Harry Potter at Home: Kenneth Branagh, Helena Bonham Carter, and Ruth Wilson Read “Through the Trapdoor”

After yesterday’s reading of Chapter 15, “The Forbidden Forest,” by Claudia Kim and Dakota Fanning, Chapter 16 brings back two familiar faces from the wizarding world. Sir Kenneth Branagh (Gilderoy Lockhart) and Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange) are joined by actress Ruth Wilson (Luther, Saving Mr. Banks) to read “Through the Trapdoor” for Harry Potter at Home.

Wizarding World Digital introduced the three narrators.

Sir Kenneth Branagh has garnered international acclaim for his work on the stage and screen. A highly respected actor, director, writer and producer, he is the recipient of numerous awards, including five BAFTAS, two Olivier Awards, [and] an Emmy Award, and has been nominated for five Academy Awards and four Golden Globes. He portrayed the memorably eccentric Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Ruth Wilson’s acting work transcends film, TV and theatre and she is a two-time Olivier Award winner. She was awarded the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama for her starring role in the Showtime drama The Affair. She also played prominent roles in the television dramas Jane Eyre, Luther, Mrs Wilson, and most recently, His Dark Materials.

Helena Bonham Carter’s hugely eclectic career spans film, television and theatre, tackling everything from Shakespeare and period dramas to musicals and fantasy epics. She has been nominated for numerous acting accolades, including two Academy Awards for The Wings of the Dove and The King’s Speech. For her work in the latter, she won the BAFTA award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 2010. This is not Helena’s first foray into the Wizarding World – she famously portrayed Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter films!

Branagh and Wilson narrate the majority of the chapter, while Bonham Carter is featured only briefly. To watch the full video, you can visit Wizarding World Digital. For the audio-only version, you can visit Spotify.

Who do you think will read Chapter 17? Tell us in the comments below!