Where Are The Secondary Kids Characters From Harry Potter Now?
Harry Potter quite literally defined the childhoods of a whole generation. We lined up outside our local bookstores at midnight, we dressed up in robes for each Halloween, we waited anxiously for our Hogwarts acceptance letter, and we took the Pottermore quiz a dozen times to get into the "right" house. And if the magical sound of the John William theme doesn't immediately bring back tidal waves of nostalgia, you probably didn't grow up in the '90s or early 2000s!
The record-breaking Harry Potter movies are nothing short of iconic. They follow the journey of Harry and his friends, Ron and Hermione, from their first to their final year at Hogwarts, a school for witches and wizards. We all loved the main trio — and true Harry Potter fans probably already have pretty in-depth knowledge about what Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint have been up to since the franchise finished. However, you may be less well-versed on what became of all the other Hogwarts students. Here is everything that happened to the secondary kids character from the Harry Potter movies.
Alfred Enoch, who played Dean Thomas, has a thriving acting career
Dean Thomas was a Gryffindor student who was friends with the main trio from the very beginning. He traveled with Harry, Ron, and Hermione on the train, attended lessons with the trio, and even dated Ginny before she and Harry got together. In the movies, he was played by Alfred Enoch, who has gone on to star in some more impressive productions as an adult (via IMDb). His biggest role to date was playing Wes Gibbins in ABC's How to Get Away with Murder.
He explained to His Kind that he was just 11 when he started working on "dream job," Harry Potter. His experience was surprisingly normal as he still went to school and wasn't on set every day. These days, his career is a little busier. While shooting How to Get Away with Murder, he lived in America for seven months of the year — where he spoke in his character's American accent at all times! He's also been busy with some big budget stage shows, including some Shakespeare, at some of London's best theatres. One thing's for sure — Dean Thomas has grown up into a pretty impressive young actor!
Jessie Cave, who played Lavender Brown, is a mother of two and a comedian
Who can forget the hilarious actress who played the insipid, clingy Lavender Brown, the short-lived girlfriend of Ron — or "Won Won," as she would say. The character was played by Jessie Cave in Prisoner of Azkaban. She was actually chosen to replace a Black actress who had played Lavender in the first five films, causing some controversy.
Cave appeared in a few films and TV series after Harry Potter, including Father Brown, Call the Midwife, Pride, and Great Expectations. These days, however, her main focus is on her rapidly growing family and her comedy career. As it turns out, she owes both to a one-night stand! As she explained to The Guardian, a hook up with fellow comedian Alfie Brown led to her first pregnancy. The pair decided to date. As of 2020, they are going strong with three kids! Plus, Cave even used their unusual story to create a successful comedy show. Talk about fate taking a hand! Based on how much Lavender Brown made us laugh, we can't say that we're surprised that Cave has chosen to pursue a career in comedy.
Devon Murray, who played Seamus Finnigan, works on a horse farm and is expecting a baby
Seamus Finnigan charmed us from the very first Harry Potter film with his upbeat attitude, his lilting Irish accent, and his tendency to turn simple spells into explosions. Seamus was played by actor Devon Murray. Since the franchise came to an end, Murray hasn't done much acting. But, judging by his Instagram bio, he still remembers Harry Potter fondly: "Played Seamus Finnigan in Harry Potter for 10 yrs of my life. The silly Irish guy who kept blowing up," he wrote humorously in the caption.
By the looks of things, Murray now lives on a horse farm and spends lots of his time riding, caring for, and selling horses. Quite a change of pace from his filming days! As of 2020, Murray is also expecting a baby boy with his girlfriend, Shannon McCaffrey Quinn. It's great to see Murray has settled down, but Seamus with a kid? We are starting to feel old!
Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley, became a film director and a passionate activist
Ginny Weasley was never part of the main trio, but she eventually became a key character in the Harry Potter series. While the trio went horcrux hunting in the woods, she held down the fort at Hogwarts. And, of course, she eventually married the Harry Potter! Bonnie Wright played Ginny from the very first film.
Since Harry Potter finished, Wright has certainly been busy. Not only has she appeared in over eight films (via IMDb), she's also gotten behind the camera as a director and filmmaker. She ended up going to film school to learn about filmmaking, but as she told Varsity, "Before I went to film school a lot of the techniques I learnt [...] was definitely from my experience in Harry Potter." One of her films, called Medusa's Ankles, starred Jason Isaacs, a fellow alumnus from Harry Potter. We definitely never imagined Ginny Weasley being the boss of Lucius Malfoy!
In addition to her directing and acting work, Wright is a passionate advocate for the environment, having worked extensively with Greenpeace to tackle plastic waste. We are seriously impressed with how much Wright has accomplished!
Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, is an actor with a whole troop of adoring fan girls
The character of Neville Longbottom was just as dorky as his name made his sound — chubby, clueless, and clumsy, it's no wonder Neville was constantly getting bullied and left out. As the movies went on, the character came into his own. The actor who portrayed Neville, Matthew Lewis, had a similar transformation. By the time the franchise came to an end, Lewis had shed the pounds, grown into his ears, and become an undeniable hunk! He even acquired an adoring troop of fan girls, according to The Sun.
Acting-wise, Lewis has stayed fairly busy. In 2016, he took on a major role in the second series of Happy Valley alongside fellow Harry Potter alum Shirley Henderson (a.k.a. Moaning Myrtle). His character couldn't have been further from Neville — he was playing a seriously creepy murder suspect! As he told The Mirror, "Younger Harry Potter fans may want to wait a few years before watching me in Happy Valley."
In 2018, Lewis married Angela Jones, who he apparently met at a Wizarding World event in Orlando, where she was an event planner.
Harry Melling, who played Dudley Dursley, worked hard to establish an acting career
Dudley Dursley, played by Harry Melling, was Harry's fat, cruel cousin, who bullied him relentlessly before his wizarding days. In the first few films, Melling seemed to be the ideal Dudley. However, when he suddenly lost weight, he almost lost the role (via The Telegraph)! Like Matthew Lewis, who played Neville, Melling had pretty much completely transformed by the time the franchise had finished filming. This allowed him to effectively re-start his career from scratch.
Despite having years of experience working on some of the biggest films ever, Melling decided to get formal acting training at LAMDA, where he graduated in 2009 (via The Stage). After graduating, Melling went on to have an impressive career, primarily on the stage, appearing in classic plays like Mother Courage and her Children, The Hothouse, and King Lear. He has also appeared in a few major film productions such as The Devil All the Time, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and The Lost City of Z (via IMDb). We are super impressed that Melling managed to create such a successful career without the fame and recognizability that some of his Harry Potter alumni had.
Katie Leung, who played Cho Chang, is now known for much darker roles
Cho Chang, played by Katie Leung, is best known as Harry's first kiss. When the movies came to an end, Leung was unsure about whether to pursue acting as a career. She told Daily Record that she tried a finance course and dabbled in photography. However, when she starred in Wild Swans, a play by Jung Chang, she knew that acting was what she wanted to do. Eventually, she studied acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.
Most of her more recent roles are quite a bit grittier than the innocent Cho Chang. In Strangers, an ITV thriller, Leung played Lau Chen. She is "rebellious, [...] trying to find her own identity and sexuality and she's an activist who has been protesting against corruption with the Hong Kong government and rising property prices," Leung explained to The Scotsman. She also starred in the BBC series One Child, in which she played a woman, adopted at birth, who found out that her innocent brother had been sentenced to death. Definitely a far cry from her Hogwarts days!
Chris Rankin, who played Percy Weasley, worked in a pub after Harry Potter finished
The lovable, kind-hearted, carrot-topped Weasley family took Harry under their wing like an adopted son — with one anomaly. Percy Weasley went from being a snooty prefect to being an employee of the corrupt Ministry of Magic. He was played by Chris Rankin, who apparently sent a letter asking to audition for the role.
Since his days at Hogwarts, Rankin hasn't appeared on our screens, aside from a few small roles (via IMDb). In fact, the young actor found getting work so difficult, he ended up getting a bartending job at a pub in Wales. He explained matter-of-factly to The Daily Mail, "There's a misconception that if you have a job in a high profile thing that it pays really well and you're made with your mansion." In between acting roles, Rankin also got behind the camera, working as a production coordinator on Downton Abbey and A Discovery of Witches (via IMDb). He also keeps busy with his own YouTube channel, where he posts musical theater covers — we bet you never thought you'd see Percy Weasley singing "You'll Be Back" from Hamilton!
Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood, is a vegan activist
Luna Lovegood made her first appearance in the fifth movie. The quirky, air-headed, "gnargle"-loving loner befriended Harry and eventually helped Hogwarts defend itself during the final battle. Evanna Lynch won the role of Luna after being a huge fan of the books. However, she was in for a bit of a surprise when the franchise came to an end. As she explained on the podcast Talking Tastebuds, she had mistakenly thought that she would be "set for life." Like her co-star Chris Rankin, however, Evanna Lynch struggled to get cast in roles (via The Mirror).
Nevertheless, the young actress has been pretty busy. She's appeared in several well-known films, as well as a stage production called Games For Lovers in 2019. She also made a foray into reality TV, placing third on Dancing with the Stars. When she's not acting, Lynch is a very passionate activist for veganism. She hosts a podcast called "ChickPeeps Vegan Podcast," and she also co-founded the company Kinder Beauty Box, a vegan, cruelty-free self-care subscription-based service. It's clear that Lynch is going to keep pursuing what she loves — even if she isn't always in front of the camera!
