Emma Thompson as Sybill Trelawney
Emma Thompson accepted the role of divination professor Sybill Trelawney to impress her four-year-old daughter. She probably had a hard time recognizing her mom once she put on those hippy rags and thick glasses. The actress didn’t have to wear them for too long, since Trelawney got sacked after Dolores Umbridge estimated she has zero fortune-telling talent. Her firing didn’t stop Trelawney from staying loyal to the school and defending it during the Battle of Hogwarts.
Emma Thompson – Now
Just like Maggie Smith, the Love Actually star had two Oscars under her belt before accepting the Harry Potter gig. She had no trouble finding success later on, especially with the role of Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers in Saving Mr. Banks. Acting isn’t her only passion – Thompson is also an accomplished writer, thanks to two follow-up books to Peter Rabbit she worked on.
Katie Leung as Cho Chang
Katie Leung made a brief stop at the Harry Potter audition during a casual shopping trip, and it turned out to be a life-changing moment. The young Scottish actress scored the role of sweet and sensitive Ravenclaw student Cho Chang. She had to deal with trauma and grief at a very young age after the death of her boyfriend Cedric Diggory. Cho tried to find comfort in Harry’s arms, but their relationship quickly fell apart.