Accio Harry Potter Cast Members: Where Are They Now?
It's almost been ten years since the Battle of Hogwarts, the last Horcrux was destroyed, and Harry threw the elder wand off the bridge. Since then, the actors and actresses who portrayed Harry Potter characters have grown up and moved on in their careers.
Gary Oldman, the actor who portrayed Sirius Black, has since won an Oscar, and Dame Maggie Smith is back on stage instead of in front of a camera playing Professor McGonagall. Keep reading to learn what some of the cast members have been up to in recent years.
Evanna Lynch
Evanna Lynch was introduced to the Harry Potter universe during the fifth installment of the franchise, Order of the Phoenix. Lynch was cast as the quirky Luna Lovegood, a role that she seemed to have an affinity for. One of the producers, David Heyman, even said that "Evanna Lynch is Luna."
Lynch has been busy ever since she hung up her Hogwarts robes and put away her wand. In 2018, she participated in the ABC reality game show Dancing with the Stars, making it to the finale and finishing in third place. Then, in 2019, she was awarded a Lovie Award for her animal rights activism.
Matthew Lewis
Matthew Lewis was one of the original members of the Harry Potter cast, playing Neville Longbottom in all eight films. Lewis brought the bumbling, herbology loving, brave character to life, and J.K. Rowling didn't fail to notice. During her speech at the world premiere of the final film, she talked about seven major cast members throughout the series, naming Lewis as one of the seven.
Since Harry Potter, Lewis has been in a few television productions, including a guest appearance on the reality game show Impractical Jokers. Then, in 2018, Lewis married his long-time girlfriend, Angela Jones. And, as you can see, he had a major glow-up!
Tom Felton
In 2001, the world was introduced to a bleach-blonde kid with slick-backed haired by the name of Draco Malfoy. Tom Felton would go on to portray the wannabe Death Eater for all eight installments of the Harry Potter franchise. In 2010 and 2011, his performance in both The Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows Part I won him MTV Movie Awards for Best Villain.
After his time as Draco, Felton went on to appear in multiple films and television series, including the reoccurring role of Julian Albert in the third season of The Flash. Most recently, Felton played the villain in A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting.
Bonnie Wright
In the first film, Bonnie Wright had a very small role, only being seen at Kings Cross station while her older brothers go to Platform 9 3/4. Her role as Ginny Weasly only grew from there, and eventually, J.K. Rowling named her as one of 'The Big Seven' cast members.
The actress recently wrapped up filming Those Who Wander, a film she stars in alongside fellow Harry Potter alum Christian Coulson. Wright is also known for her activism work, bringing awareness to plastic pollution around the world. On her Instagram page, Wright says, "Every piece of plastic I have ever used is still somewhere on this earth, and that's terrifying."
Sir Michael Gambon
Sir Michael Gambon took over the role of Albus Dumbledore in the third film, Prisoner of Azkaban. He went on to reprise the role for the rest of the series. In an interview, Gambon said that while playing the role, he's not really playing anyone, "I just stick on a beard and play me, so it's no great feat."
The Irish actor has since swapped his purple robes and long beard for other roles. Most recently, he appeared in the movie Judy, a bioptic about late actress Judy Garland
Emma Watson
Landing the role of Hermione Granger was Emma Watson's first professional acting job. She was found through a recommendation made by her prep-school theater teacher. After eight auditions, she was told she had earned the leading role of book smart Granger. Her performance in the first film won her a Young Artist Award for Leading Young Actress.
Since her breakout role, Watson has appeared in many films. She played the role of Meh March in the Academy nominated film Little Woman. It seems as though Watson is putting acting behind her. In February 2021 fans were stunned after Watson's publicist confirmed that the actress is "not taking on new commitments" according to a source for the Daily Mail. She's also rumored to be engaged to Leo Robinton, a businessman she's been dating.
James And Oliver Phelps
In 2000, James And Oliver Phelps did the most Weasly twin thing imaginable. They decided to skip school at the age of 14 and go audition for the roles of Fred and George, even though they had no previous acting experience or training. After six auditions, they landed the role of the prankster twins.
Since finishing up with Harry Potter, both of the Phelps twins have appeared in a few movies, including the short film 7 Days: The Story of Blind Dave Heeley. Outside of acting, the twins are very into sports, enjoying golfing, biking, and cricket.
Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter is one of the Harry Potter actresses who was perfectly cast in her role. Carter played the crazy Bellatrix Lestrange, one of the most devoted Death Eaters in Voldemort's inner circle of followers. Watching her throughout the films, she plays Bellatrix with the ease and insanity befitting of the character's personality.
Today, Carter continues to grace the big and small screen. She was in the all-female remake of Ocean's Eight and had a reoccurring role as Princess Margaret in the beloved television series The Crown. Now, she is getting ready to star alongside Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, and Sam Clafin in the film Enola Holmes.
Daniel Radcliffe
After seeing his performance in David Copperfield, director Chris Columbus knew that he needed Daniel Radcliffe to play the title role of Harry Potter. After eight long months, he was offered the lead character, almost declining because his parents didn't want him to film in Los Angeles at such a young age. Thankfully, they made a deal and signed the contract.
Radcliffe was afraid that people wouldn't be able to separate him from the character he played for ten years, but that didn't happen. He went on to star in a few films after his time with Potter. The actor just wrapped up filming Escape from Pretoria.
Julie Walters
Julie Walters played the loving mama bear Molly Weasly in the Harry Potter franchise, appearing in every film except Goblet of Fire. In 2003, BBC voted Walters' portrayal of the fierce witch as the second-best on-screen mother. Walters' role is definitely remembered by the last movie where she duels Bellatrix, calling her a certain B-word after Lestrange tries to duel her daughter, Ginny.
