HBO’s long-awaited “Harry Potter” series is set to debut Christmas 2026 with an entirely new cast — many of them first-years.
Given their ages, HBO has built an on-set school during filming over the next eight to 10 years.
But this isn’t new. The original Harry Potter cast grew up much the same way, balancing script work with schoolwork behind the scenes.
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The education of the first Hermione Granger
Take Emma Watson, for example. While portraying Hermione Granger, she remained committed to her studies. She attended Headington School and graduated with 10 As in her GCSEs and straight As in her A Levels, which she sat for while filming the Harry Potter franchise.
Watson eventually enrolled at Brown University to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. She also attended the University of Oxford as part of her third year abroad.
Her journey reflects a broader reality — behind the screen are real students navigating education.
With that legacy in mind, here’s a closer look at what and where the new Harry Potter cast are or have been studying.
The education of the young cast of HBO’s Harry Potter:
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Dominic McLaughlin (Harry Potter)
Education or training:
- Performance Academy Scotland
- On-set school
Alastair Stout (Ron Weasley)
Education or training:
- On-set school
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Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger)
Education or training:
- Guildford School of Acting (GSA) Junior Conservatoire
- British Theatre Academy
- On-set school
Gracie Cochrane (Ginny Weasley)
Education or training:
- Sylvia Young Theatre School
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Lox Pratt (Draco Malfoy)
Education or training:
- Home-educated
Amos Kitson (Dudley Dursley)
Education or training:
- Unknown
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Alessia Leoni (Parvati Patil)
Education or training:
- On-set school
Leo Earley (Seamus Finnigan)
Education or training:
- On-set school
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Rory Wilmot (Neville Longbottom)
Education or training:
- Articulate Drama School and Casting Agency
- On-set school
Elijah Oshin (Dean Thomas)
Education or training:
- Anna Fiorentini Performing School of Arts
- On-set school
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Gabriel Harland (George Weasley)
Education or training:
- On-set school
Tristan Harland (Fred Weasley)
Education or training:
- On-set school
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Finn Stephens (Vincent Crabbe)
Education or training:
- On-set school
Ruari Spooner (Percy Weasley)
Education or training:
- St Albans School
- National Youth Theatre
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William Nash (Gregory Goyle)
Education or training:
- On-set school
The education of the adult cast of HBO’s Harry Potter:
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John Lithgow (Albus Dumbledore)
Education or training:
- Harvard University (Bachelor of Arts in History and Literature, magna cum laude, 1976)
- London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Dramatic arts and acting, Fullbright Scholar)
- Harvard University (Doctor of Arts degree, 2005)
Paapa Essiedu (Severus Snape)
Education or training:
- Forest School (A-Levels)
- University College London (Pre-med, dropped out)
- Guildhall School of Music and Drama (Bachelor of Arts in Acting)
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Janet McTeer (Minerva McGonagall)
Education or training:
- Queen Anne Grammar School for Girls
- Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Nick Frost (Rubeus Hagrid)
Education or training:
- Beal High School
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Bel Powley (Petunia Dursley)
Education or training:
- Holland Park School
- University of Manchester (Accepted into the Bachelor’s degree in History, never attended)
- University College London (Accepted but deferred to pursue acting career)
Daniel Rigby (Vernon Dursley)
Education or training:
- Cheadle Hulme School (Primary school)
- Stockport College (Performing arts)
- Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
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Anton Lesser (Garrick Ollivander)
Education or training:
- Moseley Grammar School
- University of Liverpool (Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, 1973)
- Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (1974 to 1976)
Paul Whitehouse (Argus Filch)
Education or training:
- University of East Anglia (Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, dropped out)
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Katherine Parkinson (Molly Weasley)
Education or training:
- Girls’ School in Kingston upon Thames
- Oxford University’s St Hilda’s College (Bachelor of Arts in Classics)
- London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Luke Thallon (Quirinus Quirrell)
Education or training:
- Guildhall School of Music and Drama (Bachelor of Arts in Acting)
- National Youth Theatre
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Bertie Carvel (Cornelius Fudge)
Education or training:
- University College School, Hampstead, London
- University of Sussex (Bachelor of Arts in English, first-class honours)
- Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (2000 to 2003)
Louise Brealey (Madam Rolanda Hooch)
Education or training:
- Kimbolton School
- Lee Strasberg Institute, New York City
- École Philippe Gaulier (Clowning)
- University of Cambridge’s Girton College (Bachelor of Arts in History)
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Warwick Davis (Filius Flitwick)
Education or training:
- Chinthurst School
- City of London Freemen’s School
- Anglia Ruskin University (Doctor of Arts)
Bríd Brennan (Poppy Pomfrey)
Education or training:
- St. Dominic’s Grammar School for Girls
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Leigh Gill (Griphook)
Education or training:
- Unknown
Sirine Saba (Pomona Sprout)
Education or training:
- The Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art
Richard Durden (Cuthbert Binns)
Education or training:
- Queen’s University Belfast (Bachelor’s degree in English and French)
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