Gregory Goyle – Josh Herdman
Gregory Goyle may have been a gormless goon in the Harry Potter films, but Josh Herdman is a mixed martial artist in real life. He followed in his father Martin Herdman’s footsteps by becoming an actor but also pursuing a separate career. While his father was a Rugby league footballer, Josh chose to learn MMA. However, he is also still an actor, with roles in the 2018 Robin Hood film as well as British detective series Marcella and action TV series Alex Rider.
Pansy Parkinson – Scarlett Byrne
Scarlett Byrne began her acting career long before she was cast as supporting character Pansy Parkinson. The character was a mean Slytherin character, featuring in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. She’s since starred in Falling Skies, Runaways, The Vampire Diaries, and Skybound. Byrne is now working on Stick and Poke, a short film about the art of the hand-poked tattoo. She is also expecting her first child with Playboy heir Cooper Hefner, who she married in November 2019.
Neville Longbottom – Matthew Lewis
Matthew Lewis landed the role of Neville Longbottom when he was 12 years old, although he started acting when he was five. An awkward, clumsy boy in the first few movies, Neville Longbottom magically transformed into one of the bravest of Gryffindor. The actor shocked fans with his real-life glow up from a goofy-looking kid to a poster boy. He has since starred in The Syndicate, Bluestone 42, Me Before You, and Terminal. He even starred in the music video of “Filth” by A Band of Buriers.
Hermione Granger – Emma Watson
Muggle-born Hermione Granger, the brightest and most compassionate witch of her age, was played by Emma Watson to critical acclaim. After the Harry Potter movies, Emma Watson went on to star in movies such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Bling Ring, Beauty and the Beast, and Little Women. During this time, she also succeeded in getting a bachelor’s degree in English literature and launching the HeForShe campaign as a UN Women Goodwill ambassador. She calls for boys and men to advocate gender equality.
Lucius Malfoy – Jason Isaacs
Jason Isaacs is great at playing criminals. He played the aristocrat patriarch Lucius Malfoy to chilling perfection in the Harry Potter films, with his luscious mane of white-blonde hair, ornamental cane, and condescending voice. Like Evanna Lynch, Jason Isaacs also loved the books, having read four of them in one sitting. Since Harry Potter, he has starred in The Patriot, Brotherhood, and The Death of Stalin, all as villains. He has also been in TV shows such as Awake, Dig, and Scoob.
Narcissa Malfoy – Helen McCrory
Like Robbie Coltrane, British actress Helen Elizabeth McCrory was also appointed an OBE. She has also been in a James Bond film. McCrory played supporting character Narcissa Malfoy in the final three Harry Potter movies. But it is her role as Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders that has won her critical acclaim. She has also starred in movies like The Queen, The Special Relationship, Charlotte Gray, Fearless, and MotherFatherSon. In 2020, McCrory was busy raising over $1 Million for a food charity during the pandemic. Tragically McCrory passed away in 2021, at the age of 52.
Dudley Dursley – Harry Melling
His role as spoiled cousin Dudley Dursley might not have made the best use of his acting abilities, but Harry Melling comes from a family lineage of actors. He has since lost weight, which has left him free to pursue roles very different from that of Dudley Dursley. He has since played in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, delivering a performance that won him critical acclaim. Melling has also made appearances in films like The Lost City of Z, and fantasy shows like Merlin.
Dean Thomas – Alfred Enoch
Alfred Enoch took on the role of Dean Thomas when he was only 13 years old. After the Harry Potter films, the English-Brazilian actor gained fame and recognition by playing the main role of Wes Gibbins in the legal drama How to Get Away with Murder. He has been in several Shakespeare plays, from Timon of Athens and Coriolanus to King Lear. He has also starred in Trust Me and is now working on Provisional Measure.
Draco Malfoy – Tom Felton
What Harry Potter is to Gryffindor, Draco Malfoy is to Slytherin. Arguably his darkest moment came in The Half-Blood Prince when he helped lure Dumbledore to his demise. To be fair though, it was all part of a deeper plan against Voldemort, so we guess we can forgive him a little. Felton might not have been able to eclipse the fame set by his role as Draco, but he has appeared in other huge blockbuster film franchises, including the recent Planet of the Apes reboot series.
Colin Creevey – Hugh Mitchell
Remember the kid photographer who was obsessed with Harry, and wouldn’t miss a chance to fanboy over him? Yes, we’re talking about Colin Creevey! He represented all of us Potterheads in the film. Actor Hugh Mitchell, in his post-Potter era, has maintained a low key acting career, appearing as Silas in The Da Vinci Code and some other British hits like Wallander, The White Queen, and more. Hugh remained loyal to Colin’s photography passion, which is evident in his Instagram account!
Cedric Diggory – Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson may have been mocked for taking on the role of vampire Edward Cullen in The Twilight Saga, but he was praised for his role as handsome Hufflepuff prefect Cedric Diggory before that in Harry Potter. Since then, he’s had a remarkable acting career. He has quickly established himself as a serious actor through stellar performances in movies like Remember Me, Water for Elephants, and The Lighthouse. His latest role will be that of Bruce Wayne in the upcoming TheBatman.
