HARRY POTTER CAST HAS CHANGED FROM THEN TO 2020

The Harry Potter movies are still spiking the imagination of children and grown-ups all over the world. Almost a decade after the release of the last film of the fantasy series, characters like Harry, Hermione, Snape, or Voldemort continued to be an inspiration for millions of fans and magic enthusiasts.

But to the people responsible for portraying such characters on the big screen, Harry Potter was more than a career-changing experience. Today, we will take a look at what happened to the actors responsible for giving life to some of the most beloved characters of the 21st century.

Rupert Grint As Ron Weasley

Arguably one of the world’s most beloved redheads, Rupert Grint was the young actor every Harry Potter fan fell in love with. Portraying the adorably clumsy Ron Weasley, Grint was never able to reprise his Harry Potter success in his later roles, but that’s probably about to change.

After appearing in a couple of British movies and gracing an Ed Sheeran music video with a special appearance, Grint is now focusing on the TV series Snatch. He is not only the protagonist of the 2017 comedy/crime show, but he’s also one of the producers. So far, Grint’s pet-project counts with two successful seasons, and there’s a third one on its way!

Maggie Smith As Professor McGonagall

Dame Maggie Smith was one of Britain’s finest actresses by the time she was portraying the shape-shifting Professor McGonagall. Almost a decade after the release of the last Harry Potter movie, she hasn’t lost even a tiny bit of the respect she inspired on movie and theater fans all over the world.

Now 85 years old, Smith is best known for her convincing performance in the Downton Abbey TV series. She was also in the 2019 same-titled movie. With over 80 acting credits in her impressive filmography, Smith is not even considering retiring. She will appear in the upcoming film A Boy Called Christmas.

Michael Gambon As Albus Dumbledore

Responsible for portraying the wise and powerful Albus Dumbledore, the legendary Irish actor Michael Gambon was probably the Harry Potter actor with the toughest task in hand. After all, he had to replace the terrific Richard Harris, who tragically passed away after depicting Dumbledore in the first two movies.

Gambon accepted the challenge and did great, charming every Harry Potter fan with his fantastic rendition of the world’s most powerful wizard. Since the end of the series, he hasn’t stopped acting. Gambon is counting with appearances on The Casual Vacancy, Churchill’s Secret, and Little Women, just to name a few.

Daniel Radcliffe As Harry Potter

It was clear from the beginning that the Harry Potter movies would only work out if it were possible to find the right child actor to portray, well, the Harry Potter. Luckily, a shy but lovely kid by the name of Daniel Radcliffe was able to land the role of a lifetime and give life to J.K. Rowling’s notable lead character.

Since the end of the series, Radcliffe has been struggling to reinvent himself as an actor. He’s been getting some great parts over the years. Radcliffe debuted in theater and landed leading roles in movies such as Now You See Me 2, Swiss Army Man, and Victor Frankenstein.

Timothy Spall As Peter Pettigrew

If there’s a man that deserves to be called an actor, that man is Timothy Spall. With decades of experience appearing in both stage and screen productions, Spall was already a major British performer before appearing in the Harry Potter movies. In the Wizard world, he had a chance to portray the Animagus Peter Pettigrew.

Pettigrew is, for most of the series, a loyal Lord Voldemort follower. But in the end, the character ends up finding redemption, by hesitating to strangle Harry and saving his life. Pettigrew was first introduced in his animal form. He was Scabbers, the pet rat of the Weasley family.

Brendan Gleeson As Alastor Moody

At Hogwarts, teaching the Defence Against the Dark Arts class was not an easy job. During the series, teachers came and went, with the former Auror Alastor Moody being one of the most memorable. Also known as Mad-Eye, Moody was the embodiment of a tough Scottish guy, but he had nothing but good intentions in his heart.

What better actor to give life to Alastor Moody than Brendan Gleeson? The Irish performer is no stranger to playing the no-gibberish, get-things-done kind of character. Still, he is a very versatile actor, who was in both successful comedies and dramas, such as In Bruges, Calvary, The Guard, and Cold Mountain.

