Jamie Campbell Bower's Unexpected Path to Harry Potter Fame

Jamie Campbell Bower didn’t need any magic to land his role in Harry Potter.

Actually, having the right connections played a crucial role in him becoming young Gellert Grindelwald, who debuted in the franchise’s seventh movie, titled “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows“.

Sure, why not? Seems fun and exciting.

Although Jamie’s striking looks make an impression, they are relatively short-lived. This is one reason why he continues to chuckle at the movie’s director inquiring if he needed a stand-in for stunts.

In ‘Deathly Hallows’, you only see me once – when I’m snatching the Elder Wand and leaping out of the window,” he joked. “I also recall director David Yates approaching me while we were shooting that particular scene, which was my only day on set. He asked if I wanted a stunt double, to which I responded, ‘David, if I have a stunt double, I won’t be in your movie. So no, I don’t want a stunt double. I want to be in your film, for goodness’ sake.’

Despite having starred in just one movie featuring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Ruppert Grint, and Tom Felton – who played Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Draco Malfoy respectively – that experience remains a precious memory for Jamie.

Jamie, who later reprised his role in the prequel series “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” shared that everyone was extremely friendly during their initial encounter. He specifically recalled Tom Felton, whom he has recently met, being particularly welcoming and warm towards him.

At a recent gathering, there I was, and as if it were destiny, he caught my eye, turned to me, and whispered words that left me spellbound: “We’re incredibly fortunate to have you on this project.” The enchanting Stranger Things star reminisced. In that moment, the thoughts racing through my mind could be best described as a jumble of disbelief, excitement, and a tad of skepticism – after all, he was none other than Draco Malfoy! But his words were not just empty compliments; they were filled with warmth and affection.

Last November, I was fortunate to join Jamie, Tom, and other esteemed Hogwarts alumni such as Devon Murray (Seamus Finnegan), Louis Cordice (Blaise Zabini), and Stanislav Yanevski (Viktor Krum) at the Enter the Wizarding World 2 Convention held in Paris. It was a magical gathering indeed!

On December 9th, Tom snapped a selfie at the wizarding world and posted it on Instagram, writing “Wizarding world selfie” as the caption.

The notorious Hogwarts villain hasn’t kept secret his attendance at cast reunion events; in fact, he often speaks openly about his close relationships with his fellow actors from the movies, many years after the filming concluded.

In an interview with TopMob News in April 2024, he expressed that our group is like both close friends and family. Although we’re not usually together physically, we consider ourselves a unique family. And, I can assure you, on behalf of all cast and crew members, that the fans are the very essence behind our existence.

Keep reading to see what the stars of Harry Potter are up to today…

As a devotee, I can’t help but express my deep-seated gratitude for the transformative role that catapulted me to stardom. Yet, I’ve been meticulously working on shedding any remnants of a child actor from my acting persona. My journey began with my bold and daring debut in Equus on Broadway back in 2007, followed by the more optimistic How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in 2011. Over the years, I’ve found myself oscillating between the stage (The Cripple of Inishmaan, Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead) and the silver screen (The Woman in Black, Victor Frankenstein), often drawn towards dramatic or bizarre roles.

Without a doubt, Radcliffe has shown a knack for tackling diverse roles with a hint of irony, be it as a morphine-dependent doctor on TV, a minor angel trying to thwart the end of the world in Miracle Workers, or even a flatulent corpse in Swiss Army Man. Following these unconventional performances, he appeared as the antagonist alongside Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in their 2022 rom-com The Lost City. More recently, he took on the role of musician “Weird Al” Yankovic in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, a comedic biopic.

Since 2010, Radcliffe has been sober and candid about his past struggles with alcohol, which surfaced as the Harry Potter series drew to a close. At that time, Radcliffe found himself more famous than he had ever imagined and was anxious about what lay ahead in his life.

As a dedicated admirer, I can attest that for me, the most effective method to brush off the sensation of being observed is by indulging heavily – almost to the point of intoxication. This was my take during an interview on ‘Off Camera With Sam Jones’ back in 2019.

