Summary

• Ralph Fiennes wasn't the first actor to play Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies; Richard Bremmer portrayed the character in the first movie.
• In the flashback scene in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Lord Voldemort's attack on Lily and James Potter is shown, providing important insight into the "Boy Who Lived" narrative.
• Ralph Fiennes became the definitive version of Voldemort in the fourth movie, bringing his own interpretation to the character and contributing to his creepy film design.

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.

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.

The 6 Actors Who Played Voldemort

There Have Been Several Dark Lords In The Harry Potter Movies

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).

Richard Bremmer: Bremmer what the first actor who played 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.

Ian Hart: Richard Bremmer and Ian Hart, the actor who played Professor Quirrell, set the tone for Lord Voldemort's design in the films. 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.

Christian Coulson: A teenage Voldemort appears in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, played by actor Christian Coulson. However, while Coulson is playing Voldemort, it's a version of him that has yet to become the feared wizard Ralph Fienne's portrays. Before he became the Dark Lord, Voldemort was a promising 16-year-old Hogwarts student named Tom Marvolo Riddle. Riddle walks Hogwarts once again due to his enchanted diary (secretly a Horcrux), and once Harry destroys it the version of Voldemort played by Coulson dies.

Ralph Fiennes: Voldemort first appears in his true form in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, portrayed by the actor Ralph Fiennes. While there have been many actors who have played Voldemort, Ralph Fiennes is the version of the character that Harry actually faces during the events of the films. Apart from the fourth movie, Fiennes also plays Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Hero Fiennes-Tiffin: A child version of Voldemort appears in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth movie, portrayed by actor Hero Fiennes-Tiffin. The actor is also a nephew of Ralph Fiennes.

Frank Dillane: Another adolescent version of Voldemort appears in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, played by actor Frank Dillane. However, many viewers have wondered why the teenage Voldemort was recast after The Chamber of Secrets. During filming for the sixth movie, Christian Coulson, who first played Tom Riddle, was too old for the role. Actor Thomas James Longley was initially cast as teenage Voldemort. However, last minute renegotiations led actor Frank Dillane to bag the role.

Ralph Fiennes' Voldemort Casting Was The Character's True Entrance

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Didn't Truly Appear Until The Fourth Harry Potter Movie

Though other actors played Voldemort before him, there's no doubt that Fiennes is the definitive version of the Dark Lord. 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.

Other Harry Potter Recastings That Really Worked

Voldemort Isn't The Only Harry Potter Character To Change Actors

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.

How Richard Bremmer Feels About Being Replaced As Voldemort

The First Voldemort Actor Isn't Bitter About Being Recast

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.