Even if the character they were playing had a name, if they didn't have any lines or weren't featured, they were just considered background actors and were cast accordingly. However, it would eventually be revealed inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (which hadn't even been written when the first movie was shot)that she was so much more than some random apparition. In the blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, Fish was seen in the back of a photo from the Weasley family's holiday to Egypt during the school holidays. Davis later explainedhis decision to seek out the role. Although several of the actors portraying minor and background Hogwarts students came and went throughout the Harry Potter films, the recasting of Lavender Brown proved to be highly controversial. There was no specific description of the character being white in the books, and even if there was, some people didn't think it was necessary to replace her, especially since it seemed to imply that the character wouldn't be lovable unless she was as pale as Ron. Harris admitted his wayward nature almost lost him the role of Harry Potter's wise mentor as he and the rest of the cast were asked to sign up for a seven-movie deal. Frenchs take was far more slap-stick and more suited to a comedy actor, so its not hard to see why the role was recast. Years after the fact, Sir Ian McKellen revealed that he, too, had a shot at becoming Albus Dumbledore but turned it down. The Harry Potter cast was perfectly chosen and it's hard to imagine many of the characters being played by anyone else. Although still a minor character, Katie had lines in Half-Blood Prince,along with a scary scene where she becomes cursed by a necklace intended to assassinate Dumbledore. "Griphook has so much more depth to him than Id ever been able to get into my work as Professor Flitwick. Biographical information Watch popular content from the following creators: (@unlimitededits), EL-BOMBER(@harry.potter.bishhh), DEADRIC(@.harryp0ttersimp), Harrypotterstan(@harrypotterstan2) . Elizabeth Spriggs: her birthday, what she did before fame, her family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. All rights reserved. "The desire to act was like a weight within me", she later said, "and I knew if I didn't do anything about it, it would destroy me". In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, it was black actress Jennifer Smith who sported the Gryffindor character's robes. Here are15 Harry Potter Actors Who Were Recast. 10 Movies That Embarrassed Other Movies Released At The Same Time, 10 Film Franchises That Became Something Else Entirely, 10 Horror Movie Secrets Never Meant To Be Found, 10 Sci-Fi Movies That Pissed Audiences Off In The Final Scene, 10 Most Cringe-Worthy Scenes In Amazing Movies, 10 Horror Movie Robots That Scared Us Out Of Our Minds. Elizabeth Spriggs - Harry Potter Wiki - Elizabeth Spriggs was an Olivier Award-winning and BAFTA Award-nominated English actress who portrayed the Fat Lady in the film adaptation of Harry Potter . Harris' portrayal, however, was only based on the first four books, since those were the only ones published at the time. Emma Watson admits she was 'taken aback' by Rupert Grint comment during Harry Potter reunion. In other. Harry potter erfhrt an seinem 11. Spriggs was a regular performer with the RSC under Peter Hall until 1976, playing many important Shakespearean roles, including Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, an acclaimed Gertrude in Hamlet opposite David Warner, Calpurnia in Julius Caesar, Mistress Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor and a witty Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. Richard Bremmer did what he could with the abbreviated role, but wasnt surprised when he wasnt invited back for the characters next major movie outing in the fourth film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by which time the Dark Lords power reached its peak (and so did the phenomenon of the franchise). Elizabeth Spriggs - The Fat Lady (18 September 1929 - 2 July 2008) Spriggs was known for playing The Fat Lady, a living portrait that guards the Gryffindor common room, a role that was eventually handed over to comedian Dawn French. 1956 - 2008 Acclaimed actress Elizabeth Spriggs played The Fat Lady in the first Harry Potter movie. "I think she's incredibly funny and her Harry Potter spoof for Comic Relief was pretty amazing," he told the BBC of the decision to cast her. However, for various reasons there were some characters across the franchise who had to be recast. Parvati played a larger role in this film, since she was Harry's date to the Yule Ball and they had to dance together to open the event. Since the first Harry Potter film came out in 2001, when only four books had been written, it's likely the Grey Lady was considered a minor background character, since she'd had no lines in the series at that time. Elizabeth stopped breathing on April 30th, 2003 and was taken to the hospital where she was declared dead the next day. I too am sorry to hear of the passing of Elizabeth Spriggs. French earned the role after her Harry Potter spoof for charity caught the attention of Christopher Columbus, who directed the first two movies and co-produced the third. Actress Elizabeth Spriggs arrives for world premiere of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone at the Odeon Leicester Square in London. He told the press, "Ill keep doing it as long as I enjoy it, my health holds out and they still want me, but the chances of all three of those factors remaining constant are pretty slim.". Instead of Spriggs, it was actress Dawn French who took on the role for the third film, bringing a more comedic element to the character as she desperately tries to impress the Hogwarts student body with her glass-breaking operatic skills, later duckingbehind a neighboring painting's hippopotamus when things get dicey. In 1995, she appeared in Emma Thompson's Sense and Sensibility alongside five other actors who would go on to appear in the Harry Potter series: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Imelda Staunton, Robert Hardy, and Gemma