The cinematic world of Harry Potteris replete with British acting royalty. Talents like those ofMaggie Smith,Alan Rickman, andRobbie Coltrainewere well known before the magical franchise’s beginnings. Still, throughout the eight movies, new talents were discovered in the young actors who populated Hogwarts as the students. And when the movies ended, they had to find a career for themselves, without any incantations to help them.
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Moving beyond the shadow of typecasting, many of the Harry Potter alumni have gone on to have some excellent performances on both the big and small screen.
Daniel Radcliffe — ‘Guns Akimbo’ (2019)
No actor may have had a more significant challenge in the post-Potter era thanDaniel Radcliffe. Forever to be associated with the iconic character, Radcliffe had to work hard and work a lot to keep his career going after completing what will always be the biggest role of his life. But withGuns Akimbo(available to rent from Apple), Radcliffe has probably broken his own schoolboy image.
Gritty, dystopian, and ultra-violent,Guns Akimbogave Radcliffe a juicy role to show what else he’s capable of and prove that he’s definitely graduated to the next level. )
Emma Watson — ‘Little Women’ (2019)
Emma Watsondidn’t seem to suffer the same typecasting that other Potter alumni did, finding solid roles straight off the set of Potter, includingThe Perks of Being a WallflowerandThe Circle. One of her best was also her most recent, as Meg in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the literary classicLittle Women(available to rent from Apple).
While Watson had earlier success as Belle with Disney’s live-actionBeauty and The Beast(2017),Little Womenallowed her to show that she could work with more mature material and still stand out amid a substantial ensemble of actors.
Rupert Grint — ‘Servant’
Unlike his main co-stars,Daniel RadcliffeandEmma Watson,Rupert Grintstarted working on his post-Potter career even beforeThe Prisoner of Azkabanwas released. Since the conclusion of the franchise, Grint has continued working in both film and TV, including a recent role on the Apple TV+ horror seriesServant.
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Grint plays an alcoholic man caught up in the paranormal events surrounding his infant nephew’s death. Not for the faint of heart,Servantis a far cry from the homely surroundings of The Burrow, and Grint is able to stretch his acting muscles, earning him very positive critical attention.
Matthew Lewis — ‘All Creatures Great and Small’
WhenMatthew Lewiswas cast as Neville Longbottom, it would have been difficult to predict how popular and successful he would become. Since his wizarding days, Lewis has not stopped working. After a turn onRipper Streetseries 4 & 5, Lewis has recently appeared as Hugh Hulton in the first series ofAll Creatures Great and Small(PBS Masterpiece Amazon), the remake of the classic veterinary series.
As Hugh, Lewis can be a little more confident and a little more vocal than he ever was as Neville. However, it does look like Lewis may have borrowed some of Neville’s fashion sense in his new role.
Tom Felton — ‘The Forgotten Battle’ (2020)
Besides Harry himself, no other character besides Malfoy was likely to hang as heavy around the actor’s neck after the series ended. YetTom Felton, who played the young antagonist, has managed to find multiple roles in both film and television to keep his career growing. One of his lesser-known roles is as Captain Tom Turner inThe Forgotten Battle(Netflix), a fantastic movie about a World War II battle to open up Antwerp.
Felton wasn’t in the leading role, but his performance was excellent. The nature of the role gave Felton a chance to play a good guy who earns the audience’s sympathy, a big role reversal for someone so associated with magical evil.
Alfred Enoch — ‘How to Get Away with Murder’
Alfred Enochmay be better known to some as Gryffindor Dean Thomas, but since the doors to Hogwarts closed for him, he found a new home on the set ofHow to Get Away with Murderas Wes Gibbins. The role exposed his charm and acting strength, bringing him out from under the shadow of his earlier work and earning him the recognition of several award nominations.
More recently, Enoch has moved back into the speculative fiction arena and played Raych Foss in the Apple TV+ seriesFoundation,based on the classic Isaac Asimov trilogy.
Luke Youngblood — ‘Community’
Since playing student Quidditch announcer Lee Jordan at Hogwarts,Luke Youngbloodhas found a solid second career in television. Besides several voice actor roles in children’s television,he landed a recurring role onDan Harmon’sshowCommunity(Prime Video). It was a great role that helped him move past his breakout role in the first two Potter films.
Appearing in 15 episodes, Youngblood filled the role of Magnitude, where his catchphrase – “Pop, pop!” – became one of the most quotable phrases in the series. Like Hogwarts, his wit and charisma fuel his character to memorable success.
Robert Pattinson — ‘Tenet’ (2020)
It is impossible not to notice that one of the most successful young cast members of the Potter franchise isRobert Pattinson. From theTwilightsagato his casting as the most recent incarnation ofThe Batman, Pattinson has had no trouble shaking off the shadow of Hogwarts. Yet, arguably, his best role was as Neil inChristopher Nolan’sTenet(HBO Max).
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Love or hate the film itself, and many reviewers had some strong opinions, Pattinson’s performance was quickly one of the most engrossing of the film. His natural charisma keeps viewers grounded in a winding and twisting film, which is another example of the strength of his acting.
Clémence Poésy — ‘The Tunnel’
When she appeared as Fleur Delacour in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,Clémence Poésywas already an actress on stage and screen. However, after her final appearance in the 8th Potter film, Poésy’s career blossomed. Born in France, she began receiving many English-language roles, including the international hit,The Tunnel, where she starred oppositeStephen Dillane.
A hugely popular remake of theDanish-Swedish seriesThe Bridge,The Tunnel(Amazon Prime) is a thrilling murder mystery that was popular enough to demand two seasons. Poésy played against any Delacour stereotype, her character being uninterested in charm and entirely focused on the practical problems in front of her.
Freddie Stroma — ‘Bridgerton’
Many of the viewers of the hugely popular Netflix seriesBridgertonmay not have realized that there’s a Harry Potter alum mixed in there. Freddie Stroma played Prince Friedrich,who made his first Potter appearance as Cormac McLaggen inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Stroma may have benefited from only having a small role in the Potter series, appearing only in the final three films. Still, it seems to have launched a successful career, with Stroma getting parts consistently in the years since.
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