It's important to remember the ongoing controversial statements by the creator of the Harry Potter franchise. CBR supports the hard work of industry professionals on properties fans know and love and the wider world of Harry Potter that fans have adopted as their own. You can find CBR's continuing coverage on Rowling here.

The Harry Potter series wouldn't exist without Lord Voldemort. As Harry's nemesis, the Dark Lord appeared in almost every Harry Potter movie, except Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban. Despite being cruel, Voldemort has earned his own fair share of fans who appreciate the character.

Voldemort's evil hides a surprisingly complex character with a tragic history. Voldemort's multifaceted personality is best illustrated not only by his numerous names — from Tom Marvolo Riddle to You-Know-Who — but also by the large number of actors who have portrayed him throughout the years.

Update by Mayra Garcia on February 28, 2023: With the news about a Harry Potter reboot making waves, fans are ready to see who will portray their favorite characters. Since Lord Voldemort is the franchise's main antagonist, it makes sense that everyone is expecting his next iteration to be a great one. This list has been updated to comply with CBR's standards.

7 Eddie Izzard Voiced Voldemort in The Lego Batman Movie

Also known for:

• Abominable (2019)
• Six Minutes to Midnight (2020)
• Stay Close (2021)

The Lego Batman Movie may not be the best Batman film, but it mixes the Caped Crusader with plenty of franchises, for example, Harry Potter. The film features Lord Voldemort, voiced by actor, comedian, and activist Eddie Izzard. In this movie, the Dark Lord participates in the Clash of the Uber Villains.

Of course, since The Lego Batman Movie is a Batman film, Lord Voldemort doesn't have a prominent role. However, Izzard portrays him as a hilarious PG villain. Besides this film, Izzard has appeared in dozens of projects. Among the most prominent ones are Abominable, Netflix's Stay Close, and the film Six Minutes to Midnight.

6 Richard Bremmer Portrayed Voldemort in the Forbidden Forrest in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Also known for:

• To Kill A King (2003)
• In The Heart Of The Sea (2015)
• Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

Lord Voldemort has countless victims throughout the series, but two of the saddest deaths in Harry Potter are Harry Potter's parents, James and Lily. During a flashback in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Lord Voldemort invades the Potters' home, dressed in a dark cloak that covers his face and his body. He murders Lily Potter with the Killing Curse and then tries to kill baby Harry but fails.

Richard Bremmer plays this version of Lord Voldemort. The actor has also starred in movies like To Kill A King, In The Heart Of The Sea, and Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. Bremmer believed that he was replaced in subsequent movies because the filmmakers wanted a more well-established name in the industry.

5 Ian Hart Is Quirinus Quirrell and You-Know-Who in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Also known for:

• The Hours And Times (1991)
• The Hound Of The Baskervilles (2002)
• Finding Neverland (2004)

Alongside Bremmer's portrayal, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone includes another version of Voldemort. In the movie, Harry confronts his enemy while the Dark Lord is possessing his Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Quirinus Quirrell. Voldemort's face is hidden underneath Quirrell's turban and is created through CGI.

Ian Hart, the actor portraying Quirrell, provided the source for the face and voice of Voldemort's shade, the creature Harry ultimately defeats through his mother's love. Hart is known for having played John Lennon in three different films — The Hours And Times, Backbeat, and Snodgrass. He also has many other appearances in both film and television, including portrayals of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in Finding Neverland and The Hound Of The Baskervilles.

4 Frank Dillane Is the Teenage Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Also known for:

• Fear The Walking Dead (2015)
• In The Heart Of The Sea (2015)

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince sees the titular boy-wizard seeking answers regarding Voldemort's method of survival. To this end, he approaches his new Potions teacher, Horace Slughorn, who also had Voldemort as his pupil. Through Slughorn's memories, viewers get to see a bit of Voldemort's past — this time as a Slytherin student at Hogwarts.

In this flashback, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is portrayed by Frank Dillane. His chilling but charismatic persona is somewhat of a departure from previous versions of the character. Dillane is best known for his participation in the television series Fear The Walking Dead, though he also appears in In The Heart Of The Sea.

3 Hero Fiennes Tiffin Is Kid Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Also known for:

• The After film series (2019-2023)
• Cleaning Up (2019)
• First Love (2022)

Even Voldemort was 11 once, and viewers get a glimpse at Voldemort's childhood years in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. A flashback displays Albus Dumbledore visiting young Tom Riddle in Wool's Orphanage to give him his Hogwarts letter. This version of the character is portrayed by Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Ralph Fiennes's nephew.

While there was plenty of speculation of nepotism, the young actor more than proved that he earned the role through merit, not because of his family connections. The director did, however, comment that the family resemblance with the older version of Voldemort made a difference. Child Tom Riddle remains in the hearts of many viewers; his haunting performance has made many fans question whether Tom could have been saved if he had someone to truly pull him away from the dark side. Since his appearance in The Half-Blood Prince, Fiennes Tiffin has appeared in other projects. He's now famously known for his portrayal of Hardin Scott, the main lead in the After film series.

2 Christian Coulson Plays Lord Voldemort as a Construct From a Diary in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Also known for:

• The Forsyte Saga (2002)
• Peter and John (2015)
• Mozart in the Jungle (2018)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets introduces the first real glimpse into Voldemort as he was before being temporarily defeated by the infant Harry Potter. Christian Coulson manages to create a charismatic but cunning version of Tom Riddle that is consistent with Voldemort's origins. As the young part of Tom's soul — trapped in his Horcrux — he successfully hides his true nature from Harry until the very last moment. He also points out some very intriguing truths, including the numerous similarities between him and Harry.

Tom Marvolo Riddle is Christian Coulson's best-known role, though he has appeared in shows like The Forsyte Saga and films like Love Is Strange. Coulson expressed interest in returning to portray Lord Voldemort in The Half-Blood Prince, but he was considered too old by then. Still, the progression from this version of the character to that of Frank Dillane could create an interesting conversation on the exact extent to which Voldemort's evil was caused by his Horcruxes.

1 Ralph Fiennes Plays Adult Voldemort in Harry Potter 4-7

Also known for

• Schindler's List (1993)
• The Reader (2008)
• Corolianus (2011)
• Skyfall (2012)
• No Time to Die (2021)

The best-known version of the Dark Lord is Ralph Fiennes' portrayal. First appearing at the end of Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire, this version of Voldemort has a snake-like appearance — a terrifying look that emphasizes the fact that he has abandoned his humanity through the use of Horcruxes. Fiennes excels at bringing the iconic Harry Potter villain to life — his viciousness is evident in every spell he casts and every word he utters.

A popular figure in the movie industry, the Voldemort actor has starred in movies like The English Patient and Schindler's List, which have won him worldwide acclaim. His filmography also includes releases like The Reader, Clash Of The Titans, and three James Bond movies — Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time To Die. An incredibly versatile actor, he intended to make Voldemort as scary as possible — and he certainly succeeded.