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The Great British Thespians of Harry Potter

time.com — One of the smartest decisions made by the creative team behind the Harry Potter films was to cast the adult roles from the very cream of British thespians. From Michael Gambon's Dumbledore to Ralph Fiennes' Voldemort, they've cast a lingering spell.

Who dugg this? Made popular Jul 17, 2009

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  • feezus, on 07/17/2009, -1/+49Dugg for Alan Rickman. Perfect casting for Snape.
  • JohnH91, on 07/17/2009, -0/+25Hello, you've reached Alan Rickman at 555-0122, Please leave a message after the beep

    *beep*

    Hello Alan Rickman, It's...Alan Rickman...Reminding you to move the pork chops from the freezer to the refrigerator so they defrost properly... Do not disappoint me.
  • Tyrghast, on 07/17/2009, -1/+23Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith don't get near enough screen time. Also, no mention of Leon, The Professional under the Gary Oldman bit? He's always at his best when playing the insane
  • Rocketbird, on 07/17/2009, -0/+21Snape. Snape. Severus Snape.
  • chrismwood, on 07/17/2009, -0/+19It had to be difficult to follow in Richard Harris' footsteps. It seems like he had to almost invent a new Dumbledore to avoid imitating Harris' (perfect, IMO) performance.
  • Falldog, on 07/17/2009, -0/+1963? Damn, he looks good for his age.
  • RealmDown, on 07/17/2009, -0/+16*elevatus front pagus*

  • benmandude, on 07/17/2009, -0/+15The fact that you care about what other people read is very sweet, but I can assure you we don't care what you think.
  • Falldog, on 07/17/2009, -0/+13Give me back my detonators, Potter.
  • shewasjustagrl, on 07/17/2009, -0/+13John Cleese as Nearly Headless Nick definitely deserves a mention. Still, it's a solid list. Dugg for Alan Rickman =3
  • pagno, on 07/17/2009, -0/+12Alan Rickman should do a movie where he plays Alan Rickman, kinda like Being John Malkovich, but with less creepiness, and more Alan Rickman.
  • Swarms, on 07/17/2009, -0/+12Dumbledore!
  • Angostura, on 07/17/2009, -0/+12Odd that there's no mention of Robby Coltrane on that list. I think his Hagrid is pretty damned good.
  • inactive, on 07/17/2009, -2/+11If Patrick Stewart ain't involved you cannot say 'cream of English thespians'.
  • alarchy, on 07/17/2009, -1/+10I forgot how old Alan Rickman is...only five years younger than Michael Gambon, damn.
  • stopsucking, on 07/17/2009, -0/+8The guy who played Slughorn...Jim Broadbent...in the Half Blood Prince completely stole the movie.
  • geekwithsoul, on 07/17/2009, -0/+8Wow, intellectual snobbery from someone on Digg? Why, I never . . . oh, wait I have seen that before.

    Seriously though, have you even read the books? I'm a lifelong reading addict of both high- and low-brow fiction and nonfiction, and while they aren't the best books out there, they are fairly well written and are in general a "good read" for any age.

    From your comment, I would guess that you haven't read them, and so I would say you're not entitled to an opinion, but that's just me.
  • chrisdodges, on 07/17/2009, -0/+8Buried since you failed to realize that the first books came out over a decade ago when many people were actually still considered children.

  • inactive, on 07/17/2009, -1/+8"adult roles from the very cream of British thespians. "

    That is some funny wording when taken out of context.
  • mmmpeaches, on 07/17/2009, -0/+7I am all for more screen time for Alan Rickman...
  • SirBruce, on 07/17/2009, -8/+14Except Michael Gambon has been terrible as Dumbledore. I have nothing against the man as an actor, but he's no Dumbledore.
  • athinnes, on 10/01/2009, -2/+8For me, the "adults" make the movie when it comes to acting.
  • JoeParanoid, on 07/17/2009, -0/+5On this side of the Pond, we simply opt for crappy big name actors to crush all hope.
  • Yage2006, on 07/17/2009, -0/+5Or Sir Ian McKellen for that matter.
  • athinnes, on 10/01/2009, -0/+5So only people who haven't read the books have qualified opinions about the books.

