Harry Potter may have had a different Voldemort as Ralph Fiennes almost turned down the role

Ralph Fiennes is well known for his portrayal as He Who Must Not Be Named in Harry Potter but it could have been a whole different story as he hesitated in accepting the role.

Despite Harry Potter coming to an end in 2011 with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, we are still learning facts about the Wizarding World to this day. Ralph Fiennes, who played the Dark Wizard Lord Voldemort in the franchise is our focus today and how he almost did not appear as Lord Voldemort.

Fiennes first appeared in the Wizarding World franchise in 2005 with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and he appeared throughout the movies until the very end of the franchise.

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And it was during The Jonathan Ross Show that Ralph Fiennes opened up to explain how he almost declined the role. A decision that would have resulted in our vision of Voldemort looking very different.

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Fiennes explained how he was actually ignorant of Harry Potter, both the books and movies, and this is why he almost passed on the role as it wasn’t for him.

"“Out of ignorance I just sort of thought, this isn’t for me… Quite stupidly I resisted, I was hesitant.”"

So what was it that made him step up to the challenge and become one of the evilest wizards in the Wizarding World? Well, it was his sister that’s who. Thanks to her, Fiennes saw sense and he decided to accept the role.

"“I think the clincher was that my sister Martha – who has three children who were then probably about 12, 10 and 8 – she said, ‘What do you mean? You’ve got to do it!’ So then I rewound my thinking.”"

What do you think of this confession by Ralph Fiennes? Can you imagine anyone other than Fiennes playing the role of Lord Voldemort? Drop a comment just below sharing your thoughts.