Many factors come into play when producers are casting actors for a big hit like Harry Potter. These choices are often so well-made that the viewer creates a powerful relationship with the character. This powerful relationship makes it hard to dissociate the image of the actor and their on-screen role. For instance, can you imagine a Harry Potter played by someone other than Daniel Radcliffe, or a Hermione not played by Emma Watson? Well, even though many of us think that these actors were “born” to play these roles, it is possible that on several occasions the producers did not agree at first and they may have even chosen someone else. It’s hard to believe, but true.
At Bright Side, we’re all Potterheads. That’s why we’d love to share with you all the fun facts about the “wizarding world” that we found out there. We’d also like to extend an invitation to a parallel universe where other actors that were about to play some of the most famous wizards in the world actually did get the roles. Don’t forget to check out the bonus at the end of the article!
1. Ian McKellen — Albus Dumbledore
Sir Ian McKellen, known for the amazing performances he delivered in movies like The Lord of the Rings and The Da Vinci Code, as well as in many theater plays, was asked to bring the famous wizard Albus Dumbledore to the big screen after actor Richard Harris, the then-Dumbledore interpreter, sadly passed away. This happened back in 2002, but McKellen had to face a tough dilemma after which he decided to turn down the opportunity.
It all started when, back in the day, Richard Harris said that even though he found McKellan to be a brilliant actor in terms of technique, he lacked passion when acting. McKellan had to decide whether he’d take on the legacy of a man who disapproved of him as an actor. We all know how the story ended. McKellen refused, saying that he “couldn’t take on the role of an actor who didn’t approve of me.” While we all think he would have played an amazing role as Dumbledore, it was Michael Gambon who eventually landed the role.
2. Saoirse Ronan — Luna Lovegood
Actress Saoirse Ronan became popular after she appeared in films like The Lovely Bones and Little Women. But few people know that she actually auditioned to play the role of Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter saga. Unfortunately, she did not get the role, which Evanna Lynch ended up landing because she was specifically chosen by the creator of the story, J.K. Rowling. According to her, Lynch was the perfect person to play this character.
Saoirse, however, admitted that she was disappointed when she learned that she was not chosen. During an interview Ronan said that she “was too young — but at the time I thought, ’I’d love to be in Harry Potter.’ When I was younger, I used to think they had the best job in the world.” Today, with more than 3 Oscar nominations in her pocket, we wonder what a Luna played by Saoirse would look like and what vibe she would have given to the whole franchise.
3. Liam Aiken — Harry Potter
Originally, Liam Aiken, the star of the saga A Series of Unfortunate Events, was supposed to have starred in the role of Harry Potter on the big screen. However, J.K. Rowling had her say once again, and that changed everything. The writer demanded that the whole cast of the movie be composed of only British actors. This instantly ruled out Aiken and that opened the door for British actor Daniel Radcliff to land the role that defined his career when he was barely 11 years old.
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, J.K. Rowling even took the time to call producer Chris Columbus, who was in charge of adapting her books to the movies just to make sure that Aiken didn’t get the part. It is believed that the reasoning behind Rowling’s decision was to ensure that the films remained faithful to the books, which were supposed to be British in every sense of the word. It’s unclear as to whether Aiken would have delivered a better performance than Radcliff, who in any case did a great job.
4. Robin Williams — Rubeus Hagrid
Once again, J. K. Rowling was very adamant when it came to not allowing the movie about the most famous wizard to be cast using American actors… Being British herself, she put enormous pressure on the production team to get what she wanted. In the end, she got it her way: the cast ended up being entirely British, which indeed, gave a special feeling to the movies. So, in addition to Liam Aiken, Robin Williams, who was cast to play the iconic Rubeus Hagrid, was also vetoed from the saga. This beloved character was, in the end, portrayed with great mastery by Robbie Coltrane. We are sure that, like Coltrane, Williams would have done a great job!
5. Helen McCrory — Bellatrix Lestrange
The great and scary witch, Bellatrix Lestrange, was originally going to be played by Helen McCrory. With McCrory being English, there was no possible veto coming from J.K. Rowling. However, at the time in which the Harry Potter movies were to be shot, the star from Netflix’s drama series Peaky Blinders became pregnant. There’s probably no better reason to give up playing such an amazing character. Eventually, it was Helena Bonham Carter who replaced McCrory and she delivered one of the best performances of the saga. Still, McCrory hadn’t said her final words on the matter. Luckily for us, she managed to come back to the casting in the last 3 movies, but this time as Narcissa Malfoy.