Later on, when you find yourself quite intoxicated, you might realize, “Ah, it seems like more people are observing me now since I’m getting quite tipsy. Maybe I should drink some more to help me forget about this a bit more.

Radcliffe has been dating actress Erin Darke ever since they worked together on the set of the 2013 film, ‘Kill Your Darlings’. In this production, Radcliffe portrayed the role of “Howl” poet Alan Ginsberg.

Born in Paris and raised in Oxfordshire, the young actress had only a handful of school plays under her belt when she was chosen to play Hermione Granger for her debut professional acting role. Following the completion of seven Harry Potter films, Watson divided her time between studying English literature at Brown University (graduating in 2014) and appearing in independent films like “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “The Bling Ring.” In the latter film, she broke free from Hermione’s rule-abiding persona by portraying a member of a group of spoiled yet misfit young thieves who began burglarizing homes belonging to celebrities.

In her career as a model for brands like Burberry and Lancôme, Emma Watson starred as Belle in the successful 2017 live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, and she portrayed Meg, the older traditionally minded March sister, in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women released in 2019. Additionally, Watson has taken on an activist role, focusing on issues of gender inequality. In this capacity, she launched the HeForShe campaign as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in 2014 and continues to be a vocal proponent for equality within the film industry and beyond.

Previous romantic partners of hers were Will Adamowicz, Matthew Janney, William “Mack” Knight, and Leo Robinson. Currently, she’s contentedly in a relationship with Brandon Green. In May 2021, there were rumors about her potential retirement from acting, which she addressed on Twitter by saying, “Speculations about whether my career is ‘inactive or not’ are strategies to generate clicks every time they are proven true or false.

The girl with red hair from Essex seemed to emerge naturally, prepared to portray Harry’s closest friend, Ron Weasley. Grint, who earned his first significant post-Potter recognition by participating in the Olympic Torch relay prior to the 2012 London Olympics and deemed it an “unforgettable” experience, has predominantly acted in British productions. Notably, he headlined BBC One’s adaptation of the Agatha Christie mystery, The ABC Murders, and Sky One’s dark comedy, Sick Note, where he played a typical Joe whose life takes an unexpected turn after being given a false cancer diagnosis but decides to keep up the charade. (Lindsay Lohan was among his co-stars.) His filmography includes CBGB, focusing on the renowned punk-rock club in New York, and the French comedy, Moonwalkers. Currently, Grint can be seen on Apple TV+ in Servant, a supernatural mystery series by M. Night Shyamalan, which returned for its second season, and he appeared in the writer and director’s horror film, Knock at the Cabin.

Starting from the point when I landed the role of Ron, my life underwent a dramatic transformation,” Grint shared with Radio Times in 2018. “It was an unusual period and it took me quite some time to fully comprehend it. Even now, being unnoticed can still be challenging at times. Sometimes all you want is a trip to B&Q.

In addition, he shared that following Potter, he felt unsure about his next steps. He experienced a sense of missing out on ordinary experiences and lost touch with many school friends. To reclaim a sense of normal life, he decided to take a break. Despite not being overly ambitious, there’s always been a part of him that desires to prove himself after finishing Potter. However, he is also inherently insecure by nature.

As a dedicated follower recounting the experience, I can say that whatever method Grint employed during his audition truly resonated with M. Night Shyamalan. According to Shyamalan, speaking to EW.com, “He walked in and showcased an extraordinary transformation during his audition. I’m hard-pressed to recall such a remarkable metamorphosis from child actor to adult actor in my professional journey – it’s truly astounding.

Back in May 2020, Evan Grint and his long-term partner Georgia Groome brought their newborn daughter, Wednesday G. Grint, into the world for the very first time.

There’s no question that the individual once known for playing the bashful character Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter has garnered significant attention lately due to his mature good looks, with reports of Lewis’ adult attractiveness spreading far and wide.

Lewis is primarily known for his work on English stages and screens, such as the BBC One miniseries “The Syndicate”, the heart-wrenching film “Me Before You” from 2016, and the 2018 revenge thriller “Terminal” alongside Margot Robbie. In 2015, he expressed his delight in portraying a soldier on BBC Three’s dramedy “Bluestone 42”, which centers around a bomb disposal squad in Afghanistan.

