Celebrities Who Lost Out on “Harry Potter” Roles
Over the years, the Harry Potter films have garnered their fair share of controversies and criticisms, but one thing that is widely acknowledged is the excellence of the casting. Previously, we reported on ten famous actors who were nearly part of the franchise, and now we’re back with another list of celebrities who lost out on Potter roles.
Recently, Coronation Street actor and LGBT rights activist Charlie Condou kick-started a viral Twitter thread asking actors to share potentially life-changing roles that they had auditioned for but were eventually rejected. Unsurprisingly, there were many stories of missed Harry Potter parts!
Duncan Lindsay as Harry Potter
As the soaps editor for Metro, Duncan Lindsay frequently writes about and discusses British soap operas, but in another lifetime, he could have portrayed the Boy Who Lived instead! Lindsay wrote that he missed his second audition entirely and snarkily suggested that Daniel Radcliffe should thank him for eventually getting the role.
Harry Potter – bottled the second audition cos I was scared I’d get it haha. You’re welcome Radcliffe.
— Duncan Lindsay (@DuncanLindsay) September 28, 2020
Cassie Compton as Hermione Granger
Can you imagine the brightest witch of her age being portrayed by anyone else other than the phenomenally talented Emma Watson? Singer-songwriter and actress Cassie Compton shared that she went through several rounds of auditions for the role of Hermione Granger, only to receive feedback afterward that she was too old. Compton is known for placing 5th in the first season of The X Factor as well as various roles in British dramas including Call the Midwife (2012) and Mr Selfridge (2013).
Hermione in Harry Potter… after multiple auditions… only for the first film to be released and spend six months hearing “you look like that girl in Harry Potter” at school for about six months…
— Cassie Compton (@CassiCompton) September 28, 2020
Violet O’Hara as Hermione Granger
British wrestler Violet O’Hara nearly made it to the end of the auditioning process, but alas, misfortune struck when she contracted chicken pox and could not attend the screen test. By the time she had recovered, the position had already been filled. What a way to miss out!
Hermione in Harry Potter as kid I literally matched the description in the book the hair down to the teeth got through to a screen test but contracted chicken pox so had to be postponed by the time I recovered the casting process had moved on part had been cast nm 🤷🏼♀️
— violet o’hara (@Lil_MissViolet) September 28, 2020
Tony Maudsley as Hagrid
Tony Maudsley needs no introduction to the Harry Potter fandom: He played the lovable Grawp in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. However, did you know that he originally auditioned to play Grawp’s older brother, Hagrid? The role eventually went to Robbie Coltrane, but Maudsley still got to be part of the Potter cast in the end.
Hagrid in Harry Potter. Though I did get a little consolation when I got to play his younger brother Grawp in the fifth film a few years later.
— Tony Maudsley (@TonyMaudsley1) September 28, 2020
Mike Channell as Young Tom Riddle
It’s always a surprise to find out that celebrities in all sorts of industries auditioned for Harry Potter, and one such example is racing driver Mike Channell. He is currently a writer and presenter of video games for OutsideXbox, which has a YouTube channel with over 2 million subscribers. This only goes to show that even if one door closes, many other opportunities may still pop up!
Tom Riddle in the second Harry Potter film. Would have changed my career in that I might have actually become a professional actor rather than a YouTuber.
— Mike Channell (@MikeChannell) September 28, 2020
Melissa May Smith as Moaning Myrtle
Melissa May Smith made a very good point in her response to the Twitter thread, sharing how unique the challenges of portraying Moaning Myrtle would be. Although she never received the role, the founder of Urban Young Actors currently enjoys a long and varied career in the arts, with more than 20 years under her belt. Smith’s experiences range from television acting to theater performances to directing and filmmaking.
Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter. Mainly gutted because she was a ghost that lived down a toilet, how many times will that kind of breakdown come along?!
— Melissa May Smith (@melmaycreative) September 28, 2020
Other Hilarious Stories
While they didn’t personally audition, several users had very amusing stories to share regarding the casting process. One user shared that her distant relative made it all the way to the final two to play Ron Weasley, while another user didn’t even get the chance to play an extra… because he chose to play football instead.
It was pouring with rain. A stranger pulled over looking for my school. I got in obviously. Showed her the way. She was signing up extras from my school for something called Harry potter. She guaranteed me a spot as long as I came along at lunch. I played football instead
— DC (@BRChickLtd) September 28, 2020
One of my distant family members was in the running for Ron Weasley. Apparently got down to the last two, him and Rupert Grint. Obviously Rupert got the part in the end. I used to call him Ron Weasley when I saw him as a child, now I realise that’s rubbing salt into an old wound.
— Clare Cassar (@ClareKix) September 29, 2020
Behind every successful cast member lies hundreds of rejected actors, and the Harry Potter film franchise is no different. Although the final Potter cast was very well chosen, we can only imagine how many people were passed over for those coveted roles. Would you have preferred any of the above celebrities instead of the cast actors?
