Six of the Top Ten Highest-Grossing Irish Actors Are from “Harry Potter”
From Michael Gambon to Devon Murray, many Irish actors were featured in the Harry Potter films. A recent study conducted by CSGOLuck highlighted the top ten highest-grossing Irish actors ever, and Harry Potter actors secured six of those top ten spots, emphasizing just how powerful the eight Potter films were at the global box office.
A spokesperson from CSGOLuck commented on the reason for conducting the study and the impact Irish actors are making on world cinema.
As more and more Irish actors rise through Hollywood’s ranks, we were interested to know the Irish economic impact on the global box office. We were blown away to learn that the movies Irish actors have starred in have grossed more than £122 billion to date.
Michael Gambon – #2
Sir Michael Gambon, an English-Irish actor, played Albus Dumbledore in six of the Harry Potter films. He ranked at number two in the top ten list, following actor Liam Neeson. As an original member of the Royal National Theatre, his long career included films such as Sleepy Hollow (1999), The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), and The King’s Speech (2010), but his role in six Harry Potter films was likely what pushed him so high up the list.
Domhnall Gleeson – #3
Known for his role as Bill Weasley, Domhnall Gleeson made the list at number three. By joining the Potter series, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Brendan Gleeson, and the oldest Weasley brother appeared in both parts of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. After Harry Potter, he landed the role of General Hux in the Star Wars franchise, appearing in Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015), Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017), and Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), which seems to have helped push him above his father’s ranking on the list.
Kenneth Branagh – #4
Sir Kenneth Branagh, an English-Irish actor, ranked at number four. Trained at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and with much Shakespearean experience under his belt, Branagh played Gilderoy Lockhart in just one Potter film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. However, his role as a Hogwarts professor helped lead him to other blockbuster film opportunities, including Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Oppenheimer (2023).
Devon Murray – #6
Best known for his role as Hogwarts student Seamus Finnigan, Devon Murray made the list at number six. His role in Gryffindor House was consistent throughout all eight Harry Potter films, landing him among the highest-grossing Irish actors despite his name being lesser known. Today, Murray actively participates in fan conventions and events with his fellow Harry Potter cast members.
Brendan Gleeson – #7
Brendan Gleeson, who played Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody in three Harry Potter films, ranked at number seven. In 2006, Gleeson was nominated for British Supporting Actor of the Year at the London Film Critics Circle Awards for his role in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. His other box office hits have included Mission: Impossible II (2000), A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), Edge of Tomorrow (2014), and Paddington 2 (2017).
Ciarán Hinds – #8
Ciarán Hinds made the list at number eight. The Irish actor from Belfast played Aberforth Dumbledore in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 2. While his time in Harry Potter was short, his performance in the franchise and his role in the high-grossing animated films Frozen (2013) and Frozen II (2019) have contributed to his overall success at the box office.
You can view the full list of the top ten highest-grossing Irish actors on Irish Star.
