Emma Thompson Shocks Fans: The Real Reason She Joined Harry Potter!

Emma Thompson is recognized as one of the most skilled British actresses globally. She has won two Oscars (Best Adapted Screenplay for “Sense and Sensibility” and Best Actress for “Howards End”), along with three BAFTAs, one Emmy, two Golden Globes, and most recently, an Honorary Award at the Locarno Film Festival.

Speaking to an audience that gathered to celebrate her, she candidly discussed her role as the divination professor Sybill Trelawney in the Harry Potter saga and why she chose to accept it (via Deadline):

“Well Compensated”

“To be honest, this wasn’t a major part of my creative efforts. I apologize if this comes off as rude to those of you who are Harry Potter fans, but truly, I showed up, put on some glasses and a lot of hair, and left having been well compensated.”

Her straightforward admission is not entirely surprising given her previous reluctance (or demand for more compensation) to return for the final Harry Potter movie, “The Deathly Hallows,” which was split into two parts. She told Première in 2008 that she would not be available, choosing instead to work on another project:

“Next year, I’m focusing on my own project, Nanny McPhee. This series means so much to me… Harry Potter is a great franchise, but I don’t feel emotionally or creatively attached to it. I wrote the Nanny McPhee films, which are much closer to my heart. They are crafted with care, and hence, mean a lot more to me.”

An Essential Character Nonetheless

Ultimately, a resolution was found, and Professor Trelawney, who first appeared in “The Prisoner of Azkaban” and “The Order of the Phoenix,” was indeed in the second part of “The Deathly Hallows.” It’s important to remember that Trelawney plays a crucial role in the series, as she is the one who tells Albus Dumbledore about a young boy born with the power to defeat Voldemort.

Recently seen in “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” (2025), Thompson has just completed filming for the police series “Down Cemetery Road” with Ruth Wilson and the live-action/animation hybrid “Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie,” directed by the creator of the Minions and “Despicable Me 3.”