Matthew Macfadyen, fresh off 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 brings a measured and deliberate menace to the Dark Lord, yet he confessed that capturing Voldemort’s distinct voice proved more difficult than anticipated.

He explained that his initial instinct was to mimic Ralph Fiennes’ iconic film portrayal but quickly realized that the books describe Voldemort with a “cold high voice” or a “malevolent high voice.” This required him to adopt a significantly higher pitch for his performance. The recording sessions were vivid and unusual, with Macfadyen humorously describing being given a “comfort wand” while a microphone was strapped to his head, waving the wand around and 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 outlet praised his ability to avoid overacting, instead delivering a character who is “measured, deliberate, almost intimate in his menace.” This subtle approach, especially noticeable towards the narrative’s climax, enhances the chilling presence of the Dark Lord.

Central to the audio experience is Cush Jumbo, who narrates the series. Her performance is lauded for expertly weaving together the sprawling world and its 200-plus cast. Jumbo’s rare ability to sound both warm and authoritative transforms the potentially chaotic ensemble into a cohesive, immersive performance.

The Harry Potter Audible series, featuring Matthew Macfadyen as Voldemort and narrated by Cush Jumbo, is now available for streaming.