TheHarry Potterfilms were ambitious in many ways. Not only did they adapt an immensely popular book series with a heaping helping of world-building in each entry, but they wrangled a veritable “Who’s Who” of British talents. What’s more, they stuck these esteemed stars in supporting roles while an unknown group of child actors carried the brunt of the story.
Because of this, audiences may have forgotten some of the big names that the franchise has featured. After all, certain actors were only around for one or two entries. Alternatively, some became better-known after their Hogwarts term ended. Whatever the reason, it’s curious to look back on all the faces lost in the massive shuffle of theHarry Potterworld.
8John Cleese
This mustachioed maniac is one of the greatest British comedians. He’s cracked people up for decades withFawlty Towers, theShrekfilms, theMonty Pythonprojects, and a host of other classics. Among these was a small role in the first twoHarry Potterfilms. Cleese appeared as Nearly Headless Nick, one of the Hogwarts ghosts who frequently interacted with students and staff. Casting the comic in this part seemed like a recipe for gold.
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In hindsight, though, Cleese’s contribution comes off as a waste. He only has a single scene in the first movie to introduce his gimmick. The rest of the time, the script relegates him to throwaway lines in the background.The character has a few more moments in the books, but these unfortunately never made it to the big screen.
7David Tennant
Tennant is no stranger to genre projects. He’s made an indelible mark on sci-fi and fantasy pop culture with successes likeDoctor Who,Jessica Jones, and theDucktalesremake.Harry Potteris yet another in his long list. In theGoblet of Firefilm, he sinks his teeth (and flicking tongue) into Barty Crouch, Jr., a secret Voldemort supporter whose own father sentenced him to prison. He then poses as Mad-Eye Moody, manipulatingthe Triwizard Tournamentto orchestrate his master’s return.
Tennant’s talent for manic intensity is on full display for this lunatic. Sure, he goes over the top, but it’s appropriate and fun to watch. Sadly, the heroes send Crouch back to prison at the story’s end. The book mentions that he was subjected to the soul-sucking Dementor’s Kiss, taking him permanently out of commission. Thus, the role of “Wild-Eyed Voldemort Fan” was filled by Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange.
6Zoe Wanamaker
Tackling character roles across the British entertainment landscape, Wanamaker is equally at home with comedy and drama. She’s proven that with TV projects likePrime Suspect,My Family, andBritannia, but she’s earned particular acclaim for theater work likeOnce in a Lifetime. This imbued her withskills suited to playing a teacher.
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She briefly appeared as Madam Hooch in the series first entry,Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Wanamaker has the articulation and projection needed for an instructor, while showing the vim and vigor one would expect from a gym teacher. These qualities are somewhat wasted, though, as her only scene is the first flying lesson. She shows up here and there, but these are mostly background nods. Worse, the later movies had no narrative use for her, so Wanamaker’s presence remains a bit part in the series' debut.
5Rik Mayall
The firstPotterflick tried a trend of British comics playing ghosts. Not only had it locked down John Cleese as Nick, but it also roped Rik Mayall into playing Peeves.This silly specter is a nuisance around Hogwarts, playing pranks on everyone in sight and reveling in his clownish behavior. In short, it was perfect casting.
Mayall had long specialized in wacky humor withThe Young Ones,Blackadder, and his work withThe Comic Strip. His penchant for alternative comedy and shock value fit Peeves like a glove. Unfortunately, fans never saw him in action, as his scenes wound up on the cutting room floor.
4Kelly Macdonald
This Scottish performer has earned acclaim as a supporting actress, racking up a commendable career on both the big and small screen.No Country for Old Men,Boardwalk Empire,Line of Duty,Brave, andOperation Mincemeatare just a few of her successes. In the midst of all these, she also snuck intoHarry Potterat the eleventh hour.
Namely, she had a cameo as Helena Ravenclaw in the secondDeathly Hallowsmovie. It’s a small but pivotal part: she reveals the location of her mother’s diadem, whichVoldemort used as a Horcrux. Macdonald’s nuance conveys surprising pathos for such a small amount of screen time. If anything, she makes viewers wish she served as more than just the piece of a puzzle.
3Anna Shaffer
Shaffer spent years as steadily working actress. She mixed her time on the soap operaHollyoakswith various theater and TV work, always active yet never breaking into the mainstream. That all changed with her recent role inThe Witcher. She plays Triss Merigold, an altruistic sorceress who aids the titular monster slayer in any way she can. Sadly,he doesn’t return her romantic feelings. By coincidence, however, a witch’s one-sided affection also informs Shaffer’sHarry Pottercharacter.
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She shows up in theHalf-Blood Princeflick, where teenage hormones are in full swing. Specifically, she plays Romilda Vane, a girl trying to slip Harry a love potion. That sounds exciting, but she only exists in the background. In fact, she never even gets a line. The irony is that Ron spends more time talking about her when he accidentally ingests the potion.
2Julian Glover
Glover is a prolific character actor of the British stage and screen. Genre fans likely know him as the leading villain inFor Your Eyes OnlyandIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but he’s also occupied supporting roles inStar Wars,Troy,Game of Thrones, and countless other works. His part inHarry Potterfalls into the latter category.
The actor voices Aragog the spider in theChamber of Secretsmovie.Hagrid raises this arachnid from infancy. When Voldemort frames the friendly giant, Aragog has to flee into the Forbidden Forest. He then grows vengeful and monstrous in his gargantuan size, and Glover gives him a voice to match, almost unrecognizable in his raspy menace. The downside is that this is the last fans hear of him. The character pops up again in theHalf-Blood Princefilm. Considering he had passed away at that point, however, Glover obviously didn’t reprise his role.
1Clemence Poesy
With the foreign schools inGoblet of Fire, it made sense to cast foreign actors. Thus, this French actress appears as Fleur Delacour, a student at theBeauxbatons Academy of Magic. Unfortunately, her film iteration is mainly just a pretty face and fellow competitor in the Triwizard Tournament. As such, Poesy doesn’t have much dialogue and gets by on facial performance. She goes on to have a couple of cameos in theDeathly Hallowsfilms, but these don’t amount to anything.
Her roles in other films tend to be similarly minor.In Bruges,Tenet, and127 Hoursexemplify that. By contrast, Poesy is a much stronger presence on television with works likeGunpowder, Treason & Plot,The Tunnel, andWar and Peace. Here, her subtle performances match the layered characters on the page.
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