Ralph Fiennes As Lord Voldemort

Strangely enough, one of the most unforgettable Lord Voldemort moments in the Harry Potter movies was his weird laugh in one of the last scenes of The Deadly Hallows: Part 2. The man responsible for portraying the meme-inducing moment was Ralph Fiennes. One of England’s finest performers.

A very successful actor, Fiennes, worked in great movies before and after giving life to one of the world’s most renowned villains. His part as Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List is still one of the most memorable of his career. But he has also starred in the award-winning drama The Constant Gardener. Fiennes was also in the beautifully-directed Wes Anderson masterpiece Grand Budapest Hotel.

Helena Bonham-Carter As Bellatrix Lestrange

The casting team of the Harry Potter movies did an excellent job all the way through, but getting Helena Bonham-Carter to play the twisted Bellatrix Lestrange was an obvious choice. Used to give life to the odd female characters created by her ex-husband, the director Tim Burton, Bonham-Carter fitted Lestrange’s description like a glove.

But Bonham-Carter is not a one-trick pony. Whenever she’s not portraying crazy witchy characters of Lestrange’s like, she’s pulling off convincing performances in productions such as Les Misérables, The King’s Speech, and Ocean’s 8. In 2020, Bonham-Carter will be in yet another British classic, playing Sherlock Holmes’s mother in the upcoming mystery film Enola Holmes.

Gary Oldman As Sirius Black

When a life-long orphan like Harry found out he had a secret godfather, things could’ve changed for good for the young wizard. But, as any fan of the series knows, Sirius Black’s appearance in The Prisoner of Azkaban wasn’t exactly the end of Harry’s problems.

Black was tainted by tragedy, and it’s a shame that Gary Oldman’s character didn’t get a chance to live past the 5th movie of the series. Still, Oldman had no issues with finding great parts after “dying” in The Order of the Phoenix. He was in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and landed the role of a lifetime in Darkest Hour, portraying Winston Churchill.

Katie Leung As Cho Chang

The first girl to capture the attention of Harry was Cho Chang. Lucky Harry even got his first kiss from the young Ravenclaw wizard. Eventually, the two fell apart, but they’ve shared the same values throughout the series, with Chang being an essential part of Dumbledore’s Army.

In real life, Chang is Katie Leung, a Scottish film and stage actress. In 2007, she was named Scotland’s Most Stylish Female. Ten years later, Leung made a strong post-Harry Potter comeback to the big screen, appearing in T2 Trainspotting and The Foreigner. In 2020, she landed a role in the BBC mini-series The Nest.

Matthew Lewis As Neville Longbottom

Matthew Lewis is the living proof that you should never snub your primary school nerd. As a young actor, he was playing the awkward and often-teased Neville Longbottom, arguably Hogwarts’s most gullible student. But as the years flew by, both Lewis and his on-screen character proved to be aging like good wine.

While Neville ended up becoming an essential part of Harry Potter‘s plot, Lewis surprised every fantasy fan by growing-up to become a bonafide British hunk. Over the last few years, he was in Terminal, alongside Margot Robbie, and in Me Before You, alongside Emilia Clarke. Lewis’s impressive physical transformation is still making headlines online today.

Mark Williams As Arthur Weasley

Introduced as a bureaucrat working at the Ministry of Magic, Ron Weasley’s father is nonetheless always ready to put up a fight with the help of his magical wand. An idealist defender of the idea that muggles and wizards can co-exist in harmony, Mr. Weasley is beautifully portrayed by the English actor/writer Mark Williams.

With over 100 credits in his acting filmography, Williams’s career is far from being Harry Potter-dependant. He was Hugh Laurie’s co-conspirator Horace, in Disney‘s all-time classic 101 Dalmatians. William was also in many TV series over the years, such as Doctor Who, The Indian Doctor, and The Link.

Imelda Staunton As Dolores Umbridge

Out of all the ugly-looking Defence Against the Dark Arts Hogwarts professors, who could’ve guessed that the meanest would end up being the innocent-looking Dolores Umbridge? In the movies, Umbridge is an unsympathetic character with strict political values and a heavy hand on the students.

