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10 most successful Harry Potter stars, ranked – Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe landed big Hollywood roles, but Twilight’s Robert Pattinson is about to become Batman

Between Robert Pattinson, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, who is the most successful Harry Potter alum? Photos: AFP, @cineasimetrico, @cultjer/Twitter; Reuters,

The first Harry Potter film was released 20 years ago on November 14 – and we’re officially feeling old.

Since then, the franchise’s former child stars have grown up, embarked on their own careers and raked in plenty of cash along the way. We had a look at their filmographies, awards, social media and more to determine just who has been the most successful since.

So how did the core trio – Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint – perform, and which actors with minor roles ended up in major Netflix hits and Hollywood blockbusters?

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10. Evanna Lynch

Harry Potter character Luna Lovegood was portrayed by Evanna Lynch. Photo: @evannalynch/Instagram

Evanna Lynch played the lovably loony Luna Lovegood for four films. Lynch, 30, has found the most fame on social media – she has 3.8 million followers on Instagram – but she keeps busy with other projects as well. She hosts weekly vegan podcast The ChickPeeps and co-founded the Kinder Beauty Box company – a clean, vegan and cruelty-free make-up box subscription.

She also competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2018, finishing in third place. Acting-wise, she’s appeared in a few indie films, but clearly her main focus is on other ventures.

9. Matthew Lewis

Matthew Lewis who played Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter series has 2.7 million Instagram followers and 1.4 million Twitter followers. Photo: @mattdavelewis/Instagram

Truly, we have to thank Matthew Lewis and his Harry Potter character, Neville Longbottom, for his legendary glow-up that caused a generation to create the term “Longbottoming”. The cultural impact of that alone places him above some of his co-stars.

The 32-year-old is also still acting regularly. He appeared in the 2018 series Girlfriends as well as the 2020 series All Creatures Great and Small. Ripper Street, Happy Valley, Me Before You and even an episode of Drunk History are among his other credits.

Lewis also hosts The Official Leeds United Podcast. He has 2.7 million Instagram followers and 1.4 million Twitter followers.

8. Harry Melling

Harry Melling, who starred as Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter series, appeared in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit. Photo: Bang Showbiz
Harry Melling is unrecognisable from his days as Dudley Dursley. You might’ve seen him in The Queen’s Gambit and not even realised. Melling, 32, has become quite the actor since leaving Harry Potter behind him. After his last appearance in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, he’s appeared in Merlin, The Lost City of Z, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, His Dark Materials, The Old Guard, The Devil All the Time, The Queen’s Gambit and Say Your Prayers, among other things. A very impressive resume for someone who used to be known as the annoying, evil cousin.

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He’s set to appear in the Joel Coen-directed adaptation of The Tragedy of Macbeth alongside Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand in December.

Melling is also going to play Edgar Allen Poe in the film The Pale Blue Eye alongside Christian Bale, so it’s safe to say we’ll only be hearing more from him.

7. Freddie Stroma

Harry Potter alum Freddie Stroma appeared in Netflix hit Bridgerton. Photo: @benxttlizzi/Twitter
Freddie Stroma, who played the annoying Cormac McLaggen for three films, recently popped up in Netflix’s smash hit Bridgerton. Yes, that appearance bumped him up a few spots – how could it not? The TV show was an entertainment sensation and Stroma played a literal prince.

But the 34-year-old has actually been steadily acting for years outside of Bridgerton. He starred in Unreal, had a role in Pitch Perfect and appeared in an episode of Game of Thrones.

And a fourth credit may be on the way: he’s playing Adrian Chase, aka Vigilante, in the upcoming HBO Max series Peacemaker, a spin-off focusing on John Cena’s character from The Suicide Squad.

He also starred in Time After Time as HG Wells as well as The Crew, a Kevin James-led sitcom on Netflix, which was cancelled in July.

6. Tom Felton

Tom Felton recently watched Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for the first time and reacted live on TikTok. Photo: @t22felton/Instagram
While Felton is still best known for Malfoy, he’s been able to capitalise on his role in a way few other Harry Potter stars have. The 34-year-old recently watched the first film in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, for the first time and reacted live on TikTok, getting lots of headlines. Plus, whenever he posts a throwback from the set – more headlines. It’s helped him gain a massive 11 million Instagram followers and 3.1 million Twitter followers.

Felton does still act too though – he had a sweet arc on TV series The Flash as Julian, appeared as Laertes in Ophelia and has been in other indie films in the past decade.

