It’s time to break the illusion: actors are not actually the characters they play. And yes, that means they might cross multiple major franchises. In the world of major pop culture movie franchises, there are very few that are bigger and more beloved than Star Wars and Harry Potter. Though one is a science fiction space opera and the other is a magical fantasy epic, there is a crossover in themes, thus drawing in a familiar demographic.
The two major IPs are massive, but one shocking fact is that they only share a handful of performers who have appeared in both worlds. The names on this list must have played a part, either big or small, physical or vocal, in both franchises. For Star Wars, the expanse includes films, spin-offs, and television series, both live-action and animated. For Harry Potter, we’re limiting it to simply the eight films and not the Fantastic Beasts films — sorry Jude Law, Mads Mikkelsen, and Jessica Williams. It’s time to journey through the Wizarding World and a galaxy far, far away to celebrate 10 actors who were granted the chance to play in both worlds.
1
Warwick Davis
There might not be a more distinct individual to play in both universes than the incomparable Warwick Davis. A heavy-hitter actor in heavy-hitting franchises, the unique thing about Davis and his tenure in both worlds is that it wasn’t a one-and-done experience; the British acting legend has played multiple roles across multiple projects in both universes. It all started when he began his acting career at 11 years old, portraying Wicket W. Warrick, the brave Ewok who befriends Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), in Return of the Jedi. The character was so beloved that he was carried over into multiple other projects, including the Ewok TV series and The Rise of Skywalker. Davis became part of the Star Wars family, tacking on various roles in a handful more films, including Anakin Skywalker’s (Jake Lloyd) friend Wald and the alien Weazel in The Phantom Menace, Wollivan in The Force Awakens, Weeteef Cyubee in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, DD-BD in Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Wodibin and Kedpin Shoklop in The Last Jedi. Needless to say, Davis is a go-to for Lucasfilm.
Now, in the Harry Potter Universe, Davis is most famous for portraying Professor Filius Flitwick. He had two different iterations of the Charms Master and Head of Ravenclaw House as he appeared as an elderly wizard with a long, white beard in Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets, while director Alfonso Cuarón gave the character a youthful, clean-shaven makeover for Prisoner of Azkaban onward. But wait, there’s more! In Sorcerer’s Stone, Davis was briefly seen as a goblin bank teller at Gringotts. In Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2, he took over the role of Griphook from Verne Troyer, though Davis had dubbed his voice as Troyer was American, and the British rule was in favor of the production. It would be unfair to call Davis a utility player, but it’s evident that the actor is more than reliable; he’s iconic.
2
Domhnall Gleeson
One of the more prominent figures to play major roles in both universes is the Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson. While we may know him as a rule-keeper as Ned Sampson on The Paper, in both franchises, Gleeson took a walk on the dark side, as a good guy and a bad guy. In the earlier part of his career, Gleeson took on the iconic role of Bill Weasley in Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2. The eldest son of Arthur and Molly Weasley (Mark Williams and Julie Walters) and older brother to Ron (Rupert Grint), Ginny (Bonnie Wright), and the rest of the Weasley siblings, Bill is a highly accomplished wizard, having served as Head Boy at Hogwarts and working as a Curse-Breaker for Gringotts. In the first part, Bill marries Fleur Delacour (Clémence Poésy), where the cremation is overrun by Death Eaters. He then becomes a protector of the Order, providing shelter for many survivors, before ultimately braving the front lines against Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). Though the character was largely shafted in the front end of the series, he stands out as a good guy in the final chapter. As a legacy child in the film, he is also one in real life, as he is the son of Brendan Gleeson, best known as Mad-Eye Moody.
Now, to his notorious brush with the dark side as General Armitage Hux. Appearing in all three films in the sequel trilogy, Hux is a ruthless, highly ambitious, and fanatical high-ranking officer in the First Order. Hux had a fierce loyalty to the Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), but his bitter rivalry with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) led to a power struggle and a diminished role. Jealousy and pride ultimately caused Hux to become a spy against his own regime, which ultimately resulted in death. Hux was a fascinating character because Gleeson was quite committed to his highly divisive role.