Imelda Staunton portrays the evil pink-wearing teacher. She’s been working successfully as an actress since the early ’80s. Her Harry Potter success was followed-up by a series of notable roles, which included the movies Maleficent, Paddington, and Downton Abbey. In 2020, Staunton will be starring in the upcoming comedy series Trying.

David Thewlis As Remus Lupin

Another former Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin, was probably the only man taking the position who taught something to the students. A close friend of Harry’s parents, he was a determined Lord Voldemort opposer. Lupin was also responsible for teaching Harry how to conjure the powerful Patronus spell.

David Thewlis is the man behind Remus Lupin. He’s the kind of actor who seems to attract lucrative movie projects like a magnet. Since the end of the Harry Potter series, Thewlis went on to appear in Wonder Woman and Justice League. He will star in the upcoming Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 movies.

Robert Pattinson As Cedric Diggory

Cedric Diggory’s appearance in the Harry Potter movies is a short, memorable one. But it’s far from being Robert Pattinson’s proudest moment. Not because he did a lousy job, on the contrary, but mainly because he became a household Hollywood name in the years that followed.

Best known for portraying Edward Cullen in the Twilight movies, Pattinson is now making a name for himself as one of Hollywood’s best arthouse actors. A favorite of the critics, he’s been impressive in movies such as The Lighthouse, High Life, and Safdie’s brothers’ Good Time.

Emma Thompson As Professor Trelawney

The eccentric, round-glass-wearing Professor Trelawney could’ve been one of Harry Potter‘s tackiest characters if it wasn’t for Emma Thompson. A woman of remarkable talent, Thompson was able to convincingly give life to the odd Professor Trelawney in a way no other actress could.

Used to playing some of the toughest gigs in the business, London-born Thompson has been a favorite of the audiences for decades. In the last few years, she was in major blockbuster movies such as Beauty and the Beast and Men in Black: International. Thompson will be starring in yet another high-profile production, playing the “Baroness” in the upcoming Cruella movie in 2021.

Devon Murray As Seamus Finnigan

At the age of 31, Irish actor Devon Murray is still looking out for his next big acting gig after Harry Potter. In the series, he portrayed Seamus Finnigan. Although often deemed as a less-important character, Finnigan is one of Gryffindor’s most dedicated students. He is present in all 8 Harry Potter movies.

In 2016, Murray was in a controversial lawsuit against his former agent. He had to pay a fine of about $280K. Driven by fame and fortune, Murray’s decisions in life weren’t always the best. We’re still rooting for the young chap’s promising future in the show business.

Warwick Davis As Professor Flitwick

The half-goblin wizard Filius Flitwick has got to be one of our favorite Hogwarts professors. In the movies, he’s often portrayed as a somewhat clueless character, but make no mistake! Flitwick is a brave and powerful wizard. He fought two wars against Lord Voldemort and was still able to make it alive.

In real life, the charismatic Professor Flitwick is the unmistakable Warwick Davis. An outstanding British actor who was in multiple Star Wars movies. With an acting career spanning over five decades, Davis was recently playing “Lickspittle” in the 2019 Maleficent: Mistress of Evil blockbuster.

Evanna Lynch As Luna Lovegood

The bad-mouths at Hogwarts called her “Loony” Lovegood, but Luna was a very bright young wizard. She was simply living in her world, dedicating to her thoughts, escaping from any conversation she’d find uninteresting. In real life, actress Evanna Lynch doesn’t share Luna’s odd traits. But she’s as determined as her Harry Potter character.

An active defender of veganism and animal rights, Lynch is preparing to release the short-comedy film You Eat Other Animals?. As an actress, she reprised her Luna Lovegood role on numerous occasions. Lynch was in movies such as G.B.F. and, most notably, My Name Is Emily.

Helen McCrory As Narcissa Malfoy

It’s almost a shame that we didn’t get to see more of Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies. That would’ve meant more screen-time for Helen McCrory. McCrory is a talented and experienced British actress, who was mostly in television series and productions. She’s also had her fair share of big-screen opportunities.

Besides doing an excellent job giving life to Draco Malfoy’s despicable mom in the Harry Potter series, McCrory was in recent classics such as The Count of Monte Cristo, The Queen, and 007: Skyfall. Her most prominent post-Harry Potter role was probably as Polly Gray, one of the Peaky Blinders’ main characters.