After Harry Potter, Walters continued to act. She was part of the second Mama Mia film in 2018 but has since cut back on acting after being diagnosed with stage three cancer. The good news is that she is in remission.
Rupert Grint
After hearing about an open audition for the film adaptation of Harry Potter, Rupert Grint sent in a film of him rapping why he wanted the part of Ron Weasly. It got the casting team's attention, and he wound up getting the role a few auditions later. His role as Harry's best friend won him a Satellite Award as well as a Young Artist Award.
Grint continued to act post Potter. He's even dabbled in producing. Most recently, Grint starred in the Apple TV+ series Servant, a show in which he was also an executive producer.
Imelda Staunton
Imelda Staunton played one of the most loathed characters in the Harry Potter universe, Dolores Umbridge. Although her character is cringe-worthy, it was very highly praised by critics and has been described as "coming close to stealing the show." Thankfully, fans of the films only had to deal with the character for two films.
Staunton has since hung up her powder pink attire to done a crown. It was announced on January 31, 2020, that she would be portraying Queen Elizabeth II in the final season of the highly beloved series The Crown.
Gary Oldman
After a series of box office flops, Gary Oldman found himself in a place of prominence after landing the role of Sirius Black. Oldman was praised for his role in the Prisoner of Azkaban. He went on to star in the next two films, Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix.
Since his time with Potter, Oldman has found much success in the acting world. In 2018, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in The Finest Hour, a film that called for 200 hours in the markup chair and 14 pounds of rubber outfitted to his body.
Dame Maggie Smith
Dame Maggie Smith played the sassy Professor Minerva McGonagall in all eight Harry Potter films. Her role had varying levels of importance, depending on the movie, but each adaptation was just as good as the last -- especially when she brings the gigantic statues to life in the final film!
In a recent interview, Smith mentioned her dream of returning to the theatre stage, as it is her favorite medium. Then, in April 2019, she was back and performing on stage for the first time in 12 years. She starred in A German Life, a play drawn from the testimony of Brunhilde Pomsel, where she performs a 100-minute long monologue.
David Thewlis
Originally, David Thewlis audition for the role of Professor Quirinus Quirrell, the man who was acting as a surrogate for Voldemort. He didn't get the role but was later offered the part of Remus Lupin in 2004. Thewlis went on to reprise his wizard/werewolf role in four of the Harry Potter films.
After Harry Potter wrapped up, Thewlis continued to act. In 2014, he played Dennis Sciama in The Theory of Everything. And, more recently, he portrayed Sir Patrick Morgan, aka Ares, in the first Wonder Woman movie opposite Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, reprising the role in Justice League.
Natalia Tena
Natalia Tena was cast as the lovable eccentric Nymphadora Tonks in 2007 for the fifth film, The Order of the Phoenix. She went on to reprise the role in the final three films, alongside her on-screen husband David Thewlis, aka Remus Lupin.
Since Potter, Tena has appeared in many critically acclaimed television series. Most notably, she was a series regular on Game of Thrones, playing the wildling Osha. The character ends up as a pseudo-caretaker for Bran and Rickon Stark in Winterfell. She has also been cast as Lana Pierce on the Youtube sci-fi series Origin, another recurring role.
Robbie Coltrane
When asked who she would like to see play Rubius Hagrid, J.K. Rowling said in one swift breath, "Robbie Coltrane for Hagrid." He got the role and played the half-giant gamekeeper and Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for all eight Harry Potter films.
Unfortunately, Coltrane took a step back from acting in 2019 due to a knee injury.
Julianne Hough
While Julianne Hough was not a main character in the Harry Potter franchise by any means, she was still in the first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In the film, she played a Hogwarts school girl, a young witch, and can be seen celebrating alongside other Gryffindor students during the Quidditch match.
After her time on the set of Potter, Hough went on to be a professional dancer, starring in dance films such as Footloose and Burlesque, opposite Christina Aguilera and Cher.
Brendan Gleeson
Brendan Gleeson appeared in the fourth, fifth, and seventh Harry Potter films as Alastor Mad-Eye Moody, professor of the Dark Arts and member of the Order of the Phoenix. In an interview with The Guardian, Gleeson said the reason he went for the part was that his four sons asked him to. One of his sons, Domhnall, even plays Bill Weasly in the final two films.
Gleeson continued to act after his role as Mad-Eye. Most notably, he played the reoccurring role of Bill Hodges, a psychopathic killer, in the 2017-2019 tv series Mr. Mercedes, opposite Holland Taylor.
Miranda Richardson
Miranda Richardson first appeared in the Harry Potter universe in 2005 as the toxic Daily Prophet journalist Rita Skeeter in The Goblet of Fire. She played the over-the-top bubbly witch with a nosy disposition perfectly. Maybe too perfect, because some fans of the films couldn't help but roll their eyes each time she came on screen with her green quick-quotes quill.
After Potter, Richardson stayed in the acting scene for a few years, appearing in various television shows and films. Recently, she's been a bit quiet in Hollywood, but she did play Madame Tracy in the 2019 mini-series Good Omens.
Scarlett Byrne
Scarlett Byrne wasn't the original actress to play Slytherin bad-girl Pansy Parkinson. It wasn't until The Half-Blood Prince that Byrne joined the cast, reprising her role for the final films, too. She didn't have a significant role, but it was enough to make audience members dislike the girl and cheer along with the other students as she's marched to the dungeons.
Since wrapping up The Deathly Hallows Part II, Bryne has appeared in a few major television shows. She's appeared on The Vampire Diaries, Dancing with the Stars alongside Evanna Lynch, and, most recently, Marvel's Runaways. In 2019, she married Cooper Hefner, son of the late Hugh Hefner.