    Nice logic.


  • MechaMurloc, on 07/17/2009, -0/+4Dugg for The Metatron
  • atezun, on 07/17/2009, -2/+6I've hated him as Dumbledore as well, but I have to say he did a pretty good job in HBP.
  • ultraseamus, on 07/17/2009, -0/+4I'll bet they all couldn't wait to taste these meaty supporting man parts.
  • KyotoWolf, on 07/17/2009, -0/+3The Hobbit is a childrens book too, are you saying people who read that are childish and immature?
  • greendalek, on 07/17/2009, -1/+4Wonderful list of some truly stellar actors, but buried for Time magazine's usual dogged (some might even argue WILLFUL) refusal to understand the web or how to properly present an article for it. Truly, guys --get with the times or fold already.
  • inactive, on 07/17/2009, -0/+3I thought this was what Rowling expressly wanted.
  • digitalArtform, on 07/17/2009, -1/+4Apparently I was wrong: I do not want to see Polly Walker get a role in Harry Potter.

    O, digg, what would I do without you telling me what I think?
  • BeastOfGevaudan, on 07/17/2009, -0/+3They need to get Tom Wilkinson, I don't care what for, he could play a chick, hell he's done it before (sort of)
  • iamajfunk, on 07/17/2009, -0/+3Just because we're adults doesn't mean we can't stimulate our imagination.
  • SirBruce, on 07/17/2009, -1/+3SPOILER:
    Uhhh, yeah we will, he has minor parts to play in the next movie and a fairly major scene in the last movie.
  • Campog, on 07/17/2009, -0/+2There is no shame in imitating something which is already great. All he with his "reinterpretation" did was turn Dumbledore into a gruff old man, which is not at all what he is like in the books.
  • lemur, on 07/17/2009, -0/+2The "new" Dumbledore took some getting used to, but in the end I think that it was a positive change. As Angostura points out, Richard Harris was a little too "soft" in the role and almost came off as senile. Gambon plays the role with a little more sharpness and wit, which seems fitting when you consider that Dumbledore truly is a sneaky old bastard. ;p
  • Angostura, on 07/17/2009, -1/+3Hmmm, I prefered him to Harris. Harris' portrayal always seemed too frail, too lacking in vitality to me.
  • jezsik, on 07/17/2009, -0/+1Unless you want the movies to follow the book ... which it seems it's straying these days.

    But yeah, Rickman is awesome.
  • pagno, on 07/17/2009, -0/+1Havent read the books, and no intention of doing so, but Ive seen the movies. I should watch more REAL movies, then?
  • Swarms, on 07/17/2009, -1/+2Just stop, dude.
  • athinnes, on 10/01/2009, -0/+1He can play a Wizard Doctor that erases all their memories. Wait.
  • eleraama, on 07/22/2009, -0/+1I think part of that is the evolution of the character in the books. I believe that in the first book or two, Dumbledore is literally described as frail-looking. And as for senile, what was his second sentence to the students in Harry's first year? "Nitwit, blubber, oddment, tweak." He certainly wasn't portrayed as very serious.
  • Duffy27, on 07/17/2009, -1/+2Ron...Ron...Ron...Ron Weasley!
  • athinnes, on 10/01/2009, -0/+1Hmmm, sounds familiar. Have i seen this before? I'm not sure.
  • BeastOfGevaudan, on 07/17/2009, -1/+1Great idea! Only I feel Harry needs to be recast... I'm thinking Jim Carrey.
    And Dean Thomas should be recast as Elijah Wood. Sound good?
  • Beatmiser, on 07/17/2009, -1/+1I'd like to see Polly Walker do it as well, but I had to digg you down for whining.
  • cyrix, on 07/18/2009, -1/+1Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter
  • DerangedPenguin, on 07/18/2009, -2/+1Damn I read the title wrong I thought is said The Great British Lesbians of Harry Potter.. Never mind
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