16 Actors You Forgot Were in Harry Potter, From Regé-Jean Page to Derek Hough

Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory

Even before booking the role of Edward in Twilight, or donning the cape and cowl in 2022’s The Batman, Robert Pattinson made a big splash as heartthrob Cedric Diggory in 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

“It was very special,” Pattinson told HFPA’s Kristien Gijbels about being a part of the iconic Harry Potter franchise. “And I really like that movie as well … I wasn’t going to be acting professionally if it wasn’t for that.”

Domhnall Gleeson as Bill Weasley

Though Domhnall Gleeson has starred in many notable films over the years, including About Time, Anna Karenina, Ex Machina and the Star Wars sequel trilogy, playing the eldest Weasley child was one of his first big roles.

Gleeson played the character in both Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2.

Fun fact: Gleeson starred in the films alongside his father, Brendan Gleeson, who famously played Alastor Moody. They even share the screen together in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 when everyone transforms into Harry Potter with Polyjuice Potion to safely transport the young wizard to the Weasleys’ Burrow.

Julianne Hough as a Hogwarts student

Way before starring on Dancing with the Stars or in Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, Julianne Hough had a small role as a Gryffindor student in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. If you look closely, you can see her cheering during one of the Quidditch matches.

During filming, Julianne had a big crush on the film’s star, Radcliffe.

“I gave him a love note and a Beanie Baby for Valentine’s Day,” she recalled to PEOPLE. “I didn’t personally give it to him because I was just an extra, but I gave it to his assistant or PA that was working with him.”

Derek Hough as a Hogwarts student

Just like his sister, DWTS judge Derek Hough also had a small cameo (though as a Ravenclaw) in the first Harry Potter film.

“There’s a specific scene where Hermione is leaving for Christmas while carrying her suitcase. We pass in the hallway,” he told Entertainment Weekly about his scene. “I was holding an owl. That’s my big moment. I’m right in the camera’s viewpoint, so every time you look at Hermione, you can see me, clear as day.”

In addition to making a small appearance in the movie, Derek also revealed he was a stand-in for Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy). “That was my claim to fame!” he added.

Michelle Fairley as Mrs. Granger

Michelle Fairley is well-known for playing Catelyn Stark on Game of Thrones, Marian Wallace on Gangs of London and Princess Augusta on Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, but before that, she had a small role as Hermione Granger’s mother.

The role was previously played by Heather Bleasdale in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, but Fairley took over the role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1.

Jamie Campbell Bower as Gellert Grindelwald

Jamie Campbell Bower, best known for his role in Stranger Things as One/Vecna, has certainly starred in a lot of book-to-movie franchises. In addition to his roles in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and some of the Twilight films, the actor had a small role as young Gellert Grindelwald in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1.

Though he only made a quick appearance in the Harry Potter film, Bower did briefly reprise his role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, making him the only actor to appear in both franchises.

While filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1, Bower met and fell for actress Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley. The two dated for a few years and got engaged, but eventually split in 2012.

Hero Fiennes Tiffin as a young Tom Riddle

Before playing Hardin Scott in the After films and starring in The Woman King alongside Viola Davis, one of Hero Fiennes Tiffin’s first roles was playing a young Tom Riddle (a.k.a. young Voldemort) in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The role was pretty perfect, as his uncle is Ralph Fiennes, who famously played Voldemort throughout the franchise.

Alfred Enoch as Dean Thomas

Unlike most stars on this list, actor Alfred Enoch was featured in seven Harry Potter movies as Gryffindor student Dean Thomas.

Though the How to Get Away With Murder star’s role in the series was small, he remained a constant in Harry Potter’s circle of friends at Hogwarts.

In 2021, Felton shared a throwback photo on Instagram with Enoch and Watson. The picture showed them as kids, presumably doing schoolwork while on break from filming.

Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart

Kenneth Branagh has a long list of acting credits to his name, including his role as Hercule Poirot in 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express and 2022’s Death on the Nile, but he also had a small role in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

The actor played Gilderoy Lockhart, a celebrity author who becomes the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts — and he wasn’t the only actor considered for the role.

The part was originally offered to Hugh Grant, but the actor turned it down due to scheduling conflicts with his film Two Weeks Notice. Rupert Everett and Alan Cumming also did screen tests for the role, with the latter allegedly dropping out due to salary disputes.

Freddie Stroma as Cormac McLaggen

Freddie Stroma is well-known for roles on DC’s Peacemaker, Lifetime’s Unreal, ABC’s Time After Time and Bridgerton, but before that, Stroma had a recurring role in the Harry Potter films.

In the final three movies of the franchise, he played Cormac McLaggen, an arrogant Gryffindor student who has his eye on Hermione.

John Cleese as Nearly Headless Nick

The actor, best known for starring in the Monty Python films, appeared as the Hogwarts ghost, Nearly Headless Nick, in the Harry Potter films.

John Cleese earned an Oscar nomination for best writing in 1989 for the crime comedy A Fish Called Wanda.

Rhys Ifans as Xenophilius Lovegood

Rhys Ifans looks almost unrecognizable in his role as Luna Lovegood’s dad.

The actor, who reprised his The Amazing Spider-Man role of Dr. Curt Connors in Spider-Man: No Way Home, played the eccentric Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1.

He also stars in the House of the Dragon series as Ser Otto Hightower.

Bill Nighy as Rufus Scrimgeour

In addition to memorable roles in Love Actually, the Pirates of the Caribbean film series and About Time, Bill Nighy had a small role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1.

He played Rufus Scrimgeour, who became the Minister for Magic following Cornelius Fudge.

Nighy also starred in the 2022 drama Living, which earned him an Oscar nomination for best actor in a leading role, as well as the Showtime series The Man Who Fell to Earth.

Jim Broadbent as Horace Slughorn

The Bridget Jones’s Diary actor played Horace Slughorn in both Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2.

His character gives a young Tom Riddle information about Horcruxes, which opens up a can of worms later in the story.

Jim Broadbent won a 2002 Oscar for the docudrama Iris, which also starred Judi Dench and Kate Winslet.

David Tennant as Bartemius “Barty” Crouch Jr.

Around the same time he starred on Doctor Who, David Tennant played a Death Eater named Barty Crouch Jr. in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

In the film, the Good Omens actor poses as Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody to rig the Triwizard Tournament to make sure that Harry Potter wins.