6. Henry Cavill — Cedric Diggory
Before Cavill even dreamt of becoming the famous Superman who won the hearts of thousands of viewers around the world, things weren’t looking so bright for him. In fact, Cavill managed to lose not one, but 2 roles to Robert Pattinson. The first one is maybe lesser known by the public. He tried to get into Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where he auditioned to play Cedric Diggory. The second role he lost to Pattinson is a well-known story. Cavill came close to playing the role of Edward Cullen, the protagonist in the Twilight saga.
In fact, in the latter, he even turned out to be the first choice of writer Stephenie Meyer, creator of the “Cullen universe.” However, as you probably know, both roles, in the end, went to Pattinson. Cavill simply thought of the rejections as “something good” that happened in his life. After all, things happen in due time and there’s no reason to rush anything.
7. Hatty Jones — Hermione Granger
As for the role of Hermione Granger, producers had a hard time deciding between 2 young actresses that were equally fit to play the smarter sorceress of Hogwarts: Hatty Jones, star of the feature film Madeline, and Emma Watson, who until then was an unknown actress. Interestingly enough, the decision was made based on casting director Janet Hirshenson’s impressions of Emma. Hirshernson believed the young woman would bring a much-needed “dull” side to the whole story. In the end, it seems like she did the right thing, given that Watson managed to steal the audience’s hearts and souls thanks to her skills and empathic nature.
“A star is born,” Hirshenson said during an interview. Hirshenson’s decision was so accurate that today it would be impossible to imagine any other actress playing Hermione.
8. Jamie Campbell Bower — Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort when he was a young man)
Actor Jamie Campbell Bower is most likely a big fan of the wizard sagas. This beloved star had not only been part of the cast of Twilight, but he also appeared in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. Of course, little did he know back then that he would also appear in other movies based on J.K. Rowling’s work Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a franchise that acts as a sort of spin-off for the Harry Potter world. He played Grindelwald in both Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
And we’re saying that because we want to clarify something that many people still don’t know: before landing that role, Jamie Campbell Bower had auditioned to play the young version of Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort) in the sixth film of the Harry Potter saga. Not only that, but he was even featured in Teen Vogue magazine. In the end, he was not chosen to play the part, but the reasons behind his rejection remain unclear. The role was, as you know, left in the hands of Frank Dillane.
9. Eddie Redmayne — Another version of Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort when he was a teenager)
Jamie Campbell Bower wasn’t the only actor who was interested in playing the young version of Harry Potter’s nemesis, Lord Voldemort, also known as Tom Riddle. Much like Campbell Bower, Eddie Redmayne didn’t manage to land the role of the larger-than-life villain, but his patience was also rewarded when he was cast in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them franchise, this time as the main character, Newt Scamander.
During an interview, Eddie revealed that even though he didn’t even receive any feedback after the audition, over the years he still had a ray of hope shining somewhere inside his soul that he would at least be cast as one of the Weasley family members. Of course, as we all well know, this didn’t happen. But fortunately, this brilliant actor did manage to get to play his part in a universe created by J. K. Rowling and he did a great job. In the end, it was Christian Coulson who played Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
10. Tilda Swinton — Sybill Trelawney
Oscar winner Emma Thompson took on the role of Professor Sybill Trelawney. However, before the deal was closed between the producers and Thompson, the character was first offered to fellow Golden Statuette winner Tilda Swinton, who turned it down. While her decision might come across as something strange when looking back, as Swinton explained in an interview, according to her the saga romanticized boarding school life and she didn’t really want to be a part of that:
“I think this is a very cruel environment that children have to grow up in, and I don’t think it’s beneficial to their education.” We’re not entirely sure if Swinton was right or not to reject the role, but one thing we can all agree with is that Emma Thompson was as perfect for the role as Swinton would have been, would she have decided to jump on board.
11. Jason Isaacs — Gilderoy Lockhart
Jason Isaacs, known today for having played Lucius Malfoy, initially wanted to play a completely different role: half-blood wizard Gilderoy Lockhart. However, the producers felt that Isaacs would be a much better fit for Draco Malfoy’s father and also one of the greatest adversaries that Potter has had to deal with during the whole saga. The funny thing is that, at the same time, the actor was already slated to play Captain Hook in Peter Pan, so he didn’t want to be linked to the image of 2 childish villains. This is the reasoning that led him to turn down the role in the first place.
