List indicator(s)
- A dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film.
- A indicates a voice-only role.
- A indicates an appearance as a younger version of a pre-existing character.
- A indicates an appearance via archival recordings only.
Some well-known British actors, who have not appeared in the series, were asked in jest why they had not been cast. When David Yates was directing the fifth film, Bill Nighy (who knew Yates personally) said that he hoped the Director would cast him in Harry Potter. "But nobody called", Nighy added. However, in 2009, Yates cast Nighy as Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour in the seventh film. Nighy said, "I am no longer the only English actor not to be in Harry Potter and I am very pleased." Jude Law once quipped, "Nobody's asked me. I was a bit too old for Harry." When a reporter compared Potions professor Horace Slughorn's obsession with famous names to the series' connection to "every notable British actor" in 2009, Jim Broadbent (who plays Slughorn) said, "Well, not every actor gets invited. I know some who are still waiting."
J. K. Rowling gave a speech during the world premiere of the final film in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, on 7 July 2011 in London. Rowling praised the film series' acting talent and announced that there are seven young Harry Potter cast members whom she refers to as "The Big Seven"; they are Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch and Bonnie Wright.
