During a new “Harry Potter” audio drama production, actor Daniel Brühl reportedly faced an unexpected setback while playing Lord Voldemort. Brühl told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung that he initially felt immense satisfaction with his vocal transformation, having laboriously worked to make his voice sound somewhat strange and serpentine. However, the director told him, “Daniel, you sound like Gollum,” which he admitted deeply offended him. He countered that he hadn’t expected the character to align with a ‘Lord of the Rings’ villain, noting that upon listening, he had to admit the comparison was quite accurate.
Describing the quest for the perfect tone for the dark lord as challenging, Brühl explained the difficulties. He stated that J.K. Rowling’s descriptions-portraying Voldemort as slithery and hissing-gave him a starting point. His goal was to achieve a nasal, menacing sound while maintaining a high pitch, as specified in the books, and crucially, avoiding any caricature. Furthermore, he felt the need to separate himself completely from the portrayals of the character seen in film by Ralph Fiennes, as well as from other associated characters.
He later had an amusing encounter during the filming of a John le Carré series in Prague with Matthew Macfadyen, the actor who portrays the villain in the English version. Brühl approached him and joked, “Excuse me, I think we are both Lord Voldemort.” Macfadyen reportedly laughed heartily, and his first question was about how Brühl managed his high voice. For the remainder of the shoot, the two actors reportedly spoke only in a nasal tone.
On a more personal note, Brühl draws parallels between his current life perspective and Voldemort’s internal fragmentation-the idea that he hides his soul in various magical artifacts. He recalls a time when he felt compelled to prioritize collective well-being, enjoying groups of people and seeking a strong community spirit. Now, however, he tends to compartmentalize his relationships clearly. He finds that he acts as a different person in different relationships-a state he likens to Voldemort’s dissociation. This journey involves intentionally cutting ties and refusing to cling to everything, a process he recognizes is natural with aging and generally leaves him feeling better.