Luckily for us and all Potterheads, Isaacs’ family stepped in and convinced him to play the wizard known for having long, smooth blond hair. “Over the weekend, everyone who knew me called me: nieces, nephews, godchildren, and then their parents,” he said. “They all tried to persuade me to take the job, not because they cared about me, but because they wanted to visit the set!” he added laughingly.
12. Kate Winslet — Helena Ravenclaw
When one of the most popular sagas of the time was coming to an end, producers thought they had to come up with a great way to say goodbye. They wanted every detail to be perfect and that included finding an actress who could live up to the greatness of Helena Ravenclaw, a character whose part in the narrative was kind of short, but of the utmost importance. The name at the top of the list was Kate Winslet. Unfortunately, her agent rejected the script even before checking to see if she was interested at all in taking part in the project. That’s how the Grey Lady ended up being played by the equally brilliant Kelly Macdonald.
13. Thomas Brodie-Sangster — Ron Weasley
Thomas Brodie-Sangster revealed that he would have loved to play Ron Weasley on the big screen. Not only that, but he actually gave it a try and ended up losing the opportunity to Rupert Grint, the little redhead that is now very well-known to all of the fans of the saga. However, despite not having passed the test, the actor from Nanny McPhee, also said that this first “tough” experience of rejection in the entertainment industry “allowed him to maintain a more ’optimistic’ attitude during the audition processes for future roles.” As the popular saying goes, “Every cloud has a silver lining.”
14. Tom Felton — Ron Weasley and Harry Potter
You might find this hard to believe, but it’s true. Before becoming the naughty Draco Malfoy, Tom Felton auditioned to play Ron Weasley and even Harry Potter. Despite not being chosen for either role, the actor claims there was never any jealousy or rivalry behind the scenes between him and Radcliffe or Grint. On the contrary, he was very grateful to have the opportunity to appear in the movies at all. “I’m even more grateful that I got the character of Draco, there was a great sense of kind of being on a team,” he said. And it seems that the choices were indeed perfect, like Felton mentioned, as that’s how each of the actors becomes a living legend in their own role.
Bonus: The creator of the Harry Potter universe, writer J. K. Rowling, was asked by producers to play Lily, the mother of The Boy Who Lived.
There’s no point in denying that there is a great similarity between J. K. Rowling and Geraldine Somerville. Maybe that is why the producers of the saga wanted the writer to take on the role of Lily Potter in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, since she fit “the profile” so well. However, Rowling politely declined the invitation: “The filmmakers did ask me to play Lily Potter in the first film, but I really am not cut out to be an actress, even one who just has to stand there and wave. I would have messed it up somehow.” It’s hard to believe that maybe we could have had the chance to see J. K. Rowling on the big screen, but it’s true. And we actually think that she would have done a great job!
Most people think that producers made the right call with the cast they chose for the Potter movies. Do you agree or is there someone who you think would have done a better job? Is there anybody you would have wanted to see casting a spell on the big screen?
Grandma Saw the Sweater She Knitted for Her Granddaughter Donated and Decided It Was Time for a Talk About Appreciation — Story of the Day
At a bustling clothing drive, Sarah was all smiles until she found a knitted sweater she had lovingly gifted her granddaughter among the donations. Her heart sank as she spotted the familiar embroidered initials, turning her act of generosity into a moment of bittersweet reflection.
Sarah adjusted her glasses as she stood at the edge of the donation drive, clutching a bulging bag of clothes.
The air buzzed with activity—people chatted as they sifted through piles of donated items, and volunteers hurried from one booth to another.
For a moment, Sarah felt out of place, hesitant to step further into the scene.
Then she spotted Emily, her longtime friend, waving at her enthusiastically from across the crowd.
Emily’s energy was always infectious, and Sarah felt her nerves settle as she approached.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Sarah! I’m so glad you made it!” Emily beamed, practically bouncing as she came forward to greet her.
“Hello, Emily,” Sarah replied with a smile, feeling a bit lighter.
“Yes, I thought it was time to get out of the house. And helping at a clothing drive seemed like a meaningful way to spend the day. Thank you for convincing me to come.”
