I'd argue that a lot of the magic that emanates from the Harry Potter movies is due to the stellar cast. British veteran actors brought J.K. Rowling’s characters to life in stunning fashion for the big screen, which made them all the more memorable to fans. As the years go on, franchise alums share insight into their work on the blockbuster series. Now, I’m laughing at Jason Isaacs’ story about how some of those actual Oscar winners sat around bored while Voldemort delivered those lengthy monologues.
To call the Harry Potter cast talented would be an understatement, as Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent and more all either won or were nominated for Oscars before joining the fantasy franchise. So, you can imagine what a riot I had when hearing Isaacs speak at Liverpool Comic Con 2024 and share his recollection of seeing Fiennes as Voldemort performing his soliloquies. I would've found it compelling but, apparently, it was a different story, as Isaacs explained: