Harry Potter: Books vs Series

Books vs Series · The unofficial guide to HBO's Harry Potter

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Anton Lesser

PlaysGarrick Ollivander
Born14 February 1952, Birmingham
Age when filming began73 (July 2025)
Age at the premiere74 (25 December 2026)
FromEngland
Casting announced14 July 2025
IMDbAnton Lesser

Anton Lesser plays Mr Ollivander, the wandmaker who tells Harry that great things are expected of him. He is known as Qyburn in Game of Thrones and Thomas More in Wolf Hall.

How the books describe Garrick Ollivander, and every difference so far, is on the character page.

Other roles

YearTitleRole
2013–2019Game of ThronesQyburn
2013–2023EndeavourReginald Bright
2015Wolf HallThomas More
2017The CrownHarold Macmillan
2022–2025AndorMajor Partagaz

Sources: Wikipedia.

More of the cast

Dominic McLaughlin · Arabella Stanton · Alastair Stout · John Lithgow · Janet McTeer · Paapa Essiedu · Nick Frost · Lox Pratt · Daniel Rigby · Bel Powley · Amos Kitson · Rory Wilmot · Luke Thallon · Katherine Parkinson · Ruari Spooner · Gracie Cochrane · Warwick Davis · Sirine Saba · Louise Brealey · Orson Matthews · Paul Whitehouse · Johnny Flynn · Kit Harington · Rafe Spall. See also the ages of the cast and the full cast.

Premiere

25 Decon HBO Max

Books vs Series

Difference 001 of 15

Snape’s skin colour

Books: Snape has “sallow skin” (PS, ch. 7).

Series: he is played by Paapa Essiedu, a Black British actor.

All 15 differences »

Posters

Harry character poster, HBO's Harry Potter
Harry

All posters »

Latest updates

13 November 2026
New pages: a page for each actor, the ages of the cast, new scenes not in the book, houses and uniforms, magical creatures and music. More »

13 November 2026
New page: sets and filming locations, from the new Hogwarts at Leavesden to London Zoo, King’s Cross and the Cornish coast. More »

13 November 2026
Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout, the new Harry, Hermione and Ron, talked to Scholastic News about the auditions, getting the parts and filming. More »

10 November 2026
Snape actor Paapa Essiedu told Vanity Fair he still doesn’t really know what happens in Deathly Hallows, and was baffled by Dumbledore’s death. More »

All news »

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Book references are to the UK editions: PS = Philosopher's Stone, CoS = Chamber of Secrets. · About this site · Page updated