3
Julian Glover
English actor Julian Glover has had quite a prolific career on stage and screen. The classically trained performer may have an Olivier Award, but his legacy comes from playing iconic villains and authority figures across major pop culture universes, including Walter Donovan in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Grand Maester Pycelle in Game of Thrones. But for the two franchises we’re here to discuss, Glover started his reign as General Maximillian Veers, the Imperial officer who led the AT-AT walker assault on the Rebel base on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back. Unlike many of the officers under Darth Vader’s command, Veers was highly competent and earned Vader’s genuine respect for destroying the massive shield generator protecting the Rebel base, paving the way for the Imperial victory.
His role in the Wizarding World is a bit more unique. He served as the voice of the giant spider Aragog in Chamber of Secrets and Half-Blood Prince. The sentient Acromantula owned by Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) and raised in secret, Aragog was falsely blamed for opening the Chamber of Secrets when they were at school together. His major contribution in his first film was revealing the truth about the basilisk to Harry (Daniel Radcliffe). The spider passes away in his second appearance, in which Harris holds an emotional funeral, attended by Harry and Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent). It’s a consequential death as it gives Harry the chance to bond with Slughorn. Though Glover hasn’t been a part of any major pop culture franchises since, he did appear in a project with Warwick Davis: Willow. It’s all tied together!
4
Shirley Henderson
At the age of 36, Shirley Henderson played a child in Chamber of Secrets. Her time was spent playing one of the most iconic characters in the entire series: Moaning Myrtle. First appearing in Chamber of Secrets, Moaning Myrtle is a ghost of a former Ravenclaw student who was killed by the basilisk in the second-floor girls’ bathroom in 1943. Now, stuck there for eternity, she is known for her emotional outbursts and wailing. Played brilliantly by Henderson, she was known for teasing and mocking Hermione (Emma Watson), flooding the bathroom, and ultimately being a hero to Harry during the Triwizard Games in Goblet of Fire. The little ghost girl has become the role the Scottish star is known for playing. It’s the voice! Whether appearing in a guest role in Doctor Who or a prominent part on Dept. Q, audiences struggle to separate the star from the ghost on camera.
In the Star Wars universe, her face was not used, as she voiced the breakout character Babu Frik in Rise of Skywalker. The skilled alien mechanic with the memorable catchphrase worked with the Spice Runners on Kijimi, helping Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Zorii Bliss (Keri Russell) by translating Sith text from C-3PO’s memory, despite the risk of wiping out the droid completely. If you were eager to see more Anzellans like Babu Frik, you were in luck as Henderson was featured in The Mandalorian as well as The Mandalorian and Grogu. It’s safe to say, in both of these worlds, Henderson will forever be remembered by her voice.
5
Kathryn Hunter
There are certain actors that you see that you instantly know by face, but might not remember them by name. It’s not necessarily a knock to their work; it’s a mark of their ability to be transformative as a character actor. One such case is Kathryn Hunter. Known for her work in physical theater prior to her time on the big and small screens, she first rose to prominence in these worlds as Arabella Figg in the Harry Potter series. Seen in Order of the Phoenix, Mrs. Figg first appears after the Dementors attack, with her cane and iconic string bag, where she instructs Harry to keep his wand out should more attack. She walks Harry and an incapacitated Dudley Dursley (Harry Melling) home, alerting them that she had been instructed by Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) to watch over him. She serves as the sole, eccentric testimony in Harry’s disciplinary hearing. Harry’s cat-loving neighbor is revealed to be a Squib and a member of the Order of the Phoenix.
