During the filming of a Harry Potter movie, Jason Isaacs adopted an accent that director Chris Columbus found too intense. The British actor discussed his role as Lucius Malfoy on The Tonight Show, reflecting on how he developed the character’s aristocratic demeanor, including its distinctive British accent. However, Columbus was not entirely pleased with Isaacs’ choice.
Isaacs remembered, “I created a voice that I thought was very impactful. In my first rehearsal, Chris Columbus remarked, ‘Jason, I’m American. Have you ever met anyone in the UK who sounds like that?’ I replied, ‘No, but it’s a movie about wizards, after all.'”
Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed Harry Potter, noted, “I think it’s actually cool what Isaacs has done. Kids might try to mimic that on the playground.” Columbus responded positively to the performance but often requested that Isaacs tone down the accent significantly for future takes.
Isaacs first appeared as Lucius Malfoy in “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” in 2002 and continued until the series concluded with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” in 2011. Reflecting on his accent, Isaacs mentioned in a recent interview that it was specifically derived from Durham, and while it received some negative feedback online, he also found validation from those who recognized it as similar to their own experiences or family members.
For more on movie news and updates, you can sign up for Entertainment Weekly’s free newsletter. Check out Isaacs’ full discussion with Jimmy Fallon linked above.
