The Top 10 Must-See Roles of Harry Potter Actors in Post-HP Era

The Harry Potter film series showed us some of the finest actors and actresses we had ever seen. It should come as no surprise to learn that most have gone on to deliver even more incredible performances following HP. Here are our top 10 picks.

1. Ralph Fiennes as M. Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel

Ralph Fiennes already had an impressive resume prior to taking on the role of Lord Voldemort, primary antagonist of the Harry Potter films. He has delivered some amazing performances since Harry Potter, but for the best of the best, check him out as M. Gustave in 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. Charming, suave, and unshakeable, this feels like the role Fiennes was born to play.

2. Dame Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey

Professor Minerva McGonagall was such a formidable and loved character in the books, and veteran actress Dame Maggie Smith was the perfect choice to bring her to life and do her justice. If you are a McGonagall fan, do yourself a favour and check out Dame Smith in Downton Abbey. Her razor wit, and ability to savagely put down other characters while maintaining perfect elegance and grace, is one of the best things about the show.

3. Michael Gambon as Cedric Livingstone in Quartet

When the original Dumbledore, Richard Harris, sadly passed away, Michael Gambon stepped in. And after his stint as Albus Dumbledore, he would go on to continue delivering more brilliant performances. In 2012’s Quartet, he plays the eccentric Cedric Livingstone. If you enjoy a laugh while having every other one of your emotions prodded, you will love this film. Gambon’s performance is on point.

4. Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret in The Crown

Bellatrix Lestrange is one of the most frightening antagonists of the Harry Potter franchise. Helena Bonham Carter played Lestrange so perfectly, highlighting her skill for playing deranged characters. But to really grasp her depth, you need to check out Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret in The Crown. The array of emotions she portrays is staggering and it is easy to see why she won a SAG award for this role.

5. Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour

Gary Oldman is an actor who seems to be able to immerse himself so effortlessly into a role, that we run the risk of forgetting he is behind the character. This impressive skill was a welcome addition to the Harry Potter cast, as Sirius Black. But if you want your mind blown even further by Oldman, check out Darkest Hour (2017). And you will see why his performance as Winston Churchill won him a staggering 26 awards.

6. Harry Melling as Roy Laferty in The Devil All the Time

Be honest. You did not expect to see Dudley Dursley on this list, did you? Well, hold on to your sorting hats, because Harry Melling, who played Harry’s overweight, bullying cousin, is an amazing actor. Don’t believe us? Then watch The Devil All the Time (2020) and see for yourself. His stint as a conman preacher is so intense, you will be impressed.

7. Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan in The Butler

Alan Rickman is one of the finest actors who has ever lived, and his performance as Severus Snape in Harry Potter was nothing short of perfection. Tragically, Rickman was diagnosed with terminal cancer during the Harry Potter series, and his declining health saw him only take on smaller roles following filming wrapping. But small does not mean insignificant, as evidenced by his amazing take on President Ronald Reagan in 2013’s The Butler.

8. David Thewlis as Michael Stone in Anomalisa

David Thewlis was brilliant as Remus Lupin, struggling with his werewolf identity. If you want to see more of Thewlis’ wonderful work, watch 2015’s Anomalisa. To call this movie weird is an understatement, but Thewlis delivers with a truly staggering performance as events within the film just become stranger and stranger.

9. Jason Isaacs as Field Marshal Zhukov in The Death of Stalin

Lucius Malfoy was more hated by some Harry Potter fans than Voldemort himself. But Jason Isaacs, who gave him life, has proven he has far greater range as an actor in subsequent projects. Check out the hilarious The Death of Stalin (2017) and watch him and Steve Buscemi utterly screw up their plans to overthrow Stalin, but play their roles to comedic perfection.

10. Robert Pattinson as Thomas Howard in The Lighthouse

Robert Pattinson may have only appeared in one Harry Potter film as Cedric Diggory, but he has earned his place on this list with his stunning performance in 2019’s The Lighthouse. He so brilliantly plays a man losing his mind that we really feel we are on that downward spiral of insanity with him.