He still hasn’t had his big, leading man role yet, but his upcoming slate is packed, with roles in films such as Save the Cinema starring Jonathan Pryce and Canyon Del Muerto with Abigail Breslin and Val Kilmer.

5. Rupert Grint

Rupert Grint joined Instagram only last year and ratcheted up 4.4 million followers. Photo:@cultjer/Twitter
Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, is most successful in his native country of England. He isn’t as mega-famous as his co-stars, but that seems to be the way he wants it. He joined Instagram only last year … and already has over 4.4 million followers.

The 33-year-old hasn’t appeared in many films since the Harry Potter saga ended, but he has been successful on TV. He starred in – and executive produced – the video streaming platform Crackle’s series Snatch alongside the future Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor and the Skins heartthrob Luke Pasqualino.

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Currently, he stars in the Apple TV+ series Servant, which the horror icon M. Night Shyamalan produces. It’s already been renewed for a third season.

4. Alfred Enoch

How to Get Away with Murder star Alfred Enoch starred as Dean Thomas in seven Harry Potter films. Photo: @PopCrave/Twitter

Alfred Enoch, the actor behind Dean Thomas in seven Harry Potter films, is now better known for How to Get Away with Murder. His run on the series was popular enough that there’s a significant number of people who know him better as Wes Gibbins than Dean Thomas at this point – and that’s saying something. The Emmy-winning show wrapped up its six-season run in May 2020. That puts him in the upper echelon of Harry Potter child stars.

The 32-year-old is set to continue his TV success in the Apple TV+ series Foundation, which co-stars Jared Harris and Lee Pace. It was renewed for a second season in October.

3. Daniel Radcliffe

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is set to appear in The Lost City of D alongside Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock. Photo: @cineasimetrico/Twitter

Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter himself, has become quite the actor since leaving Hogwarts. After carrying an entire franchise on his back, which is no small feat, his post-Harry Potter career has been truly interesting to watch. He’s shied away from big-budget films, instead focusing on bonkers flicks such as Guns Akimbo – which spawned that infamous meme – Swiss Army Man and the interactive finale of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

He also appeared in the magical film Now You See Me 2, in which he pointedly is not a magician.

Currently, he stars in the TBS anthology series Miracle Workers – a clip of Radcliffe performing She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain in drag went viral this year. The comedy series has been renewed for a fourth season. Radcliffe is also co-starring with Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock in The Lost City of D in 2022.

The 32-year-old has also had a successful theatre career. He famously starred in Equus and the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which earned him a Grammy nod. He also has two Drama Desk Awards nominations under his belt.

2. Emma Watson

Emma Watson has landed a string of roles in high-profile films after Harry Potter, including Beauty and the Beast, Little Women and Perks of Being a Wallflower. Photo: Reuters

Emma Watson, aka Hermione Granger, is the most successful member of the core trio. Watson, 31, went from Harry Potter star to a Disney princess in the live-action Beauty and the Beast, an infamous criminal in Bling Ring, a beloved manic pixie dream girl in Perks of Being a Wallflower and the eldest March sister in Little Women, among other roles.

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Her impact will still be felt around the world even if she retires from acting. The Harry Potter alum graduated from Brown University, was appointed a UN Goodwill Ambassador, launched the HeForShe campaign, is part of the G7, has done extensive modelling and is on the board of luxury goods company Kering. She a staggering 61.4 million followers on Instagram.

1. Robert Pattinson

Robert Pattinson is arguable the most successful Harry Potter alum, appearing in Twilight and set to star in Batman next year. Photo: Getty Images

Could it have been anyone else? Robert Pattinson, who appeared only in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as tragic heartthrob Cedric Diggory, is easily the most successful child star to come out of the Harry Potter series.

Pattinson, who does not have an Instagram account, spun his one-movie role into the leading man of one of the other biggest franchises of the 2010s: Twilight. Today, he’s the most successful star from that franchise, too.

After a decade of distancing himself from big blockbusters by starring in films like Good Time and The Lighthouse, Pattinson, 35, is ready for his big, mainstream comeback. He starred in Tenet, The King and is going to become Batman next year. There’s no one else who compares, honestly.
This article originally appeared on Insider
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  • Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) shared his reaction to the first film in the series on TikTok, while Freddie Stroma starred in Bridgerton and Game of Thrones
  • Daniel Radcliffe will star with Channing Tatum and Brad Pitt in The Lost City of D, but can you guess which Harry Potter alum appeared on Dancing with the Stars?