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.
Harry Potter – Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe became Harry Potter at the age of 11, and his life was changed forever. The role would bring him fame and fortune, but also criticism. As a child, his performance in the third film was criticized as “wooden” and “bland” but by the fifth movie, he was winning awards for it. Radcliffe has since taken on many different types of roles, starring in movies like horror sci-fi Victor Frankenstein and comedy-dramas like Swiss Army Man, proving himself to be a versatile actor.
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!