Despite the fact that the initial films finished over 10 years ago,Harry Potterremains one of the biggest brands in modern pop culture. The rich world of the films was full of charm, a wondrous sense of fantasy adventure, and many delightful characters who came to be instantly adored by the fan base. While theHarry Potterseries made some young stars, likeDaniel Radcliffe,Emma Watson, andRupert Grint, it also featured many now-famous actors in roles that were overlooked, and even a couple of major stars at the time whose performances went unnoticed.
From international sensations like Rege-Jean Page and Domhnall Gleeson to icons of the small screen like Michelle Fairley and Frank Dillane,these actors are widely recognized, yet their efforts in theHarry Potterfilms remain mysteriously underappreciated. While some are blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameos, others are major parts that had a significant presence in the movies.
15Jamie Campbell Bower as Young Gellert Grindelwald
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1’ (2010)
A multi-talented performer,Jamie Campbell Bowerhas paved his way as an actor with a long line of committed performances in major studio films, appearing in a recurring role in theTwilightmovies and, more recently, earning high praise for his portrayal ofVecna in Season 4 ofStranger Things. He has the briefest of appearances inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, playing a young Gellert Grindelwald.
It is an appearance that is incredibly easy to miss, but he was able to return to the role as the young iteration of the dark wizard inFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. It makes him the only actor in the wider franchise toappear in both theHarry Potterseries and the prequelFantastic Beastsfilms.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
14Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Tom Riddle (Aged 11)
‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ (2009)
As the nephew of Voldemort actorRalph Fiennes, there was perhaps no one better to play the young Tom Riddle thanHero Fiennes Tiffinwho made an impact with his minor role inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Despite the apparent familial link,directorDavid Yatesstatedthat Tiffin got the role due to his ability to bring darkness to the part.
Through the film’s flashbacks,Tiffin appears as an 11-year-old Riddle, with Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) revealing his memories of meeting the child to Harryas he readies Potter to destroy Voldemort’s remaining horcuxes. Despite Tiffin being quite impactful in the role, it wasn’t until over a decade later that he became a central figure on the screen again with his recurring role as Hardin Scottin the romantic dramaAfterfilm seriesbased uponAnna Todd’s novels.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
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13Julianne Hough as a Gryffindor Student
‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001)
A renowned actress, singer, dancer, and television personality,Julianne Houghis known for her appearances in musical dramas likeRock of Ages,Burlesque,and 2011’sFootloose, as well as popular films such asSafe HavenandDirty Grandpa. Additionally, Hough has also been a regular on the reality/dance competition seriesDancing with the Stars.
However, her first role came inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stonewhere she featured as an extra.She appears as a Gryffindor student, first in the stands, cheering alongside Ron and Dean (Alfred Enoch) during the Quidditch match, before later featuring in a scene in the great hall sitting next to the Weasley twins. Despite the role being relatively small,Hough looked back on the experience with fondnesswhen she took to social media to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the firstHarry Potternovel’s release in 2017.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
12Derek Hough as a Ravenclaw Student
‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001)
Like his sister Julianne,Derek Houghhas a pre-fame cameo inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, with the then-16-year-old aspiring starbriefly appearing as a Ravenclaw student walking behind Hermione. Interestingly, the appearance marks one of only four film roles Hough has ever had, despite the multi-talented performer enjoying a successful career as an actor on the small screen and even on stage, starring in musicals in London’s West End and has even appeared on Broadway.
Many television audiences would know him best fromhis time onDancing with the Stars, appearing as an instructor frequently throughout the series’ run and even guiding his celebrity partners to season victories on six separate occasions. Hough remains a pivotal figure on the much-loved reality series, though he has given up appearing as an instructor and dancing partner to instead be one of the judges.
11Jonny Greenwood as
‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ (2005)
While he may not be an actor per se,Jonny Greenwoodis an enormous celebrity figure. As the lead guitarist and keyboardist of the English rock band Radiohead, he has amassed an international fanbase while being cited by many publications as one of the best guitarists of all time. However, many would have missed his brief cameo inHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
In an obvious casting when audiences know to look for it, Greenwood playsthe lead guitarist of the band that plays at the Yule Ball. BandmatePhilip Selwaywas also one of the band members, as were Pulp band membersJervis CockerandSteve Mackey. While Greenwood is not a prolific actor – his only other acting credit isRadiohead’s cameo appearance in an episode ofSouth Park– he has long been involved in film scoring, even earning Oscar nominations his soundtrack work onThe Power of the DogandPhantom Thread.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
10Rhys Ifans as Xenophillius Lovegood
While a lot of theHarry Potterfranchise’s biggest surprise stars come in the form of actors whose careers have taken flight years after their appearance in the wizarding world, there are a number of cases where veterans of the film industry occupied minor roles that were largely overlooked by audiences. That is the case withRhys Ifans’s portrayal of Luna Lovegood’s (Evanna Lynch) father, Xenophillius, the wizard to informs Harry, Ron, and Hermione of the symbol of the Deathly Hallows before betraying the trio to the Death Eaters in a desperate attempt to save his abducted daughter.
In addition to Ifans’ appearance being altered somewhat significantly for the film, namely by the pale white hair his character sports, he may have also been overlooked by many due to the fact that he wasn’t quite an international star at that point in time. Rhys Ifans’ career has since soared to new heights with his major role on HBO’sHouse of the Dragonas Ser Otto Hightower.
9John Cleese as Nearly Headless Nick
‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001) & ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ (2002)
As a founding member of theBritish comedy troupe Monty Python,John Cleesehas been a megastar of international renowned going as far back as the 1970s. While his fame has endured over the decades with supporting appearances in many mainstream movies over the years, a lot of fans may have initially missed his brief appearances in the first twoHarry Pottermovies.
Imbuing the films with an additional sense of wonder while supplying some moments of comic relief,Cleese plays the spirit known as Nearly Headless Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor House. As the victim of a botched beheading that left his head connected to his body by only the skin of his neck, Nick roams the castle, making wisecracks and showing of his grisly wound with Cleese executing the role with a gleeful playfulness.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
8Verne Troyer
Griphook, ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001)
Despite enjoying a solid chunk of screen time, many audiences would have had no idea thatVerne Troyerappeared inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The actor, who was best known for playing Mini-Me in theAustin Powersmovies but also made appearances inJingle All the WayandMen in Black, had a brief part in the firstHarry Potterfilm as Griphook, the goblin who aided Harry and Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) at Gringotts.
Troyer was unrecognizable in the role with the effects team’s incredible prosthetics work- which was an underrated feature across theHarry Potterfilms - completely transforming the actor into a mesmerizing fantasy being. The role of Griphook was recast later in the franchise withWarwick Davis- who played a number of characters in the films, most notably Professor Flitwick - taking over the part.
7Henry Lloyd-Hughes as Roger Davies
Henry Lloyd-Hughesspent eight months working on the set ofHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fireas he played the part of Roger Davies, but he ended up with very little to show for it, with all his lines being cut from the final film. In fact,the actor only has a brief appearance during the Yule Ball where he attends the festivities as Fleur Delacour’s (Clémence Poésy) date. Sadly, Roger’s prowess, which saw him become the captain of Ravenclaw’s Quidditch team, had to be overlooked amidthe film’s focus on the Triwizard Tournament.
Since appearing inHarry Potter, Lloyd-Hughes has become a prolific figure on British television, appearing in everything from teenage comedies likeThe Inbetweenersto thrilling murder mysteries likeRagdoll. His best work thus far came in the second season ofKilling Evewhere he co-starred as Aaron Peel, the domineering tech company CEO.
6Freddie Stroma as Cormac McLaggen
After years of toiling away in canceled British series and overlooked films,Freddie Stromaseems to have finally landed his breakout role in the hit seriesPeacemaker,James Gunn’s energetic spin-off ofThe Suicide Squad. However, it may come as a shock for audiences to learn that Stroma appeared inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Princeas Cormac McLaggen.
With Ron (Rupert Grint) in the midst of a romance with Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave),McLaggen was who Hermione turned to in an attempt to make Ron jealous. While his relationship with Hermione was over almost as quickly as it began, McLaggen still made appearances in the final twoHarry Potterfilms with Stroma returning to play the part on both occasions. In addition to his work onPeacemaker, Stroma has also appeared in a few episodes ofBridgerton’s first season as Prince Friedrich.
