Bellatrix Lestrange is usually a go-to character for fans who are obsessed with villains in movies and novels. After all, she pretty much ate up every single moment that she endured during the Harry Potter series.
She was truly devoted to her cause, even if there seemed to be no morals surrounding it. In fact, it was a lack of morals that turned her into a visually iconic antagonist with a personality as vile as her beliefs.
In short, Bellatrix Lestrange was unhinged, crazed, and sadistic. This is why fans were immediately obsessed with her.
Bellatrix, of course, was also Lord Voldemort's most loyal servant and most talented Death Eater. Everything she did was for him and his cause.
This was an interesting trait, since we are so accustomed to understanding why a lead villain did what they did. This doesn't always explain why an anatagonist's followers support them. This is precisely one of the reasons why Bellatrix was so engaging.
She seemed to have a sick obsession with Voldemort that went so far beyond romantic desire. She was also very clearly scared of him and his remarkable magical abilities.
However, the reason for her obsession clearly went a lot deeper and probably had to do with the relationship that she had with her parents.
Even the biggest Harry Potter fans are often surprised to learn some of Bellatrix's most interesting traits. After all, she remains a bit of a mystery.
Without further ado, here are the 20 Strangest Things About Bellatrix Lestrange's Body.
20 Her Parents Forced Her Into A Political Marriage
Huge fans already know that Bellatrix was actually married to Rodulphus Lestrange throughout the course of the Harry Potter series, which explains why she didn't have the last name of Black like her cousin, Sirius.
Bellatrix grew up the eldest of three sisters. Her parents were part of a long line of pure-blood families, which meant that they had a bloodline of only magical blood.
Whenever one of their family members proved themselves a Blood Traitor and married a half-blood or muggle, they were blasted off the family tree... sometimes quite literally.
This ideology led to what some fans claim was an arranged marriage between Bellatrix and Rodulphus.
In reality, she was merely forced to find an upstanding and pure-blood match even though she never loved the man she chose.
19 She Had A Sadistic Personality
Even actress Helena Bonham Carter, who portrayed the dark witch in the Harry Potter movie series, claimed that Bellatrix had "a sadistic personality disorder."
This would explain the enjoyment she got from hurting people; whether it was through her continued use of the Cruciatus Curse or her interest in generally harming or ending other living things.
After all, it would take a lot of psychological damage to make someone as awful as Bellatrix, so it makes sense that it was chemical, especially after her stint in Azkaban.
In comparison to other Death Eaters, Bellatrix was completely deranged. Other Death Eaters even feared her and were put off of her "bloodlust."
There had to have been some significant psychological trauma there.
18 She Took The Life Of Her Favourite Cousin
Bellatrix is probably best-known for being responsible for taking the life of Harry's mentor and godfather, Sirius Black.
Although it might have seemed like Bellatrix had no issue using an Unforgivable Curse on Sirius - at least on the outiside - he was actually her favorite cousin growing up.
Surprisingly, Bellatrix was actually quite close to her family. The only thing that affected this was if a relative's allegiances weren't aligned with the rest of the family's.
As soon as they broke away from the family, Bellatrix would disown them.
However, disowning them wasn't always enough. She quickly learned to hate them and wanted them to meet their end.
Not only did she take out Sirius for associating with blood-traitors and mudbloods, but she also ended the life of her niece, Tonks, for the same reason.
17 She's An Excellent Dueler
Bellatrix wasn't just a psychotic maniac with an unhealthy devotion to Lord Voldemort - she also was an asset to his ranks.
Author J.K. Rowling has said, on numerous occasions, that Bellatrix was the most dangerous Death Eater that Voldemort had at his disposal.
Not only was this because of her unhinged personality that easily made her throw herself in harm's way without worrying about the repercussions, but it also had to do with the fact that she was an excellent dueler.
She knew dark magic like the back of her hand.
In the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows novel, Bellatrix even managed to fight off Ginny, Hermione, and Luna all at the same time without breaking too much of a sweat.
16 Her Family Was Part Of The Sacred Twenty-Eight
Bellatrix's family, the Blacks, were a wealthy pure-blood family with a sickening desire to keep their lineage free of half-bloods and muggles.
In fact, they even had a racist family motto - "Toujours Pur," which meant "Always Pure."
Their obsession with being pure-bloods, as well as disowning any family member who married someone who wasn't, was known throughout the Wizarding World in Britain.
They were even part of an exclusive line of witches and wizards called The Sacred Twenty-Eight.
This group of families has been entirely pure-blood for generations and therefore were untainted by non-magical blood.
Not every family in the Sacred Twenty Eight were against muggles and half-bloods like the Blacks, Lestranges, and Malfoys, but a good chunk of them were.
15 She Was An Occlumens
When most people read that Bellatrix was an outstanding dueler and powerful dark witch, they aren't surprised.
However, the fact that she was actually an Occlumens tends to surprise fans, since this skill takes a level of focus, which is a trait not often linked to Bellatrix.
Occlumency is the magical act of closing one's mind off the powers of Legilimency, something we've seen a few times in the series.