Placing her bag on the table, Sarah patted it gently. “These are things I don’t need anymore. Hopefully, they’ll be useful to someone.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Emily leaned over to peek inside. “Sarah, this is so generous of you! Thank you! These are in great condition.”
The women worked side by side, sorting clothes and helping people who approached the booth.
Emily’s cheerful banter helped Sarah relax, and the satisfaction of giving back warmed her.
But as they worked, Sarah noticed a tall man approaching. He carried a large bag and had a serious, almost stern expression.
Sarah stiffened slightly, unsure of his intentions, but he simply placed the bag on the table and nodded at Emily.
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“Thanks, Pete!” Emily called out cheerfully.
Sarah glanced at Emily, curious. “Where did all this come from?”
Emily chuckled as she opened the bag.
“We set up a donation bin near the dumpsters. You wouldn’t believe the quality of things people throw away! At least this way, they get a second chance to help someone.”
Sarah nodded, intrigued. As they began to sort through the bag’s contents, she pulled out a knitted sweater.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Her breath caught in her throat. It wasn’t just any sweater—it was hers. She held it up, running her fingers over the soft yarn.
The embroidered initials on the hem confirmed it: this was the sweater she had painstakingly made for Violet, her granddaughter.
“This looks exactly like the one I gave to Violet,” Sarah said, her voice trembling slightly.
“Violet? Your granddaughter?” Emily asked, glancing at the sweater. “What a coincidence someone donated such a similar one!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
But Sarah shook her head slowly. “It’s not a coincidence. This is the sweater.”
Emily’s expression fell as the realization dawned on her. “Oh no… that can’t be. She’d never discard your gift, would she? Are you absolutely sure?”
Sarah pointed to the initials. “I’m sure,” she said softly, her voice laced with sadness.
Emily reached out to touch Sarah’s arm. “I’m so sorry, Sarah.”
Forcing a faint smile, Sarah replied, “It’s fine. Maybe it was too itchy… or just not her style.”
Her attempt to brush it off sounded hollow, even to herself. She folded the sweater gently and set it aside, but the weight of its presence lingered in her heart.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
At home, the afternoon sunlight streamed through the lace curtains, casting soft patterns on the living room walls.
Sarah sat in her favorite armchair, a cup of tea cooling on the side table. Her knitting needles rested in her lap, untouched.
She had placed the sweater she found at the donation drive neatly beside her.
Every so often, her eyes drifted to it, the familiar embroidered initials tugging at her heart.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
With a sigh, she picked up the phone, putting on her reading glasses to carefully dial the number. She clutched the receiver tightly, waiting as the line rang.
“Hello?” came a voice, bright but hurried. “Grandma? What’s up? I’m busy.”
Sarah smiled faintly, though she knew Violet couldn’t see it.
“Hi, Violet, dear. I won’t take much of your time. I just wanted to ask—how do you like the sweater I gave you? Have you been wearing it?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
There was a pause on the other end, just long enough for Sarah to feel uneasy.
“The sweater?” Violet finally said, her tone suddenly lighter. “Oh, yeah, of course, Grandma. It’s great. I wear it all the time.”
“Really?” Sarah asked, her voice softening with hope.
“Yeah, really. I’m sorry, Grandma, but I have to go now. Let’s talk later, okay?”
“Of course, dear,” Sarah said quietly, but the line had already gone dead.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
She lowered the phone slowly, her gaze returning to the sweater. She traced the delicate initials with her fingertips, the weight of unspoken words settling in her chest.
The next day, the air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of autumn leaves as Sarah walked up to her son Robert’s house.
Her steps were deliberate, her small gift bag swinging gently in her hand. She hesitated for a moment before ringing the doorbell.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
When Robert opened the door, his eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“Mom? Hi! You should’ve called first. What brings you here?” he asked, stepping aside to let her in.
“I’m not staying long,” Sarah said softly, her smile warm but hesitant. She held out the bag. “I just wanted to drop off a little something for Violet.”
Robert took the bag, glancing at it curiously. “That’s so sweet of you, Mom. But didn’t you already give her that wonderful sweater? You’re spoiling her.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Sarah shifted her weight, her expression faltering. “I don’t think she liked the sweater…”
Robert frowned, his tone sharpening. “Why would you think that?”
She sighed, meeting his eyes. “I found it yesterday at the donation drive. Someone had thrown it away.”
