Matthew Macfadyen, fresh from his Emmy-winning performance in "Succession," has officially taken on the pivotal role of Lord Voldemort in Audible's ambitious new "Harry Potter" audio drama. Macfadyen recently shared insights into this surreal experience on "Late Night with Seth Meyers," detailing the challenges and unique aspects of embodying one of fiction's most notorious villains.

The Audible series is a grand reimagining of J.K. Rowling’s original books, featuring a massive ensemble cast of over 200 voice actors. Macfadyen contributes a measured and deliberate menace as the new vocal presence of the Dark Lord. However, the actor confessed that capturing Voldemort’s distinct sound proved more difficult than initially anticipated.

Macfadyen explained his initial inclination to mimic Ralph Fiennes’ indelible film portrayal but quickly learned that the books describe Voldemort with a "cold high voice" or a "malevolent high voice." This necessitated a significantly higher pitch for his performance. The recording sessions were vivid, with Macfadyen humorously describing how he was given a "comfort wand" and, with a microphone strapped to his head, found himself waving the wand around, feeling "deranged." He even developed a "proprietorial" attachment to the wand, joking about screaming "Expelliarmus!" while scratching his back.

Collider's review of the audio series specifically highlighted Macfadyen’s nuanced portrayal of Voldemort. The review praised his ability to avoid overacting, instead presenting a character who is "measured, deliberate, almost intimate in his menace." This subtle approach, particularly noticeable towards the end of the narrative, enhances the chilling effect of the Dark Lord.

Central to the entire audio experience is Cush Jumbo, who narrates the series. Her performance is lauded for its ability to expertly stitch together the vast world and its more than 200-person cast. Jumbo’s rare talent for sounding both warm and authoritative transforms the potentially chaotic ensemble into a cohesive and living, breathing performance. The "Harry Potter" Audible series, featuring Macfadyen as Voldemort and narrated by Cush Jumbo, is now available for streaming.