Ralph Fiennes refused to wear tights under his dark robes while playing Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films because they kept slipping down and restricting his evil strut.

Why Voldemort’s Costume Needed to Move With Him

A villain’s costume has to work not only in a still image but across every step, turn, and gesture an actor makes. For Ralph Fiennes, the long dark robes were part of Voldemort’s severe silhouette, but the clothing underneath affected how he could move. Tights that slipped down or tightened his stride turned a simple walk into a distraction.

The costume department’s alternative—stockings held up by garters—kept the legs covered without the same full-length garment interfering with movement. Garters attach stockings to a waistband or belt, keeping them in place while leaving the upper legs less constrained.

The Small Detail Behind the “Evil Strut”

That matters because a character’s menace often comes through in physical performance as much as in makeup or dialogue. If an actor is adjusting uncomfortable clothing or shortening his steps, the movement can look awkward rather than deliberate. A costume solution that stays put lets the performer control the pace and posture of a walk.

The unusual underlayer was never the point of Voldemort’s look; it was practical support for the performance. Beneath the robes, a change in construction helped preserve the measured, unsettling way the character moved.