The Harry Potter franchise spans an impressive eight films that tell the story of a boy wizard, his magic school friends, and his fight against the dark wizard, Voldemort. The franchise is one of the most famous franchises of all time, with devoted fans worldwide. Many of the child actors from the films went on to have illustrious acting careers, but many of them either left the industry or their fame didn't stick.
Being a child actor is no easy gig, and many of the film's stars, including Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry himself, questioned whether they could see the series through to the end, let alone commit to acting as a lifelong career. The films inspired a frenzy of excitement and passionate fans who waited at midnight for releases, swapped theories, and wrote fan fiction. Taking part in all eight films was a huge undertaking, even for seasoned actors like the ever-popular Alan Rickman. It's no surprise that these once-child actors from Harry Potter chose to bow out of acting temporarily or permanently once they grew up.
10 James and Oliver Phelps
Fans of the mischief-making Weasley twins might be surprised that these beloved redheads didn't stay in acting. James and Oliver Phelps are twins in real life, and they're both out of the industry. James and Oliver are still involved in the industry and with the franchise, but they don't star in films these days. You can find them appearing at fan events and conventions, as well as helping with Warner Brother's Potter promotions. Their main career is running a podcast called "Normal Not Normal," where they interview other child stars. James and Oliver have found ways to make a career of their experiences with the films without directly starring in other films.
9 Jamie Waylett
The actor who played one of Harry's bullying Slytherin rivals, Vincent Crabbe, had some sad difficulties after his exit from the films. Jamie Waylett didn't appear in the final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, due to his arrest in 2009. He was apprehended for growing cannabis plants in his mother's home. He had to perform community service which kept him out of the final film. He apologized profusely to fans but had trouble with the law again when he was arrested for participating in a London riot. Waylett's representatives reported that the young actor struggled with being in the spotlight, and he never revived his acting career.
8 Devon Murray
The Irish actor who played Harry's lovable friend, Seamus Finnigan, had some acting credits before getting cast in the Potter films. Devon Murray was in the film adaptation of Angela's Ashes, so he was no stranger to a film set. However, he's another star who struggled with the fame and fortune the films bestowed him. He got a reputation for partying too hard and spent all the money he made on the movies, reportedly on horses, cars, and property. He lost a lawsuit and had to pay his agent thousands of pounds in fees. Devon decided to step back from acting and settle down in the country with his family.
7 Evanna Lynch
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When Evanna Lynch was cast as the quirky Luna Lovegood, she lived out every fan's dream! Evanna was a massive fan of Harry Potter before her casting and could recite trivia about all the characters. Evanna was surprised to discover that her dream was also a ton of hard work. She had limited acting experience before getting cast in the films. Since the series ended, she has shifted her focus from acting to vegan activism. She launched a line of vegan-friendly beauty products called Kinder Beauty in 2018. Since Harry Potter, Evanna has taken on a few roles, such as starring in My Name is Emily. Still, she directs most of her efforts toward her charities, activism activities, and businesses.
6 Bonnie Wright
As Ron Weasley's little sister and Harry Potter's future wife, Bonnie Wright played a huge role as Ginny Weasley. Bonnie was cast at the young age of 9 and stuck out the whole franchise. She went to school to study film and television, and stayed in the industry, but this time she is behind the camera. She recently directed " Melt," a music video from the artist Gillian Maguire. She's directed several commercials and short films and hopes to direct a feature film one day. Her other big passion is environmental activism. Bonnie seems satisfied with concentrating on production rather than acting. She has remained active in Harry Potter fandom events and reunion activities, but she has made it clear that her acting is not her passion, and her adult goals have evolved.
5 Sean Biggerstaff
Sean Biggerstaff originally auditioned for the role of Percy Weasley and was surprised when he was asked to read for the role of Quidditch captain Oliver Wood instead. The Scottish actor explained that he felt he was too scrawny to fit the part, but he won it in the end! Since the franchise's end, Sean has acted in a few bit parts but has mainly bowed out of acting. He appeared in a stage show, has done brief appearances in TV shows, and starred in a film called Cashback in 2006. Since that time, though, Sean has stayed out of the spotlight and taken a quiet approach to his after-Potter career. His Instagram shows him enjoying a quiet life in Scotland with his girlfriend.
4 Hugh Mitchell
Hugh Mitchell is known for playing Harry's biggest fan Colin Creevey. He made a big impression in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as an excitable Muggleborn that wanted to take pictures of everything at Hogwarts to show his parents. Fans will be delighted to know that Hugh Mitchell hung on to Colin's love of cameras. He's a professional photographer today! He has taken award-winning portraits and entrancing nature photos. Hugh acted in a few films in the years following Harry Potter but left the industry in 2012. His most recognizable role may be the young Silas in The Da Vinci Code or as Prince Edward in ITV's Henry VIII. These days, Hugh's focus is on his photography. Once a shutterbug, always a shutterbug.
3 Josh Herdman
Josh Herdman made his name by playing one of Draco Malfoy's henchman, Goyle. It's no surprise that the muscle of the group is still famous on camera but less for his acting and more for his athletic abilities. While he has taken on minor roles, he spent more time training as a cage fighter and recently appeared on the television show The Games, a reality competition that pits celebrities against each other in sporting competitions from swimming to cycling.
While Josh has maintained an active acting career, appearing in several films and TV shows, including Marcella, The Man Who Fell to Earth, and Robin Hood, he intentionally took a break from acting to train as a cage fighter. The results of his intense training have left many Potter fans saying Josh is unrecognizable!
2 Emma Watson
Fans of the bright and brilliant Hermione Granger will be surprised that girl-power icon Emma Watson quit acting for a while. After finishing Harry Potter, she decided to crack the books like Hermione and enrolled at Brown University in Rhode Island. She struggled with her fame while trying to be a diligent student, saying that everyone stared the first time she entered the dining hall. She also had to have bodyguards escort her to school events.
It seems clear that Emma wanted to try living life outside the spotlight because she persevered and earned her Bachelor in English and Literature. Fans of Emma know that she eventually returned to acting, most notably as the beloved Disney princess, Belle, in the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast. But while Emma has returned to the big-screen, she focuses a lot of work on charity and activism, so it's unclear how often we might see the actress take on starring roles in the future.
1 Rupert Grint
Like Emma Watson, Rupert Grint also considered quitting acting when the series ended. One of Rupert's most famous anecdotes is his story about buying a van and running an ice cream truck. In the Harry Potter reunion special on HBO, Rupert revealed that he often wondered what it would be like to walk away from the films and the pressures of being a star. He took a few movie roles but stepped out of the spotlight after the Potter films. Rupert struggled to break away from the producer's image of him as a sidekick. He took some film roles before eventually backing away from big screen roles to focus on television roles and his personal life.
These days, you can catch Rupert's impressive work on M. Night Shyamalan's eerie Apple TV show, Servant. Rupert has gained lots of accolades for his performance in the spooky thriller.