The Harry Potter franchise has plenty of villains to hate. The antagonists range from Hogwarts bully Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) to the Dark Lord himself, each presenting a different challenge to Harry (Daniel Radcliffe). But, despite his crucial role, even Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) isn’t the worst the series has to offer. With antagonists like Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), whose self-righteous, sickly sweet attitude earns her a place among the most hated characters, and Fenrir Greyback (Dave Legeno), whose unique brand of violence is especially dark, it’s hard to see Voldemort as the worst. He may be the central antagonist of Harry Potter, but Voldemort isn’t the most evil character in the story. That honor goes to Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter), the dedicated Death Eater, who, while not the leader of the organization, does the dirty work, unlike Voldemort himself.
Formerly imprisoned in Azkaban, Bellatrix is one of the escaped prisoners in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix because, despite her connections to two notable Pure-blood families, no one could deny her involvement with Voldemort. Though only free for half the franchise, Bellatrix manages to commit some of the worst and most gruesome acts in the series, earning her the title of the worst villain despite serving Voldemort’s cause.
Bellatrix Does Voldemort’s Dirty Work to a Terrifying Degree in Harry Potter
Bellatrix may not be the leader, but she isn’t the average Death Eater either. She shows Voldemort a terrifying dedication that has earned her his trust. Not only does he assign her tasks constantly, but she is one of the few who knows about his Horcruxes, even keeping one in her Gringotts vault. That level of loyalty should turn heads, but it is not her worst trait. The key to Bellatrix surpassing Voldemort’s evilness is the fact that she actually does the fighting, killing, and attacking. Voldemort wants to swoop in at the end, kill Harry, and take credit, but Bellatrix revels in the violence. She laughs as she murders, enjoying the task. It’s chilling.
Bellatrix is responsible for two of the series’ saddest deaths: Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) and Dobby (Toby Jones). She kills Sirius during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, traumatizing Harry. And she brags about it later, singing the words, “I killed Sirius Black,” as she lures Harry away to attack him. Worse, Sirius is her cousin, who was disowned for not participating in the Black‘s toxic ways. She and Sirius would have grown up together, and she still didn’t think twice about sending the killing curse his way. That is dark enough, but somehow. she outdoes herself in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 when she kills Dobby. Her actions here reflect her prejudices. This death is particularly tragic because it happens at the end of the fight. As Dobby apparates his friends to safety, Bellatrix knows she cannot stop him from getting away but delights in killing him anyway, throwing her knife at him as he disappears. It’s vindictive and cruel, showing exactly the kind of person Bellatrix is.
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Bellatrix Does Worse Things Than Kill in the Name of Hatred
While the murders are bad, Bellatrix doesn’t stop there. On multiple occasions, Bellatrix commits two gruesome acts of torture. Though only referenced briefly in the films, Bellatrix attacked Neville’s (Matthew Lewis) parents, Frank and Alice Longbottom, after Voldemort’s death when most Death Eaters were laying low. Using the Cruciatus Curse, she tormented them so much that they never recovered. Unable to raise their son, the couple spent the rest of their lives in St. Mango’s hospital. Yet, that is not the only time Bellatrix commits such acts of violence. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, she tortures Hermione (Emma Watson), creating one of the darkest scenes in the film. She carves the word “mudblood” in Hermione’s arm, going to extremes in the name of her hatred.
Bellatrix’s evil is amplified by her motivation. While Voldemort does terrible things, he does so with a specific goal in mind, hoping to extend his life and gain power. It’s not a good reason, but it explains his way of thinking. But Bellatrix is a fanatic whose only reason for her terrible deeds is hatred. She supports Voldemort and his message of superiority unquestioningly and never shows remorse. She is unpredictable and cruel. Her unequaled villainy made her death at the hands of Molly Weasley (Julie Walters) immensely satisfying. Voldemort might have killed Harry’s parents, but Bellatrix is, somehow, so much worse.
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