Harry Potter:
There’s a moment in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when Prof. McGonagall attempts to control her unruly pupils by proclaiming, “I will not have you behaving like a babbling bumbling band of baboons.” Dare I say that very few actors – particularly American ones – could pull off that line with the aplomb that Maggie Smith does. Of course, Smith is a six-time Oscar nominee, a two-time winner, and a venerated member of the pantheon of great classically-trained British actors. 
There is a fine and noble tradition of great actors picking up Hollywood paychecks for kiddie-leaning popcorn fare. And Brits tend to fare much better in this commercial compromise: Alec Guinness got plenty of criticism for playing Obi-Wan Kenobi in 1977's Star Wars, but the role also goosed his career and drew awareness of his greatness to a whole new generation of audiences. (Marlon Brando, however, did not fare nearly as well from his brief turn as Jor-El in 1978’s Superman.)
But the Harry Potter films have effectively become an all-star summer stock for British talent. Seldom has so much acting firepower been assembled in a single film – or series of films. In addition to Smith, we’ve seen Emma Thompson (five Oscar noms and two wins), Kenneth Branagh (four Oscar noms, including one for directing), Julie Christie (four noms and one win), Julie Walters (two Oscar noms), Irishman Richard Harris (two noms), Ralph Fiennes (two noms), John Cleese (one nom), Helena Bonham Carter (one nom), and Imelda Staunton (one nom). This month's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince also introduces 2002 Oscar winner Jim Broadbent (Iris) to the cast. Even the James Bond series, which has stretched over four times as many films, can’t rival the depth of talent in the Potter casts.
One reason that classically trained actors do so well in the Potter films is the noble British tradition of the panto. Short for pantomime, but not to be confused with mime. Panto is a stylized family-oriented stage show hugely popular in the U.K., particularly during the holiday season. Typically an adaptation of a fairy tale, pantos call for an over-the-top performing style for exaggerated comical effect. Over the years, just about every great British actor has played in one at some time. Ian McKellen is a panto vet, and his performances in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the X-Men series owe much to the form, as he plays his lines to the rafters but never quite brushes over into self-parody.
The grown-up stars of the Harry Potter films take a similar relish to their parts, perhaps none more so than Alan Rickman as potions master Severus Snape. Rickman approaches his role as the stern and complicated Snape with what can only be described as gleeful malevolence, but the actor’s obvious pleasure in playing the role is not a private act. We share in his enjoyment too, and are thus beneficiaries of the collective training of this great band of players. And if the Potter films can keep all of these great performers acting — and perhaps inspire Potter fans to seek out some of the more grown-up films on their resumes — then the series has done a great service to the arts.
Extra credit viewing: Check out Maggie Smith in her Oscar-winning role as an equally influential (but much earthier) teacher in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie; see also Richard Griffiths (a.k.a. Uncle Vernon) as a flawed but influential instructor in The History Boys.
Extra credit reading: It's Behind You: The Story of Panto (2004) by Peter Lathan
For discussion: Are classically trained actors slumming when they appear in Hollywood fare like the Harry Potter films? In what way does their training help or hinder them in playing these roles? Will the younger British cast members like Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint be able to sustain long-term careers without the classical training of their older costars? Or does the preeminence of film and TV call for a different sort of training for which movie-trained stars like Radcliffe are very much prepared? Please discuss in the comments section below.
For more Harry Potter EW U:
Harry Potter: A high-school movie at heart
HarryPotter: 10 Teen-Movie Parallels
EW'sHarry Potter Trivia Challenge (Pt. 1)
EW'sHarry Potter Trivia Challenge (Pt. 2)
Richard Griffiths was fantastic in The History Boys. The older British actors are the best in the business collectively so who cares if they are popping up to pick up cheques? The Potter series would have been absolute crap had JK Rowling not insisted on an all British cast. Nobody could have made Snape as sexy as Rickman (especially when Snape wasn’t even supposed to be sexy).
Dan, Rupert and the other younger actors in the Harry Potter films may not be classically trained like Maggie Smith but just being able to work with such high caliber actors like her and the others appearing in the Potter films is training any actor would jump at the chance to get.