Lewis shared with RadioTimes.com that being part of Potter was exceptional and unlike any other, yet he’s never felt as connected or proud of a project as he does with Bluestone 42. He’s thoroughly enjoyed being involved in it, more so than any acting role before, absolutely.

In January 2020, on the Mantality podcast, he mentioned that he had been working on Channel 5’s adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small, a modern take of the beloved BBC show from 1978 to 1990, which was based on James Herriot’s books. Some might not recognize the title, but Lewis explained it as “a bit of a British institution” (and it has since been shown on Masterpiece on PBS).

He’s a rather private individual, but it’s been established that he tied the knot with Angela Jones back in 2018. In October of 2019, they paid a visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter World, which happened to be the same location where their paths first crossed. At present, they reside in Florida, a place dear to Angela as it’s her hometown.

In reality, the infamous Draco Malfoy, who won two MTV Movie Awards for Best Villain, was actually a golden-hearted individual with platinum hair. During the summer of 2011, he appeared in “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” but since then, he has been featured in films with less emphasis on CGI, notably the historical dramas “Belle” and “A United Kingdom.

He left a lasting impression on fans in 2016 when he appeared as Julian “Dr. Alchemy” Albert on the CW’s The Flash. Previously, Felton had starred in sci-fi drama Origin, available on YouTube Premium, and various films such as Ophelia, Braking for Whales, and Burial – a World War II thriller. Besides acting, he is also a musician and has released multiple EPs. His Instagram account, filled with homemade soup recipes, guitar sessions, dog companionship, and occasional Harry Potter reunions, is one of the happiest corners on the web.

For seven years, Felton was romantically involved with Jade Olivia Gordon, who later became Draco Malfoy’s character’s wife in a future scene. This relationship ended in 2016. In 2022, the actor published his memoir titled “Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard“, where he shared his experiences with the challenges of child stardom, substance abuse problems, and clarified rumors about his relationship with Emma Watson.

He confessed, “I’ve harbored a hidden affection for Emma, although it may not be what others would expect. This doesn’t mean that we’ve never felt a connection. We certainly have, but at varying moments in time.

Although no romantic feelings blossomed from their initial connection, they continued to cherish each other deeply as friends. In Felton’s words, “I don’t believe I ever fell in love with Emma romantically, but I had an affection and respect for her that I could never articulate to anyone else.

At age ten, the actress initially portrayed Ginny Weasley, transitioning from being “Ron’s younger sister” to Harry Potter‘s romantic interest throughout the movie series. In 2011, she received the Most Unconventional Style Award at the Rodial Beauty Awards and showcased her fashion debut during London Fashion Week.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d share my journey: After graduating from London College of Communication, I established BonBonLumière, my very own production company, back in 2012. My acting credits include films like “After the Dark” and “Who Killed Nelson Nutmeg?” But, I’m not just an actress; I’ve also penned and directed some short films, such as “Separate We Come, Separate We Go,” starring David Thewlis (Remus Lupin), “Know Thyself” with Christian Coulson (Tom Riddle), and “Medusa’s Ankles” featuring Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy). In 2021, I published my debut book, “Go Gently,” providing insights for readers on how to contribute meaningfully to the climate movement.

In 2019, Wright gathered with Watson, Felton, Lewis, and Evanna Lynch for a reunion. Somebody wisely captured the moment in a photograph. Wright titled the image “Time Turning,” emphasizing the feeling with a lightning bolt symbol.

Previously, she was betrothed to Jamie Campbell Bower, a prominent actor known for his roles as Sweeney Todd and young Gellert Grindelwald in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. However, they ended their relationship in 2012. Following this, she spent several years with Simon Hammerstein before finding her current partner, Andrew Lococo, in 2020. The couple tied the knot in March 2022 and were blessed with a son named Elio in September 2023.