Motherly figures are very much Hunter’s alley, as that is exactly who she played in Andor. In the Disney+ series, she portrays Eedy Karn, the overbearing mother of disgraced former Imperial officer Syril Karn (Kyle Soller). An integral figure to learn major insights on the antagonist, she is known for relentlessly berating Syril, but pulls strings with the mysterious “Uncle Harlo” to get him a new desk job in the Bureau of Standards, a significant step down for Syril. Hunter, with limited screen time, ensured her character was a breakout one, thanks to her physical performance and a hilariously accessible nagging-mother archetype. And she always looked simply poised and put together in her galaxy couture. How could we not love her?
6
Jason Isaacs
There are a lot of interesting baddies in the Wizarding World. While there may be a tiered system of evil that sees Lord Voldemort at the tippy top, the next slot would likely be given to Lucius Malfoy. A major character in the franchise, Lucius was made exceptionally sinister thanks to his portrayal by legendary actor Jason Isaacs. With a sprawling career before and after his time in Harry Potter, it’s the long, luscious blond locks that have made him most recognizable to mainstream audiences. We could be here forever discussing his arc, but Lucius is remembered as the father of Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton). The wealthy pure-blood wizard is a devoted Death Eater who served Voldemort, using his wealth and connections to advance his pure-blood supremacist ideology. Cold and aristocratic, Lucius was an instigator of mischief before his ultimate fall from grace following his botched mission at the Department of Mysteries. Though he eventually shifts his loyalty, Lucius remains an iconic antagonist.
Up in space, Isaac lent his voice to the beloved animated series Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: Tales of the Empire. He voices the Grand Inquisitor, the former Jedi Temple Guard-turned-dark-side assassin who leads the Empire’s Jedi-hunting Inquisitorius. Tasked to hunt down surviving Jedi after Order 66, his mission is under the direct orders of Darth Vader (James Earl Jones). He is ultimately defeated by Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.), but later appears as a ghost to guide Kanan to knighthood. Ruthless and cruel, wielding a spinning, double-bladed lightsaber, he is known for choosing death over failure. Unfortunately for Isaacs, when the character made his live-action appearance in the series Obi-Wan Kenobi, the role was played by Rupert Friend, another British icon well-versed in playing villains.
7
Fiona Shaw
With a profound stature and a versatility that grants her the chance to do Shakespeare, comedies, thrillers, and more, Fiona Shaw remains one of the most revered British actresses of all time. Right from the jump, Shaw was introduced to Harry Potter fans as portraying Harry’s aunt, Petunia Dursley. The sister of Harry’s mother, Petunia and her husband, Vernon (Richard Griffiths), take Harry in after his parents are killed. The strict, magic-averse Muggle isn’t a typical villain; instead, she shows her disdain through bitter resentment, jealousy, and repressed trauma. Since the Dursleys are widely meant to be disliked, she is often involved in comical magical moments, including the infamous moment when Aunt Marge (Pam Ferris) inflates and floats away in Prisoner of Azkaban.
The wild thing about Shaw’s trajectory from Harry Potter to Star Wars is that on Andor, she took on another adoptive mother figure, Maarva Andor, a fiercely protective woman. Alongside her husband, Clem (Gary Beadle), they rescued a young orphan from the planet Kenari, known later as Cassian (Diego Luna). After the Empire hanged her husband, she refused to flee, becoming a hardened salvager and a respected leader in the Daughters of Ferrix. Upon her death, a posthumous message was played at her funeral procession that led to the massive citizen revolt on Rix Road. A woman who clearly has range, Shaw’s versatility in both major franchises was on full display. Love or hate her characters, they are memorable nevertheless.
8
Natalia Tena
One of the fun parts of playing in both of these fantasy worlds is the incredible opportunity to transform completely into a character. For some actors, that means putting on an iconic costume and wigs or wearing prosthetics that render them almost unrecognizable. For Natalia Tena, she got to evolve into her character through imagery, where purple seemed to be her go-to color. Tena played Nymphadora Tonks in Harry Potter. First arriving in Order of the Phoenix, Tonks was a half-blood witch and a Metamorphmagus. Often seen aiding Harry in times of need, she’s also known to love and marry Remus Lupin (David Thewlis). By the final parts, Tonks and Lupin join in to defend the school from Voldemort’s army, only to fall victim to death at the Battle of Hogwarts.