Jones. Spriggs' roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company included Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Gertrude in Hamlet and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. She was an actress and writer, known for Sensatez y sentimientos (1995), Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal (2001) and Playing the Field (1998). Why Was Elizabeth Spriggs Replaced In Harry Potter? Another uncredited actress played Pansy during Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, that was later revealed to be Lauren Shotton. Davis later explained his decision to seek out the role. One fan tweeted, "My enjoyment of the Harry Potter 20th anniversary was overshadowed by the missing cast, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, David Bradley to name a few. Credit: Warner Bros Timothy Bateson - Kreacher (3 April 1926 - 15 September 2009) Tim Whitby/BFC/Getty Images. Richard was stood behind Arthur Weasley actor Mark Williams - with the snap also containing Julie Walters and Rupert Grint. Of course, having a dad with connections obviously didnt hurt his chances, either. Harris was reportedly unimpressed with McKellen during his life, implying that he was a "passionless" actor. The part would eventually go to Michael Gambon, who starred in all six of the films to follow, but he wasnt the first major British star who was invited to don the heaping wig and decadent cloaks. Doctor Who actor Derek Dreadman played Leaky Cauldron barman Tom in the first Harry Potter movie. B. Priestley's When We Are Married in 1986, and Arsenic and Old Lace at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 1991. Harry Potter is also a coming-of-age story, which means that many actors were children, and they may not have wished or been able to continue filming during such a formative time in their lives. Even though she was a Ravenclaw in the books, the filmmakers chose to keep her in Gryffindor with her sister Parvati. As a portrait The Fat Lady's portrait Richard Harris wasn't the only actor to be replaced in the HP films.English character actress Elizabeth Spriggs, who played the Fat Lady in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, passed away . However, it would eventually be revealed in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (which hadnt even been written when the first movie was shot) that she was so much more than some random apparition. called him a "dreadful" actor. The dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald has yet to be defeated in the Harry Potter film franchise, but he's going to look different when the . MCU Quiz: Who Said It - Steve Rogers Or Sam Wilson? Her final film, Is There Anybody There?, starring Michael Caine, has yet to be shown. Although she threw quite a few mean comments around, especially towards the Gryffindors and any half-bloods or Muggle-borns, she was relatively benign in the first few movies, mainly appearing among Draco's gang of Slytherins. Explore the latest videos from hashtags: #elizabethspriggs, #elizabeth, #elizabethbriggs, #elizabethprentiss . She also had a dreadful singing voice. However, Danielle Tabor actually reprised her role for the filming of the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride at the Universal Studios theme parks. From minor characters like Angelina Johnson to Lord Voldemort himself, the Harry Potter films had quite a few roles that ended up being recast. They meet on Harry's first trip toDiagon Alley when Hagrid escorts him to get his things for school. She was a regular on the long-running British soap opera, EastEnders, and her shooting schedule conflicted with the production of Order of the Phoenix. How then, could the producers pass up an opportunity to actually use the actor who played Mad-Eye Moody's son for the part? When Voldermort finally returned to his full power in the fourth film he was played by Schindler's List actor Fiennes. Here are some of the major Harry Potter characters who were ultimately recast between films, and the stories of how these transfigurations came to be. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. I worked out what they were thinking, and I couldnt take over the part from an actor who Id known didnt approve of me." Elizabeth Spriggs. He actually had to play Ron Weasley in the Chamber of Secrets in the scene where he drinks Polyjuice Potion to sneak into the Slytherin Common Room with Harry. 10 Movie Sequels Stuck In Production Hell. She won several awards for her on stage performances. Shortly after the films release, J.K. Rowling debuted her sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which gave the character a much more central role than she had ever had before. She played the Fat Lady in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001). After all, he was hidden behind Professor Quirrells turban throughout the story, and even when he did emerge at the tail end of the movie, his face was still superimposed on the back of someones skull. Apparently it's because the actor who played Crabbe, Jamie Waylett, actually landed himself in some serious trouble off screen, which eventually cost him his role in the last film in . Yes she was the first Fat lady in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Spriggs' roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company included Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Gertrude in Hamlet and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. Then Alfonso Cuaron came along and made probably the weirdest recasting in Harry Potter history, transforming Tom into a snaggle-toothed hunchback whom he should've just renamed Igor. "I've been in the business a long time and it didn't surprise me they just went for a bigger name, being Hollywood led, and I'm happy to pass it on to Ralph.". The first four books are much lighter in tone, since Lord Voldemort had not yet regained a corporeal form. (1997) dan Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001). Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, The Leading Source for Gaming News, Reviews, and Interviews, though the Fat Lady is mentioned in subsequent books. Her singing career was stillborn, however, due to an affliction with bronchial asthma. One of her final performances was that of Miss Doggett in a BBC Radio adaptation of Jane and Prudence. However, Spriggs' portrayal was brief and rather rigid in blithely asking for the prefect's password, so before the character would return to enjoy a little more light-hearted screen time in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the actress was replaced with someone experienced in being funny. He was. Waylett was arrested in 2009 after he was caught growing marijuana plants in his mothers home. In 1976, she moved with Hall from the RSC to the National Theatre when the company's own theatre opened. Female Something went wrong, please try again later. Her first marriage at 21 was a disaster and, in what she called "the most painful decision of my life", left her husband and young daughter to pursue her acting dream. Leonidas only had a few TV and film credits pre and post-Potter, but has gone on to perform regularly at the Theatre Royal Windsor near Windsor Castle in Berkshire. "The producers spent a long time fighting to get me so I'm very proud to have been the first. Her funeral was also attended by Jeremy Irons, Robert Hardy, and Peter Vaughan, who all paid tribute to their friend and fellow actor.[8]. After filming the Chamber of Secrets, Harris fell ill and underwent chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease. My favourite performance from her was as Mrs Jennings in Sense and Sensibility - wonderful acting and my favourite ever film. The Oscar-nominated actor, who played King Arthur in Camelot and Emperor Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator, turned down the role of the Hogwarts headmaster three times because he knew his health was in decline. She continued to work on television, in series like Heartbeat, Midsomer Murders (playing a murder victim in the pilot episode of the series in 1997 and returning in 2006 as the character's identical twin sister) and Poirot. Few people can think of Voldemort now without imagining Fiennes portrayal of the Dark Lord and the dramatic flair he brought to the character. She died on 2 July 2008 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK. Last but not least, we can't forget that even Lord Voldemort was recast at one point. By George Simpson 16:39, Wed, Sep 21, 2016 | UPDATED: 15:47, Thu, Sep 22, 2016 At that time, the Harry Potter producers found out that Lavender begins to have a more important role as Ron's first girlfriend. "The thought of doing seven films was intimidating," he said at the time. Fans have to look pretty closely to spot Bill Weasley's real first appearance in the Harry Potter films, but in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, there is a photo of the Weasleys which includes Bill standing next to his fiery-haired family during a trip to Egypt. She also appeared in Doctor Who and several BBC period dramas. She was an actress and writer, known for Sense and Sensibility (1995), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) and Paradise Road (1997). Years active When Alfonso Cuaron signed on as director for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, he recast the Fat Lady and gave the part to British television comedian Dawn French. They might not have put serious thought into who played a role in one scene in an early film, so they would sometimes have to re-cast the role with a better-known actor down the road. She also featured in RSC productions of Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance, Shaw's Major Barbara and Dion Boucicault's comedy London Assurance, playing Lady Gay Spanker alongside Donald Sinden. 5 min read. Although some fans criticized Gambon's depiction of Dumbledore, particularly in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, he continued on in the part for the remainder of the series, which has come to define his career as a performer. Although it's unclear whether Deadman chose to step away from the role, incoming director Alfonso Cuaron did want to darken up the atmosphere in Azkaban and even instructed Tavare to play the role like Igor from Young Frankenstein, which may mean that Deadman's chipper persona was no longer a good fit. She's close friends with Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson, and all three are chasers for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. True to the first few books, she was originally depicted as just another one of the many poltergeists that pesters the students of Hogwarts, with actress Nina Young floating around in the CGI role. Katie Bell was another minor character who was replaced after she was finally given lines in one of the later films. Though not as high profile a change as replacing Richard Harris with Michael Gambon, she too was replaced in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), by Dawn French. Aside from writing, she's also an avid photographer, belly dancer, and pizzaholic. True to the first few books, she was originally depicted as just another one of the many poltergeists that pesters the students of Hogwarts, with actress Nina Young floating around in the CGI role. Instead of Spriggs, it was actress Dawn French who took on the role for the third film, bringing a more comedic element to the character as she desperately tries to impress the Hogwarts student body with her glass-breaking operatic skills, later ducking behind a neighboring paintings hippopotamus when things get dicey. That incident alone was enough to lose him his prime position in the Potter world (though he was only sentenced to community service by the court), and the troubles would only continue for him. Even so, though, McKellen added that he sometimes saw himself in the posters of Gambon as Dumbledore. The classically trained actress, who had worked with the RSC frequently was replaced three years later with comedian Dawn French, who added a more comic spin to the character. Although it's one of the most memorable scenes in the film, unfortunately, French did not reprise her role in any of the later films -- though the Fat Lady is mentioned in subsequent books. 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