Random Actors Who Were Incredibly Close To Playing Harry Potter Characters (20 items)

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  (#2) J. K. Rowling

  • 53

  J.K. Rowling nearly played Harry's mother Lily in the first Harry Potter movie. That would have led to some mind-bending symmetry, but Rowling refused, saying, "I really am not cut out to be an actress."
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  (#17) Richard E. Grant

  • 61

  Jason Isaacs has made a career of playing icy villains. So it's probably for the best that he got the role of Lucius Malfoy over Richard E. Grant.
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  (#9) Tilda Swinton

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  Tilda Swinton and Emma Thompson frequently play oddball characters. So perhaps it's not surprising that both were considered for the role of Sybill Trelawney, Hogwart's resident Divinations professor.
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  (#1) Peter O'Toole

  • Dec. at 81 (1932-2013)

  Richard Harris originated the role of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, but he passed away after the second movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Peter O'Toole was considered for the new Dumbledore - he had been close friends with Harris. O'Toole, however, politely refused. The role went to Michael Gambon instead.
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  (#3) Tim Roth

  • 57

  In 2016, Tim Roth revealed that he had been offered the role of Severus Snape. He turned down the role to be in Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes remake, saying, "I wasn't ready to be on a lunchbox." He added, "The right guy got the role" - meaning Alan Rickman, who brought new, soulful depths to the character of the complicated Potions master.
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  (#13) Naomi Watts

  • 50

  According to early reports, Naomi Watts signed on to play Narcissa Malfoy, mother of the loathed Draco. However, her team ended up rejecting the role, and it went to Helen McRory instead.

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