After Harry Potter, Tena was part of the mega series Game of Thrones as the major character Osha, giving her even further recognition. Looking to add another notch on her belt, Tena appeared in a single episode of The Mandalorian as Xi’an. And that’s where the purple returned again. The Twi’lek is part of the crew hired by Ranzar Malk (Mark Boone Jr.) to break her brother, Qun (Ismael Cruz Cordova), out of a New Republic prison transport. Her connection to Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) is one of a romantic and professional entanglement. But after things were left acrimoniously, she brought an aggressive and antagonistic demeanor to their reunion, even attempting to betray him and leave him for dead. But no one messes with Mando, as he outsmarts her, locking her and her crew in a transport cell. Though she had only a single appearance in the series, it was memorable, marked by an iconic costume.
9
David Tennant
David Tennant is no stranger to major franchises. His most prominent role was playing the Tenth Doctor, and later the Fourteenth Doctor, on the beloved British series Doctor Who. Having experience in major fandoms gave him a sense of what it would be like to explore even bigger ones in Harry Potter and Star Wars. Just as Tennant was starting his run on Doctor Who, he joined Goblet of Fire to play Barty Crouch Jr. He is famously the secret villain of the film, disguising himself as Mad-Eye Moody using Polyjuice Potion to manipulate the Triwizard Tournament and aid in Lord Voldemort’s return. Known for the tongue flick, the tic serves as a connection to his madness, as well as his loyalty to the Dark Lord. Perhaps his run as Barty Crouch Jr. helped land him the equally devious and villainous Kilgrave in Jessica Jones.
In the Star Wars universe, it was time for something completely different. Tennant lent his voice to Professor Huyang, an ancient and highly knowledgeable droid who serves as a lightsaber architect and mentor to the Jedi. His first appearance in the role came in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, where he helped a group of young Jedi build their first lightsabers on the training ship Crucible. He even mentored Yoda (Tom Kane) and Mace Windu (Terrence C. Carson)! Huyang served as a vital figure, providing Jedi history and context. It was even more important when the character made his live-action debut in Ahsoka. There, he accompanied Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) on her travels, offering technical and moral guidance and Jedi philosophy. The beloved character showed up once more in Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, repairing a lightsaber that once belonged to Jedi Master Barabo. For his role in The Clone Wars, Tennant won an Emmy for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program. Whether evil, heroic, or philosophic, Tennant can do it all.
10
Ian Whyte
This entry may deserve a bit of a caveat. Many of the actors on this list have given their whole selves to their characters. Others, it was simply a voice. For Ian Whyte, his face never appears on screen; instead, it’s either his voice, his lower body, or his puppeteering. Let’s explain. Technically, Whyte is credited as playing Madame Olympe Maxime. If you’re confused and believe your eyes saw Frances de la Tour in the part, you’re not wrong. Whyte served as the body and stunt double for de la Tour in order to give the 8’6″ half-giant headmistress of Beauxbaxtons her large presence. He also returned for Deathly Hallows Part 1 for additional stuntwork. At 7’1″, Whyte has been a go-to for larger-than-life characters in an assortment of films and series, including Game of Thrones, Alien vs Predator, and Prometheus.
In The Force Awakens, Whyte was the stunt double for the original Chewbacca actor, Peter Mayhew. From there, the franchise trusted him to take on an assortment of space creatures, including Bollie Prindel, a Urodel Resistance pilot, in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi; Vetch, an alien of Ferrix, in Andor; Moroff, the heavy-set, furry Gigoran mercenary in Rogue One; and Crusher Roodown, a massive, horned Unkar Plutt scavenger, in The Force Awakens. Though you may not recognize him physically, if you see a giant creature, it’s likely Whyte bringing it to life.
- First TV Show
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Star Wars The Clone Wars
- Created by
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George Lucas