Freddie Stroma As Cormac McLaggen

First introduced in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Cormac McLaggen was the Quidditch-loving Hermione suitor. He was lucky enough to get a yes for a Christmas party date! Also present in the last two movies of the series, McLaggen was portrayed by the talented Freddie Stroma, who made the most out of his Harry Potter notoriety.

The post-Harry Potter career of Stroma has been impressive. He landed a part in the movies Pitch Perfect and The Inbetweeners 2. Stroma also got a chance to play Dickon Tarly in a Game of Thrones episode. He now has a recurrent acting role in the 2020 British TV series Bridgerton.

Miriam Margolyes As Professor Sprout

Neville Longbottom’s favorite teacher, the lovable Professor Sprout, was in charge of the Hogwarts Herbology classes. There was no magical plant she wasn’t familiar with. A notable Hufflepuff member, Sprout was replaced by her most notable student. That’s right, Neville got his dream job in the end!

In the movies, Sprout’s portrayed by the award-winning actress Miriam Margolyes. A hardworking performer, Margolyes was in almost 200 films and series since the late ’60s! Intimate with every secret and perk that comes with the job, Margolyes was recently in the H is for Happiness movie and in the Call the Midwife series.

Jessie Cave As Lavender Brown

In the Harry Potter series, Lavender Brown was a strong-willed Gryffindor student. She was best known for having joined Dumbledore’s Army and for being romantically involved with Ron Weasley. Sadly, Ron grew tired of Brown’s exaggerated affections quite quickly.

While Lavender wasn’t able to conquer Ron’s heart, Jessie Cave has indeed captured ours. The actress who gave life to Lavender has made the most out of her Harry Potter experience to promote her career as a comedian and cartoonist. A talented and creative young woman, Cave published her first book, Love Sick, in 2015.

David Bradley As Argus Filch

The Simpsons‘ groundskeeper Willie is getting some stiff competition coming from the Harry Potter world. Argus Filch is the Hogwarts caretaker, and he is as fed-up with dealing with the students as his Simpsons‘s counterpart. Still, Filch is a kind and nurturing man, whose affection is mostly dedicated to his beloved pet cat, the troublemaking Mrs. Norris.

David Bradley portrays the charismatic caretaker. He is a British actor who excels in comedy roles. Most notably, Bradley’s been one of Edgar Wright’s favorite actors. He was in the highly-celebrated comedy classics Hot Fuzz and The World’s End.

Clémence Poésy As Fleur Delacour

In the Harry Potter books, Fleur Delacour is described as an almost-irresistible French wizard. The Harry Potter casting team knew that someone exceptional was required for the part. They hit the bullseye when they picked the charming French actress/model Clémence Poésy!

Introduced in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Poésy reprised her Delacour role in the two final movies of the series. Meanwhile, she landed some notable acting parts, which included In Bruges, 127 Hours, and War and Peace. In 2018, Poésy portrayed Françoise Gilot in the second season of Genius, which focused on the life of the painting mastermind Pablo Picasso.

Bill Nighy As Rufus Scrimgeour

If there’s a man who knows what’s the price of going against Lord Voldemort, that’s Rufus Scrimgeour. A hardworking Auror and important official of the Ministry of Magic. Scrimgeour found death at the hands of the gruesomely dark Voldemort followers Death Eaters.

A fictional gentleman, Scrimgeour, is portrayed by a real-life one. The British actor Bill Nighy is not only one of Britain’s best-dressed men (at least according to the GQ magazine), but he’s also a celebrated veteran actor with a career spanning six decades! Bill was most recently in the Castlevania TV series and the 2019 Pokémon Detective Pikachu movie.

Natalia Tena As Nymphadora Tonks

Nymphadora Tonks was the love interest of Remus Lupin, a powerful shape-shifting wizard, and an Auror certified by Alastor Moody. One of the most diligent enemies of Lord Voldemort, Tonks, met a sad end in the last Harry Potter movie. The vicious Bellatrix Lestrange killed her in the Battle of Hogwarts.

