise me they just went for a bigger name, being Hollywood led, and I'm happy to pass it on to Ralph.' Bremmer also expressed that he was grateful to play the role he did in the series after producers fought hard for him to take the part. Certainly, having an actor be cast in a huge franchise like this would be a thrill and perhaps Bremmer thought his Voldemort would battle Harry Potter in the end. However, Bremmer's outlook suggests he understood the decision and moved on. Bremmer can be applauded for handing over the role so graciously as well as for the pivotal role he played in the Harry Potter mythology.