It’s worth noting that the actors who portrayed Fred and George Weasley, Ron’s older twin brothers known for their pranks at Hogwarts, were actual twins. The elder one, Oliver, is 13 minutes older and has a mole on the right side of his neck. They have continued to play twins in various movies such as “Our Own Worst Enemy” and “Last Night in Soho,” directed by Edgar Wright. Interestingly, while James, the other twin, has taken on more individual acting roles.

Here’s another method of distinguishing between them: Since 2015, Oliver has been wedded to Katie Humpage and they share two daughters; in contrast, James married Annika Ostle the year after that.

The siblings continue to be just as tight-knit as before, having jointly hosted a podcast known as “Not So Normal” in the past. On this platform, they conversed with their former on-screen companions like Evanna Lynch, Katie Leung and Alfred Enoch.

In the year 2024, the identical pair additionally took on the role of co-hosts for the baking competition show titled Harry Potter: Magical Chefs.

Originally part of the Hogwarts student cast as Dean Thomas in Gryffindor, a British actor then pursued a career in English theater and made appearances on shows like Broadchurch and Sherlock. Later, he played the complex character Wes, a law student with good intentions but eventual moral downfall and tragic end, for four seasons on How to Get Away With Murder. In the series’ surprising final season of 2020, he returned in a cameo as—SPOILER WARNING—Wes’ own son. More recently, he has been seen on Apple TV+’s Foundation and is an alumnus of The Queen’s College at Oxford University.

Chris Columbus was searching for a teenager aged between 15 to 17 to portray the 16-year-old Tom Riddle in “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” but it was 23-year-old Coulson who ultimately landed the role. Since then, he has been active in both film and television, gaining significant recognition for his roles as Damien George on “Nashville”, Sebastian in the critically acclaimed Amazon Prime series “Mozart in the Jungle” (which won a Golden Globe), and Benjamin on the Hulu reboot of “High Fidelity,” a modern adaptation of the book-turned-movie, with Zoë Kravitz as the central character who runs a record store in Brooklyn.

After successfully securing the role of Harry Potter’s love interest, Cho Chang, during a competition against around 3,000 other contenders, the classically trained Scottish actress has appeared in theater and TV productions in her home country. Some of her notable works include “White Dragon” and “Chimerica” on TV, as well as the series “The Nest” on BBC One. In films, she portrayed the daughter of a character played by Jackie Chan (whose death due to a terrorist bombing was avenged in the 2017 action-thriller “The Foreigner”). Currently, she is starring in the Amazon Prime TV series “The Peripheral,” which has been renewed for a second season. Leung announced on Instagram in December 2022 that she had given birth to her first child, a son named Wolf.

In March 2021, Leung, a person of Chinese origin, spoke openly about the online hostility she faced following the announcement of her role.

In conversation, Leung shared that at one point, they found themselves browsing personal information online and stumbled upon a Harry Potter fan site. Upon reading through the comments, they encountered numerous racist remarks. Furthermore, someone had created a hate website, where if you disagreed with the casting choice, clicking a button would increase a tally of dissenters. Leung expressed how appalling this situation was, stating, “It’s just so awful.

Wow, I can’t believe it’s been so long since the young actor who brought the tragic hero Cedric Diggory to life in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” has been in the spotlight… Where is he now?

Indeed, it’s worth mentioning: I found myself cast as the main character in another popular Young Adult series, igniting emotions worldwide, namely, _The Twilight Saga_. During this time, I portrayed the enigmatic vampire, Edward Cullen, across five films. Alongside my on-screen partner, the talented Kristen Stewart, we navigated our shared journey.

After that, he has made a name for himself in acting by delivering intense performances in independent films such as “Maps to the Stars,” “Cosmopolis,” “The Rover,” “Good Time,” and “The Lighthouse.” However, he switched back to large-scale productions when he took on the famous cape and scowl as the main character in the DC superhero film “The Batman” released in 2022.

Previously, Robert Pattinson was betrothed to FKA twigs; however, since 2018, he has been in a relationship with model and actress Suki Waterhouse. The couple got engaged in December 2023, and they were blessed with their first child in March 2024.

