This series, part of our Forever Young Family & Children’s Series, celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Harry Potter book series.
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE is a pivotal chapter of the wizard saga. Though the books and movies were remarkably well-crafted, the life-and-death stakes of Potter’s adventures became clearer in GOBLET OF FIRE — and seriously contested the series’ categorization as only “for children.” Author J.K. Rowling introduced darker themes, storylines, and most notably, resurrected the much mentioned but never seen He Who Must Not Be Named.
Cast as the Dark Wizard was renowned stage and screen actor Ralph Fiennes. When Fiennes took on the role he aimed to create a well-rounded character that was both fearsome and emotionally vulnerable. Fiennes spoke to The Guardian about the psychology of embodying evil: “Young Voldemort was an orphan and denied any kind of parental affection or love, so he’s been an isolated figure from a very young age. But I always think there has to be the possibility of good in someone, too. It might have been eroded, repressed, suppressed or somehow distorted within him after he was really damaged.
He’s all about acquiring power and controlling and manipulating a lot of people. It can be thrilling and quite freeing to play, because all the rules disappear […] Director Mike Newell encouraged a switchblade explosion of venom and rage. When somebody is contained and has the ability to explode, that makes people nervous.”
Rumors circulated that Fiennes was so truly frightening on set that he scared a young girl into tears. Fiennes took that incident as a true testament of him becoming the character, “I felt very good about myself. When I was young, there was this character in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG called the Child Catcher. I remember being terrified by this figure. I think children should be really scared of Lord Voldemort.”