A little bit of luck surely helped. When the three young actors were casted, who knew they’d be able to maintain “good acting” well into their late teens. Phew.
Read my review — and take the Harry Potter poll here:
http://movies-tv-entertainment.blogspot.com/
I don’t think appearing in the Potter films hurts anyone’s career. These films, though not Oscar worthy, contain intricate plots, well-developed characters, and intense emotions. They seem like typical popcorn fair, but the story and characters beneath the film are far more complex and well-crafted than most movies out in the past 25 years. Who wouldn’t want to portray such rich and vibrant characters? I truly hope that Dan, Rupert, and Emma(if she wants to) can move past these films and broaden their career. I know that people will try to typecast them for years to come, but they are all extremely talented (or have great potential). I have enjoyed watching them grow and mature over the course of the films, and I think they have all drastically improved. The Potter films collectively have the best cast I have ever seen in a franchise. It must be amazing for the young kids to work closely with the older legendary actors. I am jealous. Well done on HBP!
You have to remember when the “Harry Potter” series started, Radcliffe, Grint and Watson were almost completely unknown and inexperienced, so it was almost an absolute necessity to surround them with highly-trained, highly-skilled professional actors. They weren’t only there to elevate the material…they were there to elevate their young co-stars.
To me, the greatness of the “HP” supporting cast doesn’t necessarily come from their decades of stage training or the countless Oscar and BAFTA awards they’ve picked up over the year. I think they’re fantastic because they’ve been doing these big-budget family movies, and it’s never, EVER felt like any of them are slumming or winking at the camera with a “can you believe I’m involved in this kind of movie” look on their face. They seem to throw themselves into this just as much as they would any Shakesperean role they may have played in the past (even if they ARE just there for a check).
That’s why they’re great.
I truly was disappointed that one of the last remaining Great British Actors Who Hadn’t Appeared In A Potter Film — Michael Caine — wasn’t cast as Dumbledore’s brother in the final film. (I also thought Peter O’Toole would be perfect for Luna Lovegood’s father.) Ah well — props to Bill Nighy in any event. It’s also worth mentioning that in “Chamber of Secrets,” written before any films were made, Jo Rowling refers to Snape as having an expression “as if someone had canceled Christmas.” That, of course, is Alan Rickman’s most famous line from “Robin Hood.” So I’m convinced she had him in her head from the start.
I love all the Harry Potter movies and I also believe they are worthy of a look For the Oscars . The special effects are wonderful. I also believe the young actors all held their own with the seasoned actors.I have enjoyed everyone of them and hope there are many more(wishful thinking)
I can’t believe you didn’t mention Ralph Fiennes. I would think he would’ve been mentioned with his background of RADA and Oscar noms.
serioulsy this has to be the best casted Hollywood series ever… When I read Chamber of Secrets for the first time I only pictured Kenneth Branagh for the role and that was before the movie came out. Bill Nighy as Scrimgeour is perfect. I wouldve loved Naomi Watts as Narcissa though… I must also say though, after 6 (!) movies… can we now possibly say that this Harry Potter franchise (albeit not perfection), is the best Hollywood franchise ever produced???
what’s up with not mentioning Gary Oldman? worst. university. ever.
Richard Harris was Irish. I know Americans don’t know much about the outside world but do try and keep up…
Imagine Hugh Laurie in a H.P. movie, but in “House” character…
Harry: But I’m a wizard.
“House”: So am I…wanna see my wand?
LOL
http://tvdonewright.com/
Dan is well on his way to becoming a true thespian. I’ve heard him in some recent interviews talking about actors on long ago tv series and movies and the way that they performed, so he is interested in acting and looks to historical performances for inspiration. He also has been working on stage in Equus for some time now. I’d fully expect him to get some formal acting training and do this for the rest of his life. Rupert I can see working on BBC comedies. Emma has said that she isn’t sure if she wants to act after the Potter films, she might want to pursue her love of the arts and painting, so we’ll have to wait for what she decided in college.
Randolph Foley, “British” means English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh.
Nicely written piece!