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Snape taught Harry how to close his mind off to prevent Voldemort's mental attacks. This was something that Harry struggled with throughout the series.
J.k. Rowling revealed in Half-Blood Prince that Bellatrix had trained Draco to fight off any attacks on his mind that may have thwarted his plan to assassinate Dumbledore.
14 The Polyjuice Potion Made From Her Tasted Awful
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, there is a memorable scene where Hermione has to drink polyjuice potion in order to transform into Bellatrix.
This was something that she had to do so that she, Ron, and Harry could get into Bellatrix's Gringott's bank vault in order to steal and destroy a Hufflepuff cup that was one of Voldemort's Horocruxes.
Because the recipe for the potion called for some of Bellatrix's hair, Hermione actually got to taste a bit of the dark witch.
After drinking the polyjuice potion, Hermione remarked that Bellatrix tasted "disgusting."
This directly reflected that Bellatrix's insides were just as gross and awful than the sickness that she exuded on the outside.
13 Her Wand Pushed Her Toward Dark Magic
Although there were clearly many factors that made Bellatrix turn to a life of crime and hatred, her wand actually had a role in her fate.
Wands contain a variety of different cores. Each one gives a wand a different magical quality, as well as a personality.
Bellatrix's main wand, which Ollivander described as "unyielding," had a core of Dragon Heartstring.
This core has a history of turning wizards and witches toward dark magic since it is known as one of the most powerful wand cores.
Another reason why Dragon Heartstring is so powerful is that it's presumably taken from a dragon that is about to meet it's demise or has already passed. This means that it's a core that comes from the act of perishing.
Hermione's wand had a similar core, but she was one of the few with it who didn't turn to the dark side.
12 Her Famous Teeth Were Made Thanks To Helena Bonham Carter
One of the most recognizable elements of Bellatrix Lestrange's appearance is her rotten teeth.
Although this was something that J.K. Rowling didn't really specify in any of her books, her teeth play a large part in all of the movies that Bellatrix shows up in.
They are especially noticeable during the Battle of Hogwarts when she laughs at Neville for standing up to Voldemort.
The idea for Bellatrix to have such ratchet teeth actually came from actress Helena Bonham Carter. This was something that dated back to her original appearance in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Because Bellatrix had spent so much time in a horrible prison, Bonham Carter wanted her to appear really "savage."
She wanted Bellatrix's gnarly teeth to really standout and frighten children.
11 Helena Based Her Performance On "Savage Children"
Helena Bonham Carter reportedly based a lot of Bellatrix's attitude on "savage children" before they get civilized by society and/or their parents.
That explains the type of mania, greed, and immaturity that Bellatrix so often displayed with throughout the Harry Potter movies. She basically acted like a child who had eaten too much sugar and was told to have a time-out.
Moments when she randomly lashed out in anger, trashed the Hogwarts dining tables, and made "grossed-out" noises at the thought of mating with Muggles, all reflect an immature, spoiled, and mean child.
On top of this, she was also a sadistic maniac.
Bonham Carter claimed that she played up the sadist in Bellatrix, which actually led to her damaging Matthew Lewis' inner ear when she captured him in Order of the Phoenix. Essentially, as she got a little too aggressive with her wand.
10 Imprisonment Wore Away Her Elegance
Helena Bonham Carter helped develop Bellatrix's look in the movies. While some of Bellatrix's appearance was mentioned in the books, other aspects of her character and look weren't.
However, one thing that remained consistent in both the books and the movies is the fact that her die-hard support for Lord Voldemort led to the wearing away of her beauty.
Bellatrix was once very beautiful and very elegant. After all, she had everything at her fingertips growing up. Her family was very rich and very proper.
However, after spending time in Azkaban, Bellatrix became dishevelled and grotesque.
Her time in prison physically and mentally changed her. Her elegance was almost completely destroyed by the agony and isolation of her environment.
9 She's The Only Death Eater To Block A Spell From Dumbledore
It's well documented that there was only one wizard who Bellatrix feared, and that wizard was Dumbledore.
Although Bellatrix played off of Snape's praise of Dumbledore's powers in The Half-Blood Prince, the subtext of her remark was based on her fear.
She had many reasons to be afraid of Dumbledore. After all, he was basically one of the most powerful wizards in history, and he possessed the Elder Wand.
Despite her fear of him, though, Bellatrix was the only Death Eater to ever face Dumbledore one-on-one.
Their encounter in Order of the Phoenix was brief but she did manage to repel a spell that he sent flying her way.
This was one of the reasons why she was so highly ranked in Voldemort's army - she was powerful enough to fight one of the greatest wizards ever.
8 Narcissa's Actress Was Almost Bellatrix
Though many Harry Potter fans may not know this, Bellatrix was almost played by Narcissa Malfoy. Actress Helen McCrory was originally cast in the iconic role that debuted in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
However, she had to drop out of the movie when she became pregnant.
Helena Bonham Carter was quickly cast after her and the rest is history.