His face darkened, and his jaw tightened. “What? She threw away your gift? That’s unacceptable.”
“Please, don’t overreact,” Sarah pleaded, placing a gentle hand on his arm. But her words didn’t stop Robert as he stormed into the house, his voice booming.
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“Violet! Get down here now!”
“What? Is it important?” Violet’s voice drifted down the stairs, her tone indifferent.
“Now!” Robert barked, his frustration evident.
Violet appeared at the top of the stairs, her arms crossed and her expression bored. “What’s the big deal?”
Robert didn’t waste a moment. “Where’s the sweater Grandma gave you?”
“In my room, I think. Why?” Violet replied with a shrug, her tone nonchalant.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“It’s not in your room!” Robert’s voice grew louder. “It was at the donation drive for the homeless!”
Violet’s eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked her surprise with defiance. “How do you know about that?”
“So, it’s true?” Robert shouted. “How could you? Apologize to your grandmother right now!”
“No way!” Violet snapped. “That sweater was ugly! I’d never wear it. At least now someone else can use it.”
Robert’s face turned red with anger.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Watch your mouth! Do you have any idea how much love she put into making that for you? It wasn’t just a sweater—it was a piece of her heart!”
Neither of them noticed Sarah quietly slipping out the door, her face a mix of sadness and understanding.
She placed the small gift bag on the porch before walking down the path and out of sight.
When the argument finally subsided, Robert and Violet noticed the bag. Violet bent down and opened it.
Inside was a soft, store-bought sweater in her favorite color. Her eyes widened in recognition.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“This is the one I’ve been asking for all month! How did Grandma know?” she exclaimed, pulling it out.
Robert noticed the folded note tucked inside. He picked it up and began reading aloud.
“Dear Violet, I’m sorry the sweater wasn’t right for you. I asked your mom what you wanted and got you this instead. I hope you like it. Love, Grandma.”
Violet stood frozen, the new sweater clutched tightly to her chest. Her expression softened, guilt washing over her like a wave.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Without a word, she turned and ran out the door.
Robert watched her go, his own frustration melting into quiet concern.
He sighed, hoping this was the moment Violet would finally understand what her grandmother’s love truly meant.
Sarah was sitting in her cozy living room, the soft click of her knitting needles creating a soothing rhythm as she worked on a new project.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the lace curtains, casting warm patterns on the floor. She felt a sense of peace, her hands moving skillfully over the yarn.
The sudden chime of the doorbell broke her focus.
Startled, she set her knitting aside and made her way to the door, smoothing her sweater as she went.
When she opened it, there stood Violet, her face a mixture of determination and regret.
“Hi, Grandma,” Violet said softly, her usual teenage confidence replaced with something much more tender.
“Hello, dear,” Sarah replied, her voice warm but cautious. “How’s the sweater?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“It’s beautiful,” Violet said, her voice trembling. “Thank you so much.”
Sarah smiled gently but waited, sensing there was more Violet wanted to say.
“Grandma,” Violet began, her hands fidgeting nervously, “I came to say I’m sorry. I didn’t appreciate the first sweater you made me.
It was amazing, and I know how much love you put into it. I feel awful for what I did. If I could get it back, I would.”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke, her voice cracking with emotion. Sarah’s own eyes began to shine, and she reached out to gently touch Violet’s cheek.
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“Really?” Sarah asked, her voice full of warmth and understanding.
“Yes,” Violet said firmly, nodding.
Sarah’s smile widened as she walked to the small closet by the door. From the top shelf, she carefully pulled out the original sweater. Turning, she handed it to Violet, who stared at it in disbelief.
“You kept it?” Violet whispered, clutching it tightly.
“Of course,” Sarah said softly. “I thought one day you might want it back.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Violet’s face lit up, and she threw her arms around her grandmother, hugging her tightly. “Thank you, Grandma. Thank you for everything.”
“You’re welcome, my dear,” Sarah whispered, holding her close. “All I want is for you to be happy.”
In that moment, both of them felt the unspoken bond between them grow stronger, their hearts lighter with understanding and love.
Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
If you enjoyed this story, read this one: After my husband of twenty years left me, I struggled to find love again at forty-one. Desperate, I joined a dating site and met a charming man named Juan. I took a leap of faith and traveled to Mexico to surprise him, but it turned out to be the worst decision.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
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