Jason Isaacs Discusses the Creation of Lucius Malfoy for the Films
Isaacs
Posted by: Mel
November 22, 2010, 11:22 PM
In an Entertainment Weekly article, Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) discusses how he initially put together the character of Lucius Malfoy in the first Harry Potter film he appeared in, "Chamber of Secrets." Isaacs talks about the contributions he made to the character's costume (which includes the wig) and his accent:
“I
went to the set, and they had this idea of me wearing a pinstripe suit,
short black-and-white hair,” Isaacs recalls. “I was slightly horrified.
He was a racist, a eugenicist. There’s no way he would cut his hair
like a Muggle, or dress like a Muggle.” So Isaacs suggested instead that
he wear a long white wig, and a particularly ostentatious wizard-like
ensemble. “In order to keep the hair straight, I had to tip my head
back, so I was looking down my nose at everyone. There was 50 percent of
the character. I asked for a walking stick, which [Chamber of Secrets director] Chris Columbus first thought was because I had something
wrong with my leg. I explained I wanted it as an affectation so I can
pull my wand out [of the cane]. After a second’s thought, he said, ‘You
know what, I think the toy guys are going to love you.’ He was
completely right.”
Next: Malfoy’s accent. “There’s a particular art critic in England
who has a voice like fingernails on a blackboard,” says Isaacs, who in
real life has a far more accessible, slightly working class London
accent. “I combined him with a teacher I thought was patronizing and
sadistic when I was in drama school. To me what [the accent] smacks of
is a sense of entitlement. I just wanted to find a voice that made him
drip with the millennia that his family had been in power — complete
disdain and contempt for anybody and everything else.”
Isaacs goes on to talk about director Chris Columbus's reaction to the accent and Daniel Radcliffe's (Harry Potter) opinion of it. You can read the rest of the article here.
43 Comments
163 Points
Wow! Awesome article and great insight into Lucius!
104 Points
Don´t you just love Jason and his Lucius?:)
It is a real testament to the capacity for empathy of Potter fans that we all winced for Lucius Malfoy of all people when Voldemort snapped his wand. I’ve only seen the movie once so far but the look on Voldemort’s face is still with me. He knew how much that hurt. He knew how humiliated Lucius would be. He pauses a moment before continuing just to see if Malfoy would do something, anything – like a cat scooting a half-dead mouse across the floor with its paw.
4852 Points
Great interview! I love his accent and his wig! Thank goodness that he wore that wig!
I love how the younger Dan thought the accent was “cool”, so they let Jason proceed with it!
57 Points
Jason is absolutely brilliant, and hearing that he’s such a good fan makes me love him even more. I’m so glad he cared enough about the character to try and get the director’s image changed; the old idea sounds awful!
He’s so wonderful in Deathly Hallows- all those small movements when Voldie is taking his wand- and I could almost feel bad for him. He’s the one who made me interested in Lucius; until I saw his performance I only really cared about Draco and, after DH, Narcissa.
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4320 Points
Jason really wanted to get into character! Amazing insight :)
4320 Points
@Lunawannabe it was similar with me :-? Jason was the reason I became more interested in Lucius
730 Points
Brilliant actor! He was perfect again as a totally desperate Lucius in Deathly Hallows. Thanks for all of your fabulous work, Mr. Isaacs!!
892 Points
I love Jason Isaac’s Lucius! <3 He does the perfect job portraying him as snobbish and sexy. :D And I felt so bad for Lucius when Voldy broke his precious pimp cane…XP Anyways, great interview. Gotta love that picture too…daydreams
141 Points
Great article — love how it was wanting to measure up to Alan Rickman that made him work so hard at the character! :) I, also, felt sorry for Lucius in DH I — it’s impossible not to.
11990 Points
Lucius got something he never expected, and Jason shows that well.
2389 Points
Haha, it’s rather amusing how, when they couldn’t make Lucius have the black and white wig, they gave it to Narcissa……… I’m quite glad he insisted on the long blonde one! And the wonderful walking stick! XD
18710 Points
Jason Isaacs has done wonders with his character. Her really cares about all the little details which make Lucius so great, the accent is THE thing that pulls it all together. Jason was AMAZING is part one and I cant wait to the the ending with whatevre happens to Lucius.
Wow! Awesome article and great insight into Lucius!