The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is stirring again, and no, it’s not another detour into the Fantastic Beasts franchise. With HBO’s Harry Potter TV reboot officially in the works, fans are preparing themselves for a fresh take on the beloved book series, only this time, it will be stretched across multiple seasons with a brand-new cast. The promise is that the TV series will be a more faithful adaptation and there will be room to explore more corners of the stories that the films just had to rush past.
And while that is exciting news, it also makes you want to look back at the original Harry Potter movies and think of the performances that did not get the spotlight they deserved. Because honestly, when we think Harry Potter, we think of the trio. Harry, Hermione, Ron. Maybe Snape. Maybe Malfoy. Maybe McGonagall. But the movies were packed with an enormous cast of characters and some only appeared in a scene or two. And the actors behind them? They brought texture to roles that could have easily been forgotten. Before the reboot reimagines everything, let’s take a look at the underrated performances from the Harry Potter movies that deserve way more love than they’ve gotten.
10
Gemma Jones as Madam Pomfrey
‘Chamber of Secrets,’ ‘Half-Blood Prince,’ ‘Deathly Hallows – Part 2’
Gemma Jones doesn’t get nearly enough credit for her brilliant turn as Madam Pomfrey, Hogwarts’s no-nonsense matron of the hospital wing. She first pops up in Chamber of Secrets, tending to petrified students with the kind of calmness and efficiency that feels innate. Jones brings a grounded vibe to Pomfrey as someone who has seen it all — dragon bites, cursed objects, and vanishing bones.
She returns in Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows – Part 2, always tucked into the background, but also always with a purpose. She is essential to Hogwarts because she’s the one who mends Harry’s arm after Lockhart’s botched spell, treats Ron after his poisoning, and helps the wounded while utter chaos unfolds around the school.
9
Ciarán Hinds as Aberforth Dumbledore
‘Deathly Hallows – Part 2’
Ciarán Hinds steps into Deathly Hallows Part 2 with just one film to make an impression, and he nails it. As Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus’s estranged brother, he brings a gruff energy that alters the entire tone of the movie. He’s not here for prophecy; he’s the guy who has lived through the fallout of his brother’s choices and isn’t afraid to call it out.
Hinds plays Aberforth like a man who is brilliant but prefers the company of goats. His scenes in the Hog’s Head are laced with bitterness, but his protective side comes out when he helps Harry sneak into Hogwarts. Aberforth’s role is small, but it’s a crucial pivot. He helps us understand the truth about Ariana. That moment, when he says Albus gave her “everything… but time,” still gives us goosebumps.
8
John Hurt as Garrick Ollivander
‘Sorcerer’s Stone,’ ‘Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2’
John Hurt’s Ollivander is only in three movies, namely Sorcerer’ Stone, Deathly Hallows – Part 1, and Part 2, but every time he is on-screen, he brings this eerie, ancient energy that intrigues you. In Sorcerer’s Stone, he’s the first adult to really hint at the weight of Harry’s destiny. “The wand chooses the wizard,” he says with a rasp in his voice, and suddenly, the whole thing feels bigger.
Hurt brings life to a man who has spent decades communing with wands, half in his world and half in another, but it is in Deathly Hallows that he really shows his range. Tortured by Voldemort, Ollivander is haunted yet still sharp. He gives Harry the lowdown on the Elder Want and you can see the fear and fascination dancing in his eyes. In his final scene, he warns Harry that Voldemort will always be one step ahead.
7
Fiona Shaw as Petunia Dursley
‘Sorcerer’s Stone’ to ‘Deathly Hallows – Part 1’
Fiona Shaw plays the role of Petunia Dursley, Harry Potter’s Muggle aunt who shapes the emotional undercurrent of the series without ever being in the spotlight. From Sorcerer’s Stone through Deathly Hallows – Part 1, she infuses the character with a tightly wound mix of repression, jealousy, and fear. She is not just the uptight aunt who hates magic, but a woman torn by the loss of her sister to a world she never understood and could never be a part of.
Shaw’s scenes at Privet Drive are always charged. In Deathly Hallows – Part 1, when she almost speaks about Lily before stopping herself, Shaw gives us a glimpse of Petunia’s grief. Her importance lies in the fact that she is the first adult Harry ever knows, and she’s cold, dismissive, and painfully ordinary, which sets the tone for Harry’s early life.
6
Natalia Tena as Nymphadora Tonks
‘Order of the Phoenix’ to ‘Deathly Hallows – Part 2’
From the get-go, when she appears in Order of the Phoenix as Tonks, Natalia Tena is electric. There’s also a punky charm to her, with the bright hair, clumsy steps, and a grin that feels rebellious. Tena plays Tonks as someone trying her best to keep things light in a world that is getting darker by the day.