As a devoted admirer, let me share my fascination: Tall and graceful, Fleur Delacour, hailing from the prestigious Beauxbatons Academy in France, was chosen to represent her school in the thrilling Triwizard Tournament. In a twist of fate, she wound up tying the knot with none other than the cool older brother of my beloved Ron – Bill Weasley.

Ever since, Poésy has consistently worked across film and television, gaining significant attention through roles in “Gossip Girl,” “In Bruges,” “The Tunnel” (both English and French versions), and “Genius: Picasso” on National Geographic Channel. The talented French actress also appeared in Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet,” opposite her past competitor from the “Triwizard Tournament,” Robert Pattinson, and in “The Essex Serpent” on Apple TV+. Upcoming projects include “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon,” an eagerly awaited spinoff focusing on beloved character Daryl, portrayed by Norman Reedus, from the zombie series.

Poésy has a son, Liam, who was born in 2017, and welcomed a second child in 2019.

She shared with The Guardian that today’s thoughts have deepened her connection with women from past centuries. The medical aspect of pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood, she noted, invokes profound reflections. This experience has only served to intensify her respect and admiration for women.

The ethereal actress charmed her roles as the quirky yet courageous Luna Lovegood, debuting in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. However, despite stealing the spotlight, she confessed that finding acting jobs became challenging following her involvement with the legendary Harry Potter series.

In 2019, Lynch shared with Bustle that it felt strange since we were receiving loads of fan mail and a lot of attention, yet this wasn’t mirrored in reality. It proved difficult for me. For some time, I believe, I yearned for the validation that comes from being part of a major film series, where everything you did was praised and showered with admiration.

Since 2015, Lynch has been a vegan. In 2018, she launched a clean and cruelty-free beauty brand called Kinder Beauty Box. She also co-hosts a podcast titled Just Beings alongside Dr. Melanie Joy. In 2018, she placed third on the show Dancing With the Stars, and in 2021, she published her first book entitled The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting.

She shared with Bustle that she has maintained a particularly strong relationship with Katie Leung (Pansy Parkington) and Scarlett Byrne, planning to celebrate New Year’s Eve together in 2020. She also often sees her fellow cast members at conventions. “I believe we’ve grown closer since the films,” Lynch stated. “Now that we’re all grown-ups, it seems like our bond has deepened. For instance, I recently spent time with James and Oliver [Phelps] this past weekend, whom I didn’t interact much with during the films because when you’re 14, they were 18 or 19, which seemed like a significant age difference. But as adults, that gap doesn’t feel so large anymore.

After his time in Slytherin, Draco’s associate Goyle has cleaned up his image significantly. Most notably, he has been seen in the British crime drama “Marcella” alongside Anna Friel, the 2018 remake of “Robin Hood”, the crime miniseries “Murder at White House Farm”, and the spy drama “Alex Rider”. In 2016, Goyle embarked on a career in Mixed Martial Arts, but more recently, he appeared in an episode of Disney+’s “Andor”.

Herdman is also dad to a son, Morgan, with longtime partner Jessica Worth.

Similar to many Harry Potter antagonists, Dudley Dursley was quite amiable in everyday life. Halfway through the series, Melling began an intense exercise routine and transformed so much that he nearly had to be recast before “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”. However, he managed to continue as Harry’s chubby, spoiled cousin by using prosthetics. Although hardly resembling his earlier self, Melling has continued to act in various productions since then, appearing in films like “The Lost City of Z”, the Coen brothers’ “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”, and the HBO series “His Dark Materials”.

More recently, Melling collaborated once again with Joel Coen to portray Malcolm in the director’s adaptation of “Macbeth”. This time around, Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand played the murderous, ambitious leading roles. Additionally, Melling was seen as Harry Beltik in the popular Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit”, and he co-starred alongside Charlize Theron in the action movie “The Old Guard” from the streaming service. Last year, his portrayal of a young Edgar Allan Poe in “The Pale Blue Eye” received critical acclaim.

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2025-03-21 16:20

Jamie Campbell Bower’s Unexpected Path to Harry Potter Fame

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