Director David Yates decided to make good on his relationship with Helen McCrory, though, and decided to cast her as Bellatrix's younger sister, Narcissa Malfoy, for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and the final two Harry Potter movies.
As amazing as Helen McCrory is, it's hard to think of anyone playing Bellatrix other than the amazing Helena Bonham Carter.
7 Her Look Was Different In The Books
The insane attitude that Bellatrix displays in the movies is very similar to that of her novel counterpart. However, her look is pretty different.
In the books, J.K. Rowling describes Bellatrix as a woman with "straight black hair" and "heavy eye-lids." Both of these qualities were scraped when Helena Bonham Carter was cast.
Bonham Carter's Bellatrix's curly and wild hair has become iconic, and perfectly reflects her character after being sent to Azakan prison.
Bellatrix's "heavy eye-lids" also went out the window due to Helena's naturally big eyes.
Additionally, Bellatrix was known for wearing beautiful flowing robes in the books. This added a connection to her wealthy family as well as an added contrast to her personality.
However, the Bellatrix in the movies was more battle-worn and was thus always ready for action.
6 She Was Talented At Non-Verbal Magic
Some fans may believe that there was a certain inconsistency in regards to how witches and wizards cast spells in both the movies and the books. However, die-hard fans know that this wasn't actually the case.
Powerful witches and wizards don't need to use verbal magic in order to cast their spells. Some, like Bellatrix Lestrange, can do it with just a thought.
Sometimes, to cast a particularly difficult spell, verbal cues are still needed - even for powerful witches and wizards. However, other times, just the right wand movement and intention can do the trick.
For example, in the book Bellatrix uses a spell to guide her way to Spinner's End. In the movie, she uses her magic to attack the snatchers after she finds them with the Sword of Gryffindor.
5 She Stood And Sat On Voldemort's Right
Bellatrix was pretty much Lord Voldemort's right-hand woman. He often claimed that she was his most "loyal servant."
Also, unlike Lucius Malfoy, who showed weaknesses, and Snape, who was a double agent, Bellatrix's devotion to Voldemort never wavered.
This can be seen in her action to track Voldemort down after his apparent demise after attacking baby Harry. Instead of hiding or renouncing him, she actively searched for him and was sentenced to Azkaban because of this.
This devotion was literally shown on camera in both Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2, where she is seen seated to the right of Voldemort.
Even in the promotional materials, she is seen on his right-hand side.
4 She Was The Last Death Eater Standing At The Battle of Hogwarts
For much of the Battle of Hogwarts, Voldemort and his army of Death Eaters had the upper hand. However, once Harry revealed that he actually hadn't perished, the tide turned.
After Harry reappeared, many of the Death Eaters apparated to safety, apparently renouncing their devotion to Lord Voldemort, as he no longer appeared to be all-powerful.
Voldemort's other devoted servant, Lucius Malfoy, decided to drag his wife and son out of Hogwarts and actually walked away from the fight, even though Bellatrix called after him.
Although Bellatrix was among a few of the Death Eaters who fought to the end, in the book, she was actually the last one on the battlefield.
She had no issue fighting until her end for the Dark Lord.
3 She Had A Fling With Voldemort
Although many fans speculated that Bellatrix and Lord Voldemort's relationship was more than what was explored on screen or in the book, it was never outright proven in the original series.
Her relationship was later confirmed with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
The play claimed that Bellatrix had been unfaithful to her husband and had slept with Lord Voldemort after she was freed from Azkaban.
Rodulphus probably wouldn't have minded all that much, though, since he too was obsessed with the Dark Lord.
It should be noted that Voldemort was completely incapable of love, so he couldn't have actually loved Bellatrix. Instead, he saw her as a tool to get what he wanted - a child.
2 She Had A Child With Voldemort
During Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, it was revealed that the affair that Bellatrix had with Lord Voldemort actually resulted in the birth of their illegitimate child, Delphini.
Though many fans originally believed that the play was not officially part of the Harry Potter story, J.K. Rowling has since gone to Twitter, where she made it clear that the story was canon.
Because of this, many fans have wondered when Bellatrix could have possibly shown her pregnancy or given birth since she is present for a good chunk of time between her release from Azkaban and her demise.
Her pregnancy was never mentioned in either the books or movies.
1 J.K. Rowling Always Knew Molly Would Take Her Down
Without a doubt, die-hard and casual fans alike have claimed that one of the most memorable moments from the books and the movies is Bellatrix's demise at the hands of Molly Weasley.
Even famous author Stephen King said that it was one of the most surprising moments.
However, some fans wish that it was Neville Longbottom who took out Bellatrix due to the fact that she had inflicted such physical and mental harm on his parents.
Author J.K. Rowling stated in an interview that she always intended Molly be the one to finish Bellatrix off.
Rowling wanted to make a statement about romantic and maternal love overpowering obsessive love, the latter of which is incredibly unhealthy. So, thankfully, good always won over evil.
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Are there any other interesting facts about Bellatrix Lestrange's body in Harry Potter? Let us know in the comments!
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