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Daily Record
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Inside life of HBO's Hermione Arabella Stanton and where you've seen her before
Arabella Stanton has been cast in the role of Hermione Granger in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV series HBO has revealed the young stars set to embody the iconic characters Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley in its highly anticipated television adaptation of J. K Rowling's celebrated book series. This new venture promises a "faithful adaptation" of the beloved books, with J. K Rowling herself taking a hands-on approach as an executive producer. Fan anticipation has reached fever pitch with recent announcements revealing who will portray Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, and Rubeus Hagrid. However, until now, the identities of the actors portraying the core trio have been a closely guarded secret, reports Surrey Live. An astonishing 32,000 hopefuls auditioned for the parts made famous by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, with the selection process asking 9 to 11-year-olds to submit a video performing a narrative or poem and another discussing someone or something dear to them. Dominic McLaughlin is set to step into Harry Potter's shoes, while Alastair Stout will take on the role of loyal friend Ron Weasley. Meanwhile Arabella Stanton has been cast as the smart and fearless Hermione Granger. Despite her young age, Arabella may already be recognised by some, given the 11-year-old's previous acting experience. So where might you have seen her before? Arabella previously took on the titular character Matilda Wormwood in the West End production of Matilda the Musical between 2023 and 2024. Her acting portfolio also includes playing the narrator Control in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. An Instagram account run by her parents showcases the budding star's achievements in the arts. On the eve of her 10th birthday, Arabella reflected: "I started auditioning for Matilda the Musical the week after my 9th birthday and feel so lucky and honoured to have spent the age of 9 being able to play Matilda Wormwood at the Cambridge Theatre, London for the Royal Shakespeare Company (and at Buckingham Palace for an extra special performance at the BBC 500 Words Final). "Being able to play the part of Matilda as my West End debut has been incredible... dreams really can come true! Thank you for the opportunity @thersc. I'm hoping double digits will bring more exciting opportunities." True to her words, just over a year later, it was announced via her Instagram that she would be stepping into the shoes of Hermione Granger, succeeding Emma Watson. Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod, showrunner and executive producer respectively, celebrated the fresh cast additions, saying: "The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen." They also expressed their gratitude to the multitude of young stars who auditioned: "We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there." HBO Harry Potter series cast so far Harry Potter: Dominic McLaughlin Ron Weasley: Alastair Stout Arabella Stanton: Hermione Granger Albus Dumbledore: John Lithgow Minerva McGonagall: Janet McTeer Severus Snape: Paapa Essiedu Rubeus Hagrid: Nick Frost Quirinus Quirrell: Luke Thallon Argus Filch: Paul Whitehouse Harry Potter is expected to release on HBO Max in 2026
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Who is Arabella Stanton? Harry Potter's new Hermione Granger is a star already
Arabella Stanton will play the young Hermione Granger in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV series, the Hogwarts Legacy, alongside co-stars Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout The enchanting new chapter of Harry Potter has officially kicked off. After months of intrigue and conjecture, HBO has finally unveiled the young stars who will spearhead its eagerly awaited Harry Potter original TV series-and all attention is on fresh face Arabella Stanton, the young actress cast as Hermione Granger, a role once famously played by Emma Watson. Joining Stanton in the magical trio are Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, rounding out the new generation of Hogwarts champions. The casting announcement, made on 27 May, concludes an extensive search that saw over 32,000 children audition for the iconic roles made famous by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Watson, according to Forbes. The casting call, launched last autumn, invited hopefuls aged 9 to 11 from across the UK and Ireland to submit two audition videos-one performing a story or poem, and another sharing something personal about a loved one or pet. And it was Arabella Stanton who emerged victorious, reports the Express. How are Harry Potter stars chosen? Behind the scenes, casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann sifted through thousands of auditions to find the perfect match for the magical trio. And according to the show's creative leads, they found just that. "After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen," exclaimed showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod in a euphoric joint statement. Theatre buffs might already be familiar with Stanton's noteworthy West End debut, despite her being a fresh name for much of the public. What did Arabella Stanton say about being in the new Harry Potter? Stanton has shared her own heartfelt reaction on playing the lead in Matilda the Musical on an Instagram account understood to be hers: "I started auditioning for Matilda the Musical the week after my 9th birthday and feel so lucky and honoured to have spent the age of 9 being able to play Matilda Wormwood at the Cambridge Theatre, London for the Royal Shakespeare Company (and at Buckingham Palace for an extra special performance at the BBC 500 Words Final)," the touching post reveals. Stanton enthused about her first major role: "Being able to play the part of Matilda as my West End debut has been incredible .. dreams really can come true!" This exciting revelation of the young leads is part of the latest cascade of announcements for the anticipated HBO series, which is quickly drawing together a top-tier ensemble set to populate the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Here's who has officially joined the ranks as announced on May 27, 2025. While the upcoming reboot won't see any familiar faces from the original film saga returning, one known star has had his say. Matthew Lewis, adored for his portrayal of Neville Longbottom, has ruled out a return to his former role, stating he's "Too old to play Neville again," but intriguingly noted he'd jump at the chance to inhabit Remus Lupin's shoes, the complex yet enlightened Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. With a fresh-faced ensemble poised to delve into the wizarding realm and HBO's daring new direction, an enchanting future looms—and Arabella Stanton might just be at its centre.
