13 British Actors Who Avoided Being in “Harry Potter”

Veteran actor Bill Nighy just announced that he will be in the final installment of the young wizard franchise Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Who does that leave as the UK’s big name non-Potter participants?

By: Eric Alt
07/01/2009 03:10 pm

Ever since the Harry Potter films went into development, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before each and every working British actor would get ensnared in its casting vortex. With multiple new characters in each installment (and some untimely deaths), it’s a wonder that these 13 well-known faces managed to avoid donning cloaks or turning into werewolves.

13. Ewan McGregor
Non-Potter Silliness: Aped Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

12. Robert Carlyle
Non-Potter Silliness: Jumped onboard the extremely Potter-esque “boy and his dragon” movie Eragon

11. Jude Law
Non-Potter Silliness: Stood in front of green screens for the entire running time of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

10. Ewen Bremner
Non-Potter Silliness: Starred in the double-franchise killer AVP: Alien Vs. Predator (Best known as Spud from Trainspotting).

9. Ray Winstone
Non-Potter Silliness:Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Enough said.

8. Keira Knightley
Non-Potter Silliness: Strutted the poopdeck in three Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

7. Jeremy Irons
Non-Potter Silliness: Rolled a +10 turd as the villain in Dungeons & Dragons. Also appeared in Eragon.

6. Sienna Miller
Non-Potter Silliness: Um, have you seen the trailer for G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra? (Editor’s Note: Yes, she was born in NY, but she was raised in England and speaks with an accent, so she’s English. Deal with it.)

5. Tim Roth
Non-Potter Silliness: Allowed himself to be turned into a walking slab of CGI roast beef in The Incredible Hulk.

4. Colin Firth
Non-Potter Silliness: Two words: Mamma Mia!

3. Hugh Grant
Non-Potter Silliness: Felt it was a good idea to revisit Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.

2. Steve Coogan
Non-Potter Silliness: Not one, but two, Night at the Museum movies. Also the lead in Hamlet 2.

1. Christopher Lee
Non-Potter Silliness: Starred in both the Star Wars prequel trilogy and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He must posses real magical powers to avoid Potter cause this is right in his wheelhouse.

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Join the discussion!
'Not a Brit, A Scotsman'
on December 2, 2009
I'm sorry, when did Scotland stop being part of Britain?
Brits
on October 28, 2009
Ewan McGregor, although a very good actor, is not a Brit, rahter a Scotsman. However, Rufus Sewell Kate Winslet Sean Bean Also managed to avoid Harry Potter!
Ewan McGregor
on October 28, 2009
NOT A BRIT! A Scotsman.
what about...
on September 6, 2009
Oscar winners Anthony Hopkins and Michael Caine? Rowan Atkinson? Christian Bale?
Clive Owen?
on August 31, 2009
Hugh Grant was considered for the role of Professor Lockhart, but they didn't cast him because they thought he would be too big for the role. I'm glad they didnt. Kenneth Branagh did an excellent job with that role.
No Hugh Laurie?
on August 21, 2009
Also, Ian McKellan was offered the role of Dumbledore after Richard Harris died but turned it down since it was basically Gandalf again.
Left out...
on July 28, 2009
I'm surprised Judi Dench and Helen Mirran were both left out of this line up since Imelda Staunton and Julie Walters are now both Potterites.
Thank goodness
on July 28, 2009
Actually, there is only one guy on that list that I think would have fit the Potter movies anyway. The older guy in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. All the others just don't fit, IMO. So I'm happy that none of them did the Potter films.
re Tim Roth
on July 28, 2009
I believe that Tim Roth was being considered for the role of Sirius Black
Keira Hotness
on July 9, 2009
I am from Suriname, SOuth America, my name is Raoel Doelahasori, Keira knightley is awesome, young and hot,
You forgot one
on July 2, 2009
I believe you forgot Kate Beckinsale, she's well known, in fact, probably more than Sienna Miller.
Pirates of caribean
on July 2, 2009
I'd strut her poop deck
Ian McKellan
on July 2, 2009
What about Sir Ian McKellan?
WOw
on July 2, 2009
Sienna Miller is looking REAL nice! Wow! RT www.anonymize.tk
Ad autoplaying
on July 2, 2009
PROTIP: people don't like to have a video ad hidden somewhere which autoplays and repeats. Please fix it, thanks
Gay video
on July 2, 2009
wow,it's really awesome how you placed some retarded video at the bottom of the page and pissed me off with it.
minus several hundred points for auto-starting video
on July 2, 2009
.. that had nothing to do with the subject. No idea what it was about .. muted the sound as soon as it started.
Stupid Video
on July 2, 2009
I'm here to read an article about 13 stars who avoided the Harry Potter movies... And some woman is squaking in my ear about how important bathrooms are. WTF, sort your site design out.
neat!
on July 2, 2009
An autoplaying video ad at the very bottom of the page, that's ineffective and annoying! Didn't read the article, I had to find the ad. Bye!

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