Harry Potter: Books vs Series

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

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Janet McTeer

Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall in HBO's Harry Potter
PlaysMinerva McGonagall
Born5 August 1961, Newcastle upon Tyne area
Age when filming began63 (July 2025)
Age at the premiere65 (25 December 2026)
FromEngland
Casting announced14 April 2025
IMDbJanet McTeer

Photo: HBO

Janet McTeer plays Professor McGonagall, the part Maggie Smith played in the films. She has won a Tony and an Olivier award, for A Doll’s House, and has twice been nominated for an Oscar. HBO announced her casting on 14 April 2025.

How the books describe Minerva McGonagall, and every difference so far, is on the character page.

Other roles

YearTitleRole
1996–1997A Doll’s House (stage)Nora
1999TumbleweedsMary Jo Walker
2011Albert NobbsHubert Page
2013The White QueenJacquetta
2018–2020OzarkHelen Pierce

Sources: Wikipedia.

More of the cast

Dominic McLaughlin · Arabella Stanton · Alastair Stout · John Lithgow · Paapa Essiedu · Nick Frost · Lox Pratt · Daniel Rigby · Bel Powley · Amos Kitson · Rory Wilmot · Luke Thallon · Katherine Parkinson · Ruari Spooner · Gracie Cochrane · Anton Lesser · 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 »

Unofficial fan site. Not affiliated with HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery or J.K. Rowling. Images and videos © HBO / Warner Bros. Discovery.
Book references are to the UK editions: PS = Philosopher's Stone, CoS = Chamber of Secrets. · About this site · Page updated