But unlike her on-screen character, London-born actress Natalia Tena saw her life flourishing after the Battle. Notably, her professional life. Over the last decade, Natalia did star in the 10.000 Km movie and the Wisdom of the Crowd and Origin TV series.

Shirley Henderson As Moaning Myrtle

Who does not remember that now-classic scene in which Harry gets a chance to meet the eruptive Moaning Myrtle? The poor former Ravenclaw student was killed by Tom Riddle’s Serpent and doomed to spend the eternity haunting the second floor’s girl bathroom at Hogwarts.

The Scottish actress Shirley Henderson was already an experienced performer by the time she was cast to portray Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. But after the movie, her acting career launched into a whole another level. Most notably, Handerson was in T2 Trainspotting and Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.

James Phelps As Fred Weasley

If you don’t count Ron, Fred Weasley is the most notable of the redhead characters gracing the Harry Potter movies. George’s slightly older twin brother was known for his daring spirit, playful attitude, and protective personality. Like all the Weasleys, he was all about defending good and justice and fighting the dark forces of Lord Voldemort’s army.

In the movies, he was portrayed by James Phelps, who’s sadly not a real-life redhead. Still, he did the job wonderfully and captured the eye of the British and American casting agents. After the series, Phelps got a chance to appear in productions such as Ward 3, Patchwork, and Own Worst Enemy.

Anna Shaffer As Romilda Vane

For every Hogwarts Slytherin student who hated Harry, there was a Gryffindor one who had his back. But Romilda Vane might have taken her love for Harry a little bit too far. Obsessed with the young wizard, she ended up trying to feed him with a love potion that Ron ended up drinking by mistake.

In the movies, Romilda is portrayed by the beautiful British actress Anna Shaffer. After appearing in the Harry Potter series, she went on to enjoy a recurring role as Leila in the Shameless TV series. In 2019, Shaffer was Triss in the hit fantasy show The Witcher.

Robbie Coltrane As Hagrid

Robbie Coltrane was once known as Cracker‘s criminal psychologist Dr. Fitz. But it all changed when he was allowed to portray the gentle giant Hagrid on the Harry Potter movies. The Hogwarts gamekeeper is one of the most memorable characters in the fantasy series, an undisputed favorite amongst fans.

A successful actor before and after Harry Potter, Coltrane continues to grace the big and small screens with his charm and likable style of acting. Most notably, he was in Pixar‘s Brave and reprised his Hagrid role in the short-film The Hogwarts Express.

Jason Isaacs As Lucius Malfoy

The British actor/producer Jason Isaacs has got to be one of the most hardworking show-biz professionals in the United Kingdom. A versatile and talented actor, he’s appeared in multiple productions every single year since the late ‘1980s, including The Patriot, Brotherhood, and The Death of Stalin.

He’s also graced the big screen as Lucius Malfoy, the despicable father of Draco Malfoy, and one of Voldemort’s most dedicated followers. But unlike his Harry Potter character, Isaacs has never succumbed to the temptations of the dark magic. He is a devoted father of 2 and a very positive-minded do-it-all kind of guy.

Tom Felton As Draco Malfoy

In 2010 and 2011, the MTV Movie Awards rightfully awarded Tom Felton as the year’s best villain. It’s no surprise, especially considering how perfectly Felton was able to transform into the obnoxiously spoiled Draco Malfoy. An entitled and evil kid, Malfoy is the main antagonist of the underprivileged but kind-hearted Harry throughout the series.

Now starring in the sci-fi TV series Origin, Felton’s been proving that there’s more to him than just being a Slytherin. He has been swamped over the last few years, appearing in movies such as Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Risen, and Stratton.

Bonnie Wright As Ginny Weasley

After years of speculation, Ginny Weasley ended up being the girl who stole Harry’s heart in the Harry Potter series. The beautiful Bonnie Wright portrayed Ron’s little sister. She’s been proving to be more than just a talented young actress over the last few years.

Bonnie is a model, a producer, and an activist focusing on environmental issues and women’s rights. Additionally, she’s been working as a director/screenwriter and has so far released five short movies. Somehow, Bonnie still finds the time to continue gracing the big screen. She was in films such as The Sea, Who Killed Nelson Nutmeg?, and After the Dark.