The child stars of Harry Potter: then and now

We're BIG fans of Harry Potter in the GoodtoKnow offices, and when we're not visiting the studio tour or re-reading the books, we love reading the latest news on all of the actors and actresses that starred in the brilliant film versions - and looking back, we can't believe how much they've all changed!

From Neville and Ginny to the star of the eight-film series, Daniel Radcliffe himself, we take a trip down memory lane to see what the child stars of Harry Potter are up to now - you might not even recognise some of them...

Harry Melling (Dudley Dursley)

Harry played Harry (Potter's) portly, bullying cousin Dudley, but once filming had finished he undertook a mission to slim down, reportedly going from 16st to 11st 5lb through diet and exercise changes - including cutting out his beloved Toffee Crisps! Although he's had a few minor on-screen roles, Harry is now a keen theatre actor, starring in productions like King Lear and The Angry Brigade.

Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood)

After playing slightly-loopy-but-totally-lovable Luna, Evanna went on to continue acting, with roles in TV's Sinbad and the teen comedy G.B.F, amongst others, but her path wasn't as clear-cut as some others. Evanna was hospitalised for anorexia nervosa at age 11, at around the same time as the launch of the fifth Harry Potter book in 2003. Her love for the franchise was so strong that her family consulted with the book's publisher and the hospital and she was allowed to leave for an hour and collect a signed copy of the book - and it was this obsession with Harry Potter that eventually led her to land the role of Luna at an open audition. As such, she has since used used her fame to help promote healthy self-esteem and body image in young girls.

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)

Daniel was just 11 years old when he was cast in the role that would change his life forever. Since Harry Potter ended (does it ever truly end?) he's starred in plays and a number of Hollywood films, including The Woman in Black and Horns. His next on-screen appearance will be in the role of Igor in the upcoming film Victor Frankenstein. Daniel now lives in Lower Manhattan in New York with girlfriend Erin Darke, also an actress and Daniel is set to become a first-time dad.

Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley)

Rupert, who played Harry's loyal sidekick Ron from 2001 to 2011, left school at 16, and has enjoyed a successful, if not slightly low-key, acting career ever since. His list of filmography includes hits like Wild Target, Cherrybomb and Driving Lessons, and he even voiced a character in an animated feature-length remake of children's classic Postman Pat! Rupert is known for keeping his private life very private, but it is thought that he is currently in a relationship.

Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)

Emma Watson's career has soared since she took the role of Hermione Granger in 2001. Since the franchise ended, she's added a string of acting roles to her name, including The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Bling Ring and Noah, as well as modelling for brands like Burberry - not to mention getting her degree in English Literature from Brown University. Next up is the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, where Emma will play the main character, Belle. Emma also considers herself a feminist and has become a well-known campaigner for women's rights, a reputation sparked by her now infamous 'HeforShe' speech at the UN in 2014.

Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy)

Looking at that butter-wouldn't-melt face on the left, it's hard to believe that Tom played Harry's nemesis, Draco Malfoy, in all eight films. Now 27, Tom is best known outside of the franchise for his role in Rise of the Planet of the Apes in 2011, but also recently harked back to his roots with the BBC3 documentary Meet the Superfans, where he interviewed some of the world's most dedicated fans of films and TV shows - including Harry Potter. He is often pictured with his long-term girlfriend, Jade Olivia, who he has been dating for seven years.

Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley)

She rose to the public eye playing Ron's younger sister, and Harry's eventual love interest, but Bonnie has a number of other talents up her sleeve too. In 2012, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and has also appeared on the Comic Relief Bake Off, where she was named Star Baker (which is certainly no mean feat!). Like Emma Watson, Bonnie has done some modelling post-Potter, and has now turned her attention to developing her skills behind the camera; pursuing screenwriting, directing and producing.

James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley)

First things first - we can't believe that these two are no longer sporting the signature Weasley-red mane! The twins have not undertaken any similar high-profile acting roles since Harry Potter ended, but are known to be particularly big fans of golf and music, and are often snapped attending music festivals like V Festival and Download. They now split their time between their home in England and America, where they hope to further their film careers.

Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom)

Matthew is one of the Harry Potter stars that has been pictured most in the press since the series ended - predominantly due to his remarkable transformation from goofy schoolboy to, well, fully-fledged hunk (a reputation that was sealed by his underwear-only Attitude magazine photoshoot in May 2015). When he's not fending off the attention of devoted followers, Matthew takes on a lot of TV work, including BBC3's Bluestone 42 and Death in Paradise.

Jessie Cave (Lavender Brown)

Jessie made her debut in the Harry Potter films in 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince', and whilst she dazzled as Lavender, she now balances her occasional acting roles with a quieter life as an illustrator, having recently published her first comic book, entitled 'Lovesick'. She is now also a mum-of-one, and frequently posts (adorable!) pictures of herself and her son on her social media accounts.

Katie Leung (Cho Chang)

Aw, Harry's first girlfriend is all grown up! After her role as Cho, Katie was unsure if she wanted to continue acting, but has since held roles in both theatre and TV productions, including the Channel 4 drama Run. She has also retrained in acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow this autumn, a project she completed while also persuing her other passion for art and photography.

Afshan Azad (Padma Patil)

Image: Instagram/Afshan Azad Afshan has caused a stir on social media recently, after sharing some stunning selfies on her Instagram account (like the one on the right) that show she's not the little lady that Ron Weasley took to the Yule Ball anymore! The actress is now based in Manchester and frequently posts pictures of herself shopping and on nights out with friends - sounds like a typical 27-year-old to us!

Shefali Chowdhury (Parvarti Patil)

Padma's on-screen twin sister, Shefali, has been much less active online that Afshan, and her only acting credits thus far, aside from a short film in 2015, have been in Harry Potter. However, it seems like she may have chosen to concentrate on her education instead of her film career, as she now has a degree from Birmingham City University.

Devon Murray (Seamus Finnigan)

Before he played Harry's fellow Gryffindor, Seamus, (a character who was, in his own words, 'The Silly Irish Guy Who Kept Blowing Up :-)') Devon had already starred in productions including This is my Father and Angela's Ashes. However, post-Potter, he's not had any major film or TV roles. Fingers crossed there'll be something in the pipeline for him soon...

Alfred Enoch (Dean Thomas)

Alfred, now 26, has turned his hand to TV acting since his role as Harry's friend Dean Thomas. He's starred in the ABC legal series 'How to Get Away with Murder', as well as having single episode roles in Sherlock and Broadchurch. Like many of his co-stars, he's also dabbled in stage acting.

Clémence Poésy (Fleur Delacour)

With a face this beautiful, it's unsurprising that Clémence did a lot of modelling after her role as Fleur, from brands as diverse as Gap to Chloé. She's also been in a number of subsequent films, including In Bruges, alongside fellow Harry Potter stars Brendan Gleeson (Mad-Eye Moody) and Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort). Her next movie in the pipeline is called 'The Ones Below'. Although you wouldn't think it to look at her, Clémence is one of the eldest Harry Potter actresses, and is already 32 years old!