HARRY POTTER ACTORS – THEN AND NOW
Read all about the Harry Potter Actors – Then And Now. The movies launched several actors, young and old, into stardom. Some of the more popular names include:
- Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore
- Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall
- Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom
- Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy
- Alan Rickman as Professor Snape.
Let’s not forget the main trouble-causing trio:
- Daniel Radcliff as Harry Potter
- Emma Watson as Hermione Granger
- Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley.
Some of these actors were well-known even before the Harry Potter movies came out, but for many, this popular series launched their Hollywood careers.
Keep reading to see more about the Harry Potter Actors – Then And Now!
THE PROFESSORS
Lets take a look at the past and present lives of the Professors:
Michael Gambon
as
Albus Dumbledore
“I just play him as myself, I don’t ease myself into any role really. I stick a beard on and play me.” – Sir Michael Gambon
Gambon is an incredibly well-known and respected play actor. His career began at the National Theater, but it wasn’t until 1980 when he REALLY took center stage, and I mean that literally. He took a lead role in the popular production of Galileo, and since then has been in the Royal National Theatre. In 1992 he officially became Sir Michael Gambon.
2002 is when Gambon made his debut in cinematography, taking over the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore after the death of Richard Harris. In 2006, Gambon played a leading role in the movie The Good Shapherd, directed by Robert Ne Niro (who Gambon is a HUGE fan of). 2002 is when Gambon played the President of the United States in Path to War in 2002. In 2003, he played King Edward VII in the movie The Lost Prince and then King George V in The Kings Speech in 2010.
2015 is when Gambon retired from acting on the stage because he was having difficulty remembering his lines (as I’m sure other many 74+ years olds do).
Sir Michael Gambon has lived a long and fulfilled life of acting on the stage and appearing on the big screen!
Maggie Smith
as
Professor McGonagall
“I’ve won two Oscars and I still don’t begin to understand film acting.” – Dame Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith is one of the worlds most distinguished actresses. Like Sir Michael Gambon, she began her career acting on stage, but ended up playing roles in more than sixty TV shows and movies.
Smith was given the honor of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1990, making her Dame Maggie Smith.
In 1956, she appeared in her first film, a minor role, in Child in the House. She has won Oscars for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and California Suite (1978), and was nominated six times. She was also given awards in other movies, such as a Tony for Lettice and Lovage (1990) and an Emmy for My House in Umbria (2003).
Her most famous roles, however, were as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter and Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey.
Smith most iconic moment is perhaps the final movies of Harry Potter. She completed filming of each while going through radio-therapy treatment for breast cancer.
Alan Rickman
as
Professor Snape
“A film, a piece of theatre, a piece of music, or a book can make a difference. It can change the world.” –
Unlike his cohorts on the set of Harry Potter, Alan Rickman began adulthood with a different career – Graphic Design. It wasn’t until he was 26 years old that he decided to pursue acting. He started with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and has since been an actor on stage, in movies, in TV shows, and even did some directing work.
Rickmans first movie was in Die Hard in 1988 – he was the villain (no surprise there).
In fact, Rickman is well-known for his roles as the evil character in a variety of movies, although he has played romantic ghosts, been the comedic relief, and even sung in musicals.
Rickman passed away in 2016, but left such a huge mark on stage and on the screen that his legacy will continue to live on for many years.
THE STUDENTS
These professors really had exciting lives on and off the set of Harry Potter! But the lives of the kids in the popular movie franchise are even more interesting! What were their lives like before witches and wizards, and how did they continue after the final movie?
Felton began his acting career at just 8 years old on an international commercial. His first movie was Anna and the King in 1999, and then he got his big break with Harry Potter in 2001.
While filming the iconic movie series, he also took roles in horror movies in 2008 and 2010. He was also in the 2011 movie Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
His career didn’t stop with Harry Potter and movies, though. He is a founding owner of Six Strings Productions – a recording company whose mission is to give a voice to young musical artists who don’t get picked up by any major recording labels in the music industry.
Tom Felton
as
Draco Malfoy
“When I was 9 or 10 years old it wasn’t the thing to be seen doing – reading a book in your spare time.” – Tom Felton
Lewis began his acting career with Some Kind of Life in 1995 and then made a big splash with his role as Neville in Harry Potter. Since then, he has been in multiple movies, including The Syndicate and The Rise in 2012 and Me Before You in 2016.
He dabbled in theatre with Our Boys in 2012. He has also appeared in several TV shows after the filming of Harry Potter. You can watch him in Ripper Street, Happy Valley, All Creatures Great and Small, and much more.
Many of his roles received critical praise – which isn’t too surprising since he is an incredible actor!
MATTHEW LEWIS
AS
NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
“You know, girls in general are scarier than Voldemort.” – Matthew Lewis
Radcliff was born to be an actor. He first began acting in school plays, but in 1999, he took the lead role in David Copperfield. Shortly after landing a couple more theatre roles, he was given the part of Harry Potter.
In between movies, Radcliff expanded his portfolio by claiming roles in multiple movies and plays.
What surprised many fans was Radcliffs interest in roles that seemed completely opposite to Harry Potter. He often starred in thriller, horror, raunchy rom-coms, dark fantasy and comedy movies. He really is able to play any role!
DANIEL RADCLIFF AS HARRY POTTER
“People will always remember Harry, but I think if I work hard enough other characters will stick in their minds as well.” – Daniel Radcliff
Watson knew EXACTLY what she wanted to be since she was just 5 years old – an actress. She studied acting, singing, and dancing in school and had taken leading roles in a large variety of plays by the time she was 10. Watson was cast as the role of Hermione in 1999 and quickly became an internationally renowned actress.
After finishing the Harry Potter movies, Watson jumped right into other roles in popular movies like My Week with Marilyn (2011), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), The Bling Ring (2013), Noah (2014), Regression (2015), The Circle (2017) and Beauty and the Beast (2017). You can clearly see by this timeline that Watson has been acting non-stop her entire life!
Besides acting, she is also a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN and often travels the world promoting gender equality and women empowerment….. she also graduated from Brown University and is a certified yoga instructor.
Is there anything she can’t do?
Emma Watson
as
Hermione Granger
“It took me three films to get Hermione in jeans. To get out of the robes with the tights and the itchy jumpers. Whoo-hoo!” – Emma Watson
Before Harry Potter, Grint had taken up acting with roles in school plays and theatre groups. 2002 is when he stepped out of the Wizarding World to lead in Thunderpants, then Driving Lessons in 2006 and Cherrybomb in 2010.
Grint has what is possibly the most interesting life after Harry Potter compared to his co-stars. Besides acting in multiple movies, TV shows, music videos, and plays, he became an entrepreneur.
Shortly after finishing the final Harry Potter movie, Grint bought an Ice Cream truck. He says it was always his dream to own an ice cream truck and drive around selling ice cream. However, he is not licensed to sell any of the ice creams… he does drive around, playing the music and handing out free ice cream.
Rupert Grint
as
Ron Weasley
“The truth is that Ron is my hero. He’s always there for his friends – sometimes belligerently, but there nevertheless.” – Rupert Grint
CONCLUSION to Harry Potter Actors – Then And Now
These actors all began their careers similarly – with the theatre. However, their paths took different turns after the Harry Potter series came to an end. More than a decade later, these actors are still some of the most well-known in the world! They have collected many different awards, been on a ton of magazine covers, and have played just about every type of character imaginable.
We, as fans, can’t wait to see what they do next!
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