She’s in Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and both Deathly Hallows films, and while her screen time is limited, she makes every second count. Her chemistry with Lupin is real and her presence in the Order balances out the older, battle-worn members. Tonks deserves more love because she’s one of the few characters who shows us how war wears people. She fights in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, helps guard Hogwarts, and is there at the Battle of Hogwarts, while pregnant.
5
Helen McCrory as Narcissa Malfoy
‘Half-Blood Prince’ to ‘Deathly Hallows – Part 2’
Helen McCrory portrays Narcissa Malfoy with nuance and subtlety. Introduced in Half-Blood Prince, she is clearly not as flamboyant as Bellatrix or as scheming as Lucius, but that’s the whole point. McCrory is playing a woman walking a tightrope. She is desperate to protect her son while being surrounded by forces she cannot control. A major scene is when she is pleading with Snape to protect Draco because you see her quiet desperation.
And in Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Narcissa delivers one of the most pivotal moments in the entire series with just a whisper of “Is he alive?” That lie to Voldemort saves Harry’s life and turns the tide of the war. McCrory’s performance as Narcissa is underrated even though her impact is massive. She is not in the thick of battles, but when she walks into the Forbidden Forest and chooses her son over Voldemort, that changes everything.
4
Timothy Spall as Peter Pettigrew
‘Prisoner of Azkaban’ to ‘Deathly Hallows – Part 1’
In Prisoner of Azkaban, Timothy Spall delivers an interesting take on Peter Pettigrew, also known as Wormtail. It is revealed in one of the series’ most intense twists that the rat Scabbers is actually a Death Eater in hiding. Spall leans into Pettigrew’s twitchy, cowardly personality with a physicality that is almost rodent-like. The hunched posture, darting eyes, and that nervous lip-smacking make him feel like he’s one second away from bolting.
Across the movies, especially in Goblet of Fire and Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Spall’s character is constantly trying to survive, even at the cost of betraying everyone he has ever known. What makes Pettigrew underrated is how central he is to the entire arc of Voldemort’s return. He’s the one who brings Voldemort back to life in Goblet of Fire, and he’s also the reason Sirius spent twelve years in Azkaban. And yet, we rarely talk about him.
3
Shirley Henderson as Moaning Myrtle
‘Chamber of Secrets’ and ‘Goblet of Fire’
Moaning Myrtle is played by Shirley Henderson in Chamber of Secrets and Goblet of Fire. She is the perpetually moaning and melodramatic teenage ghost who haunts the girls’ bathroom. Henderson, who was in her mid-30s when she played the character, absorbs Myrtle’s tragic backstory with a voice that’s high-pitched, whiny, and weirdly endearing. She turns the ghost into a hormonal, attention-starved teenager who died in the worst way and never got over it.
Henderson gives Myrtle a theatrical flair as she swoops in and out of toilets, sobs over her death, and crushes on Harry with this awkward intensity, and it’s both hilarious and sad to watch. Myrtle’s scenes are short, but they have an impact. She’s the one who helps Harry figure out the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets, and later, gives him crucial info about the golden egg in Goblet of Fire. Without her, he’d be toast in the Triwizard Tournament. So yes, Henderson turns Moaning Myrtle into something oddly iconic.
2
Frank Dillane as Young Tom Riddle
‘Half-Blood Prince’
Frank Dillane only gets one scene in Half-Blood Prince, but boy does he make it count. As the 16-year-old Tom Riddle, he’s the version of Voldemort that’s still human. Still curious, but already terrifying. Dillane plays him with confidence, the kind that’s too mature for his age. There’s no shouting or theatrics, but his conversation with Dumbledore in the orphanage is still about control. His cold stare and clipped speech are chilling to the bone.
Dillane’s Riddle knows how to manipulate and ask questions that sound innocent but are anything but. He practically lays the groundwork for Voldemort’s psyche. He shows us the boy who collected trophies from his victims, who already knew he was “special,” and who asked about Horcruxes like he was asking for extra homework. His scenes are a spoiler alert for the evil Voldemort becomes.
1
David Thewlis as Remus Lupin
‘Prisoner of Azkaban’ to ‘Deathly Hallows – Part 2’
Finally, we have David Thewlis playing Remus Lupin. As soon as we’re introduced to Lupin in Prisoner of Azkaban, we know he’s the kind of teacher we wish we had. Lupin is gentle and smart and quietly haunted. He is in five films total, but the first one is where Thewlis truly shines, playing the character with a softness that hides a sadness. He is the werewolf professor who teaches Harry the Patronus Charm, shares stories about James and Lily, and treats students with respect.
Lupin’s importance is massive, but he never gets the spotlight he deserves. He is part of the original Order of the Phoenix, fights in multiple battles, and still finds time to be a mentor without ever overdosing it. He gives Harry real emotional context for his parents, and later, in Deathly Hallows, he struggles with fatherhood and fear. His death in the Battle of Hogwarts isn’t given much importance either, but Thewlis makes Lupin human, graceful, and unforgettable.
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