10 Iconic Actors Who Almost Starred in Harry Potter & What Went Wrong

10. Kate Winslet as Helena Ravenclaw

One of the most prominent British actresses, Kate Winslet was offered the part of Helena Ravenclaw’s ghost. While a small role, it would’ve allowed her to work a little more with Alan Rickman who she absolutely adored… But Winslet’s agents rejected the offer without even telling her about it, and the part went to Kelly Macdonald.

9. Rosamund Pike as Rita Skeeter

It’s wild to even imagine how different movie fans’ perception of Rita Skeeter, the frustratingly annoying reporter, would’ve been if she was played by Rosamund Pike! The star actress received an offer to portray this thorn in Hermione’s back, but she had scheduling conflicts and had to refuse, so Miranda Richardson picked it up.

8. Naomi Watts as Narcissa Malfoy

Another case of agents gone rogue, Naomi Watts almost played Narcissa Malfoy. Early reports suggested she’d even signed on for the part officially, but whatever really happened there, the actress’s team ended up breaking the contract. Helen McRory was the second choice, and she was a magnificent Narcissa, anyway.

7. Robin Williams as Rubeus Hagrid

One of the most famous stories about an actor who missed out on a Harry Potter role, Robin Williams really wanted to play Hagrid — and he looked the part, too. But since JKR famously had the “British-only” policy for her books’ adaptations, Williams had to be rejected: he wasn’t British, after all. Robbie Coltrane nailed the part, instead.

6. Robson Green as Sirius Black

At one point, TV star Robson Green was seriously considered for the role of Sirius Black, proving yet again that making the Marauders generation much older than they were in the books has always been deliberate. Green would’ve looked more like the Book Sirius, but we love Gary Oldman ’s version of him too much to complain.

5. David Thewlis as Quirinus Quirrell

An amusing case of a rejection being a blessing in disguise, David Thewlis initially auditioned to portray Professor Quirrell in the first movie, but the part went to Ian Hart. This worked out in Thewlis’s favor, in the end: the actor later booked the role of Remus Lupin who was a far more significant character who was there until the end.

4. Jamie Campbell-Bower as Tom Riddle

Jamie Campbell-Bower’s story resembles David Thewlis’s but only on the surface level. The actor was considered for the part of young Tom Riddle but was rejected in favor of Frank Dillane. Campbell-Bower later got to play young Gellert Grindelwald, but though both those parts were short flashbacks, the latter only lasted a second.

3. Tim Roth as Severus Snape

While Alan Rickman proved to be the best possible choice for Severus Snape later down the line, it was Tim Roth who received the offer first. Roth didn’t feel like starring in Harry Potter to begin with — and had another offer from Tim Burton lined up. He rejected the part of the Potions Master to star in Planet of the Apes, instead.

2. Peter O'Toole as Albus Dumbledore 2.0

After the original Dumbledore actor, Richard Harris, unfortunately passed away after the second movie, the character had to be recast. Peter O'Toole was Harris’s close friend and looked the part, so the team reached out to him. The actor politely refused, not willing to take over his friend’s role under such tragic circumstances.

1. Sir Ian McKellen as Albus Dumbledore 2.0

Famous for his portrayal of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, Sir Ian McKellen was also offered to play Dumbledore after Richard Harris’s passing. McKellen didn’t accept it, either, and also because of Harris: the late actor didn’t approve of his acting, and the Gandalf star didn’t feel like desecrating his colleague’s memory by taking over his part. The team eventually settled on Michael Gambon who nailed it.