Who is Professor McGonagall in new Harry Potter series?

The 63-year-old is set to play head of Gryffindor House, Professor Minerva McGonagall, who was portrayed by Dame Maggie in the film series.

She will be joining the likes of John Lithgow as Hogwarts headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore and Paapa Essiedu as Professor of Potions, Severus Snape, among others.

But who is Janet and where have you seen her before? This is all you need to know about the latest Witchcraft and Wizardry staff member.

Harry Potter stars - where are they now?

Who is Janet McTeer? Minerva McGonagall in Harry Potter TV series

The actress, originally from Wallsend in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before beginning her career with the Royal Exchange Theatre.

She received a Tony and Olivier award in 1997 for best actress in a play for playing Nora Helmer in A Doll’s House and has since appeared in Gangs Of London and Kaos.

The Ozark actress will be seen in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning later this year.

Harry Potter fans might not know that Janet has starred alongside one of the franchise’s very own - Ralph Fiennes, who played Voldemort in the classic films.

The pair featured on the darkly twisted Disney+ hit The Menu back in 2022.

HBO confirms the first 6 #HarryPotter TV series cast members

• John Lithgow — Dumbledore

• Janet McTeer — Minerva McGonagall

• Paapa Essiedu — Severus Snape

• Nick Frost — Hagrid

• Luke Thallon — Quirinus Quirrell

• Paul Whitehouse — Argus Filch pic.twitter.com/OLUg3715Um

— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) April 14, 2025

Ralph played the devilish chef Julian Slowik, who is after revenge from all his guests invited to his unique restaurant on a private island.

While Janet, who took on the role of food critic Lillian Bloom, was also among those who had “wronged” chef Julian throughout his lifetime.

Cast of Harry Potter HBO series revealed so far

These are the cast members which have been confirmed for the new Harry Potter TV series and will play the school staff when production begins at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden in summer 2025 (including the Harry Potter HBO Hagrid casting):

• John Lithgow - Hogwarts headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore, a role previously played by Richard Harris and Sir Michael Gambon in the film franchise
• Paapa Essiedu - Professor of Potions, Severus Snape, who was played by Rickman in the original films
• Nick Frost - Rubeus Hagrid, the friendly groundskeeper in the series who was played by the late Scottish actor, Robbie Coltrane, in the films
• Janet McTeer - head of Gryffindor House, Professor Minerva McGonagall, who was portrayed by Dame Maggie in the film series
• Paul Whitehouse - Argus Filch,  the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’s caretaker
• Luke Thallon - the first Harry Potter book’s main antagonist, Quirinus Quirrell

Casting for the likes of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Voldemort are yet to be announced.

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However, rumours suggest Cillian Murphy could be taking on the role of the dark lord.

When is the new Harry Potter HBO series coming out?

Although filming is scheduled to start this summer in the UK, it’s thought that a release date is expected in 2026 on Max, so Harry Potter fans have a little longer to wait for the TV series for now.