In a revelation that will astonish Potterheads, acclaimed actor Cillian Murphy has disclosed he was in the running to play one of cinema's most infamous villains: Lord Voldemort.
The Oppenheimer star and recent Oscar-winner confirmed long-standing rumours that he was a contender for the role of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in the Harry Potter film series. The part ultimately went to Ralph Fiennes, who defined the character with his chilling, snake-like performance.
Murphy, however, expressed no bitterness about the missed opportunity. In fact, he confessed to feeling a sense of 'relief' upon losing the part.
A Bullet Dodged and a Path Forged
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the Irish actor reflected on the pivotal moment. His reasoning wasn't about the project's quality, but rather about the trajectory of his own career.
'I think it worked out for the best because then I did Peaky Blinders,' Murphy stated, highlighting a silver lining that is now obvious to millions of fans.
Landing the lead role of Tommy Shelby in the BBC's gritty Birmingham-based saga catapulted Murphy to a different kind of stardom, one that perfectly suited his intense and nuanced acting style.
Why Ralph Fiennes Was the Perfect Voldemort
Murphy was gracious in defeat, heaping praise on the actor who won the role. 'Ralph Fiennes is obviously an incredible actor and he made that role his own,' he acknowledged.
This near-miss casting is one of Hollywood's great 'what if' stories. While it's fascinating to imagine Murphy's interpretation of the Dark Lord, his loss was Peaky Blinders' gain—and most fans would agree everything turned out exactly as it was meant to.
