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Even the Dark Lord can’t dodge heartbreak! Harry Potter star Ralph Fiennes, known for playing Voldemort, once faced a rather awkward situation thanks to Julia Roberts. While working together on one Oscar-winning film (a box office hit raking in $289M), Fiennes reportedly got sidelined when Roberts developed a serious crush on another actor during filming. Talk about a plot twist no one saw coming!
Daniel Radcliffe and Ralph Fiennes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 | image: Warner BrosThough Fiennes was a leading man on set, Roberts’ smitten switch added a touch of real-life drama to this Hollywood tale.
Julia Roberts’ Shakespeare in Love Drama: How Her Star Power Caused a Casting Crisis
Gwyneth Paltrow as Viola de Lesseps in Shakespeare in Love | Miramax FilmsEver wondered how a big Hollywood name can pivot the fate of a film? It turns out, Julia Roberts‘ brief fling with Shakespeare in Love had quite the dramatic twist. Producer Edward Zwick reveals in an Air Mail essay that Julia Roberts’ fascination with Daniel Day-Lewis led to a chaotic turn of events.
The story kicks off with Universal Pictures betting big on Shakespeare in Love after Roberts showed interest in playing Viola de Lesseps. But as Zwick recounts, the excitement was short-lived. Roberts, star-struck by Day-Lewis, practically begged to have him cast as Shakespeare. Despite his commitment to In the Name of the Father, Roberts’ insistence led to a tumultuous period of casting sessions.
One standout moment? Roberts ditched a crucial chemistry read with Ralph Fiennes after receiving a message and didn’t return the next day. Zwick describes the awkward encounter (via Variety):
Even as Ralph did his best to elicit the famous smile, Julia barely acknowledged him. I’m not suggesting she was deliberately sabotaging, but it was a disaster nonetheless. I tried to catch Ralph’s eye to apologize as he left but he couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
Despite Zwick’s efforts to make things work, the casting process was a series of misfires. Roberts’ hesitation and lack of preparation with the accent were evident during a pivotal test with Paul McGann. Zwick noted,
Once she began to say the words, something was wrong. There was no magic. The problem wasn’t the script. Or Paul McGann. It was Julia. From the moment she began to speak it was clear she hadn’t been working on the accent.
Eventually, Roberts withdrew from the $289M project, leaving Zwick and the team scrambling. Universal had already invested $6M, but Roberts’ departure led to a complete overhaul. Miramax Pictures, under Harvey Weinstein, later revived the film with Gwyneth Paltrow in the role, earning her an Oscar for Best Actress.
The saga underscores the unpredictable nature of Hollywood casting and how even the biggest stars can pivot a film’s destiny.
Ralph Fiennes Defends J.K. Rowling, Ignites Clash with Harry Potter Co-Stars
Helena Bonham Carter’s Bellatrix and Ralph Fiennes’ Voldemort | Warner BrosSince Harry Potter waved goodbye in 2011, J.K. Rowling’s stirred controversy with her comments on transgender rights and the LGBTQ+ community. This has led to intense backlash from fans and activists alike. Amidst this storm, Ralph Fiennes has stepped into the fray.
In a chat with The Telegraph, Fiennes, who portrayed the menacing Lord Voldemort, expressed bewilderment at the hatred directed at Rowling. Criticizing what he sees as an irrational age of condemnation, he asserted:
I can’t understand the vitriol directed at her. I can understand the heat of an argument… but I find the level of hatred that people express about views that differ from theirs, and the violence of language towards others, disturbing.
Fiennes’ defense of Rowling’s sparked friction with his former Harry Potter co-stars, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe, which threw him into a heated cultural debate.
Shakespeare in Love and Harry Potter is available to watch on Apple TV & Max.
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