Michelle Fairley’s role as Mrs. Granger in the Harry Potter franchise was actually one of her smallest roles ever. She is now far better known for her emotion-filled role in a different, yet just as popular fantasy drama. We’re referring to none other than HBO’s Game of Thrones. We can’t think of anyone who would have made a more convincing Catelyn Stark, head of the stark family for most of the series, and mother to Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon Stark.
Michelle Fairley really made a name for herself with GoT, and devastated millions of fans when she was brutally murdered at the Red Wedding. Throughout the years, Michelle has also appeared in popular TV shows, such as Suits and 24: Live Another Day.
Pam Ferris Now
Most people now recognize Pam Ferris for her role on Harry Potter, but she had already proved her acting skills many years before. If you've ever seen the movie adaptation of Roald Dahl's Matilda (1991), you'd be trembling right now, and with good reason. See, Pam Ferris is none other than retched, cruel, harsh, child-hating headmistress - the feared Miss Trunchbull herself. No one can bring across that evil power-driven smile quite the way she can.
Nonetheless, in recent years, Pam has expanded her horizons and tried her hand at a more caring character, in Call the Midwife, and she even played Queen Victoria in the latest Sherlock Holmes themed comedy - Holmes and Watson.
Michelle Fairley as Mrs. Granger
Ms. Granger, Hermione's mother, appears briefly in the films, but seeing as Ron's mother has such a large role, and Harry's isn't around, it's only fair that we at least meet Ms. Granger. It's a well-known fact that Hermione was born to a muggle family, and is an enigma as far as wizard families go. Hermione couldn't even tell her about her whereabouts and her Hogwarts experience. Who would believe her?
Later on, Mrs. Granger is utterly shocked to find out that her daughter is a real witch, but nevertheless, she supports her throughout her whole time in school.While her parents never really knew what was going on in the wizardry world, and towards the end, Hermione still makes the tough decision to erase their memory in order to protect them from dark magic. Sorry Mrs. Granger… it was for your own good!
Helen McCrory as Narcissa Malfoy
Okay, so obviously we don't like the Malfoys. I mean, they're death eaters! Well, Lucius is. And Draco would join in a minute if he were old enough. Narcissa never actually joined the death eaters, but she and her whole Pure-Blood family still associated themselves with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named throughout the centuries. And that's a big no-no. Plus, she is so stuck up! Still, she doesn't seem as bad as the rest of her family.
She even lies to the Dark Lord during the Battle of Hogwarts, in order to save her son Draco's life, and by doing so, ultimately helps Harry survive and win the Battle. So should we like her? We wouldn't go as far as that.
Helen McCrory Now
Did you know, Helen McCrory was never meant to play Narcissa Malfoy? Originally, the English actress was cast in the role of Bellatrix Lestrange, but then she got pregnant and was forced to give up the role. Can you imagine a pregnant Bellatrix? Yeah... not quite as scary. Anyway, because the producers loved her so much, they weren't ready to give up on her completely and asked her to come back to the franchise after she gave birth, to fulfill the role of Narcissa. Which actually worked out perfectly!
The talented actress has since appeared in James Bond's Skyfall, The Woman In Black: Angel of Death and Peaky Blinders so it seems she too liked a good action film. Unfortunately, the actress passed too soon in 2021.