Afshan Azad, who played Padma Patil, became a model and YouTuber
The Patil twins got their moment in the spotlight in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when Harry and Ron asked them to be their dates to the Yule Ball as a last resort. Afshan Azad, who played Padma Patil, Ron's date, has turned her attention to modelling since the last Harry Potter film — which is hardly a surprise as she's grown up to be stunning!
According to her Instagram bio, she's currently represented by BMA Models, a British agency. In 2019, she was part of the campaign for COLAB Dry Shampoo, and that same year, she started a lifestyle-themed YouTube channel. It's clear that she enjoys the finer things in life, based on her social media!
As far as Azad's personal life is concerned, things seem to be going well. In 2018, she married her husband in a traditional Bangladeshi wedding. She even invited two familiar faces — Bonnie Wright and Katie Leung or as we know them, Ginny and Cho!
Oliver and James Phelps, who played Fred and George Weasley, are still acting together
Fred and George Weasley, Ron's mischievous older twin brothers were total fan favorites. They were played by real-life twins Oliver and James Phelps. The Phelps twins have appeared in a few films since the end of Harry Potter. By the looks of things, they are still thriving as a dynamic duo. Fans will be pleased to hear that they're due to appear in two upcoming films together, Own Worst Enemy and Last Night in Soho as of 2020! We're glad to see they've been busy as a pair, even though they have admitted that being typecast as twins can be a little depressing (via The Guardian).
In addition to acting, the two twins are avid sports fans and participants. Apparently, they are both passionate about golf, having been introduced to the sport at around 8-years-old by their father. They even played while filming Harry Potter. As they told Today's Golfer, the pair try to play whenever they can. James in particular also loves biking, which he frequently posts about on Instagram.
Hugh Mitchell, who played Colin Creevey, became a photographer — just like his character!
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the pesky, camera-wielding first-year, Colin Creevey, came onto the scene, much to Harry's annoyance. He was played by Hugh Mitchell, who, at the time, had no professional acting experience. However, after landing the role of Colin, Mitchell quickly went on to secure roles in a series of films like Nicholas Nickleby, Henry VIII, and The Da Vinci Code. As of 2020, his last film role was in the series Wallander, alongside his Chamber of Secrets co-star Kenneth Branagh (via IMDb).
By the looks of things, Mitchell has decided to leave acting behind. In an ironic turn of events, he's decided to pursue landscape photography — it seems like Colin really was the perfect role for him! According to what was once written on Mitchell's professional photography website, he is now more excited about being behind the camera. "I'm passionate about the outdoors, and love nothing more than exploring a new landscape," Mitchell wrote. We totally love the symmetry between Mitchell and Colin!
Luke Youngblood, who played Lee Jordan, has actually had a pretty impressive acting career
One of the most iconic moments of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was the epic first Quidditch match. Who can forget the enthusiastic Lee Jordan, the young Gryffindor commentator? The small character was played by Luke Youngblood. While you may not realize it, you've probably seen Luke Youngblood elsewhere, as he's gone on to appear in a range of popular films and television shows.
First, he appeared as Ben in The Story of Tracy Beaker. Next, he made a cameo in Glee's Season 2 Christmas episode. Eventually, he was cast as a recurring character on Community. As Magnitude, Youngblood played a popular, energetic student of Greendale — you may remember him for his catchphrase, "Pop pop!" While Youngblood is practically unrecognizable in the role, he's definitely got the same exuberant energy as Lee Jordan!
For theater fans, you may know Youngblood as London's first Young Simba in The Lion King. By the looks of things, Youngblood's career has flourished since his Harry Potter days!
Sean Biggerstaff, who played Oliver Wood, is still acting — all thanks to Alan Rickman
For many of us the dishy Scottish Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, Oliver Wood, was the ultimate babe and our first crush. As it turns out, Sean Biggerstaff owed his entire career to Alan Rickman, or, Professor Snape.
In 2016, Biggerstaff wrote a tribute to Rickman upon his death. Apparently, Biggerstaff first met Rickman when he was 11 and eventually worked with him on his first film. Rickman helped him get his first acting agent and even suggested him for a role in Harry Potter. He said that on the Harry Potter set, Rickman "introduced me to practically every great British actor I'd ever heard of. Telling them, 'This is my boy.'"
After Harry Potter ended, Rickman helped Biggerstaff find work and progress in his career. "If I needed anything, he would immediately spend hours of his time helping me." While Biggerstaff's career has been fairly understated, he has kept busy. With multiple roles in short films and TV series, along with numerous theater roles, it's clear that Rickman's influence has helped Biggerstaff since the beginning.