While many characters appeared in the Harry Potter books and films, author JK Rowling regards a selected few (and the actors that played them) in a unique way.
Of course, the three main characters are the Boy Wizard Harry Potter and his friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. These are undoubtedly the most familiar to fans of the series, whether readers or viewers.
That being said, several others have featured prominently alongside the trio, a point which JK Rowling herself has acknowledged.
At the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in 2011, Rowling referred to seven cast members as the ‘Big 7’ of the series.
They are Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson , Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Bonnie Wright and Tom Felton.
What have the seven gotten up to since leaving the world of Potter behind?Read on to find out.
Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)
Immediately after leaving Hogwarts and the Boy Who Lived behind, Radcliffe followed up the eight-part series with 2012’s The Woman In Black, a horror film on which he reunited with Potter co-star Ciaran Hinds (Aberforth Dumbledore).
Other films that Radcliffe has appeared in since include Horns, Imperium, Now You See Me 2, Kill Your Darlings and Swiss Army Man.
He has also played young Dr. Vladimir Bomgard and Craig/Prince Chauncley respectively on the television series A Young Doctor’s Notebook and Miracle Workers.
Additionally, Radcliffe has also appeared on Broadway in How To Succeed Without Really Trying. He also starred in other plays such as The Cripple of Inishmaan, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Lifespan Of A Fact.
Speaking to Variety in February 2020, Radcliffe stated that he was not interested in reprising the role of Harry Potter in the Fantastic Beasts films.
Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley)
Grint’s post-Potter projects have encompassed film, theatre and TV. He appeared with late co-star Alan Rickman (Severus Snape) in 2013’s CBGB.
His other film projects include Into The White and Postman Pat: The Movie.
On the television front, Grint has starred in the series Sick Note, Servant and Snatch, also serving as a producer on the latter.
In 2013, Grint made his stage debut in Jez Butterworth’s Mojo.
More recently, it was announced that Grint is expecting his first child with his girlfriend Georgia Groome.
Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)
Once known as bookworm Hermione Granger in the Potter series, Emma Watson has played many other roles in the years since leaving her behind.
Most notably, she appeared as the lead in films such as Beauty and the Beast, The Bling Ring and Circle.
Watson also had co-starring roles in The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, Noah and Little Women.
In 2015, she appeared in British sitcom The Vicar Of Dibley, playing a character named “Reverend Iris”.
Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy)
Felton has also experimented with both film and TV projects since moving on from Draco Malfoy and his pure-blood beliefs.
In the same year that Deathly Hallows Part 2 was released, Felton appeared in Rise of the Planet Of The Apes as Dodge Landon.
His other feature film projects include Ophelia, Feed, Against The Sun, Megan Leavey and Risen.
Felton has also starred in US network television with starring roles as Erich Blunt on the first season of Murder In The First and as Julian Albert on season three of The Flash.
In 2018, he appeared in the YouTube Premium series Origin in the main role of Logan.
Matthew Lewis
Lewis starred alongside Timothy Spall and his real-life brother Anthony Lewis in BBC drama The Syndicate. Also for BBC, he appeared in Bluestone 42.
In 2016, Lewis starred in the series Ripper Street as DS Samuel Drummond.
Other TV roles include a guest stint in Death In Paradise and a main role on Girlfriends in 2017.
Lewis married his girlfriend Angela Jones in 2018.
Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley)
Since walking-off camera after Harry Potter, Wright has opted to stay behind it by pursuing directing. Between 2012 and 2019, she has directed various short films and music videos.
Wright has also acted in films such as After the Dark, Before I Sleep and Who Killed Nelson Nutmeg?
In 2012, Wright graduated from the London College of Communication with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and Television Production.
Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood)
Like her former co-stars, Lynch also continued acting after Harry Potter came to an end.
She had a cameo appearance in 2019’s Madness In The Method while also starring in GBF, My Name Is Emily and the BBC television film, Danny and the Human Zoo.
In 2018, Lynch participated in Dancing With The Stars, being partnered with Keo Motsepe and finishing third in the competition.
Since November 2017, Lynch has also had a podcast called TheChickPeeps, which is co-hosted by Potter co-star Robbie Jarvis (who played young James Potter).