Barty Crouch Jr. – David Tennant
David Tennant needs no introduction if you’re a Doctor Who fan, but did you know that he played the villainous Barty Crouch Jr. in the Harry Potter movies? If you don’t remember, Barty Crouch Jr. was a Death Eater who disguised himself as Alastor Moody to lure Harry Potter to his demise. Another villain the Scottish actor is famous for is Kilgrave in Marvel’s Jessica Jones, which is about a fictional superhero. He has also starred in Broadchurch, where he plays police detective Alec Hardy.
Rubeus Hagrid – Robbie Coltrane
Robbie Coltrane played the role of gentle, lovable, loyal half-giant Rubeus Hagrid. J. K. Rowling personally requested him to play the part. Rubeus Hagrid may have made him an international star, but both before and after Harry Potter, the Scottish Actor also held prominent roles in other movies, such as two James Bond movies, Brave, Great Expectations, and National Treasure. He now has a son and a daughter and has received an OBE from the Queen.
Minerva McGonagall – Maggie Smith
Academy Award winner Maggie Smith has had so many fulfilling roles on English stage, film, and television over the years that, in 1990, Queen Elizabeth II made her a Dame. She played Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film franchise and Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey. She has said that she is grateful for these roles but they weren’t creatively challenging enough for her. It might be because she keeps getting cast as a “spiky elderly lady”. She is now working on A Boy Called Christmas.
Mr. Ollivander – John Hurt
John Hurt, who played the mysterious Mr. Ollivander, is one of the Harry Potter actors who is no longer with us. With two Oscar nominations and a Golden Globe in his bag, he didn’t stop after playing his role of Mr. Ollivander in the Harry Potter franchise. With over 200 acting credits, the immortal John Hurt might have portrayed the most fictional characters out of all Harry Potter actors, leaving behind a huge legacy.
Bellatrix Lestrange – Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter has had an impressive career both before and after her portrayal of the villainous Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter movies. Her eccentric aura and unusual expressions have made her famous for her roles in many Tim Burton movies. These included Alice in Wonderland and its sequel, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Dark Shadows, Planet of the Apes, and Sweeney Todd. She has received dozens of awards and nominations for her show-stopping performances.
Amos Diggory – Jeff Rawle
“That’s my son! That’s my boy!” are the cries that we remember all too well. Jeff Rawle does not get nearly enough credit for how much he stole the scene in TheGoblet of Fire, as he portrays Amos Diggory reacting to his child’s passing. His performance makes our hearts ache to this day. Active since the 1970s, Jeff Rawle has performed in numerous films and television shows. His best works include Drop the Dead Donkey, Hollyoaks, and Billy Liar.
Severus Snape – Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman had made quite a name for himself with his appearance in Die Hard, Galaxy Quest, and Sense and Sensibility. He later rose to the top of his game for his portrayal of Severus Snape, an uptight potions professor in Harry Potter. He managed to make the whole audience cry as Snape sacrificed his life for Harry in the eighth film of the series. Tragic news surfaced in January 2016 when Rickman, after years of fighting pancreatic cancer, passed away.
Vernon Dursley – Richard Griffiths
While many of us know Richard Griffiths as Uncle Vernon, he was well-known way before the Harry Potter franchise due to his notable performances in Gandhi, Sleepy Hollow, and more. He even made some remarkable appearances while filming Harry Potter, including films like Lost in Love, and Bedtime Stories. After Harry Potter, Griffiths joined Pirates of the Caribbean, another major franchise. Griffiths passed away in 2013 following complications from cardiac surgery. His final role was in About Time.
Luna Lovegood – Evanna Lynch
Unlike other Harry Potter actors, Evanna Lynch had no acting experience before she was cast as Luna Lovegood in the last four films. She was obsessed with the books and began letter correspondence with J. K. Rowling about it as a child. After the movies ended, the Irish actress played roles in My Name Is Emily, Danny, The Human Zoo, and Madness in the Method. She also made it to the finale of Dancing with the Stars. She is now an activist focusing on animal rights.
Argus Filch – David Bradley
The man who terrifies the hallways of Hogwarts, for better or worse, Argus Filch was introduced to us in the first film of the franchise. We have been witness to David Bradley’s exceptional performances time and again; from Argus Filch to Walder Frey. He is currently working on the television series Great British Menu as a guest judge. He is also lending his voice to Mister Gepetto in an upcoming animated movie adaptation of Pinocchio.
Seamus Finnigan – Devon Murray
Devon Murray’s journey with Harry Potter had a dramatic beginning. The young actor had almost simultaneously won two roles, one in Harry Potter and one in Gangs of New York. Thank Goodness he was chosen for the former! He has worked on a few other projects while working on the franchise. However, he did not pursue acting after his Harry Potter years. Murray does remain connected with his fans through social media to this day.
Ginny Weasley – Bonnie Wright
While many fans of the books and the movies were hoping for Harry to end up with Hermione, it kind of ended up making sense when it was actually Ron’s sister, Ginny Weasley, who would ultimately steal his heart. Unlike many of her co-stars from the Harry Potter film franchise, Bonnie Wright hasn’t exactly built on her acting career since her time as Ginny Weasley. However, she has been keeping fairly busy directing a variety of music videos.