Updated May 17, 2021 3.9K votes 531 voters 34.2K views
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Vote up the most interesting breakthrough roles these 'Harry Potter' actors held.
The Harry Potter films are classic in and of themselves, but what makes them even more notable is the star-studded cast that was a part of each film in the series. From acting legends like Dame Maggie Smith, to those who have left us like Alan Rickman, there are plenty of recognizable faces in each of the eight movies.
Every actor had their own breakout roles before ever shooting Harry Potter, so we did some research and found out what exactly those were. Some of them might surprise you!
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Warwick Davis Played Not One, But Two Different Roles In The 'Harry Potter' Films - He Was Both Griphook And Professor Flitwick. But During The Very Beginning Of His Acting Career, At The Age Of Eleven, His Rare Dwarfism Condition Made Him Perfect To Play The Role Of An Ewok In 'Star Wars'
Alan Rickman Took On The Iconic Role Of Professor Severus Snape, The Infamous Double-Agent In 'Harry Potter'. However, When He First Began Acting After A Brief Stint In (Would You Believe It) Graphic Design, His Breakout Role Was As Reverend Obadiah Slope In 'The Barchester Chronicles' TV Show (1982)
Gary Oldman Got His Start On Screen In The 1982 Film 'Remembrance' After Years Of Performing In The Theater, And Would Later Go On To Play Harry Potter's Godfather Sirius Black. He Is Considered One Of The Greatest Actors Of His Generation
Although Richard Harris Had Already Acted In Several Films By The Time He Played King Arthur In The 1967 Film 'Camelot', It Was For That Movie That He Was Nominated For An Academy Award. He Played Albus Dumbledore In The First Two 'Harry Potter' Films Before Passing Away And Being Replaced By Michael Gambon
Before Dame Maggie Smith Was Minerva McGonagall - Head Of Gryffindor House And Harry Potter's Transfiguration Professor - She Got Her Start As Desdemona In 'Othello' (1965)
Helena Bonham Carter Is One Of Britain's Finest Actresses, And She Began In Films As Lady Jane Grey In 'Lady Jane' (1986) Before Taking On The More Maniacal Part Of Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange In The 'Harry Potter' Films