Just like Bonnie Wright (and unlike most of the other women on this list), Afshan Azad was not a professional actress before being cast as Padma Patil. She actually admitted to only having auditioned for the role just for the fun of it! Crazy, right? But that does explain why we haven’t seen her since. Shortly after the end of the Harry Potter series, Afshan’s father and brother were charged with threatening her life.
At the young age of 22, she became intensely entwined in a seemingly never-ending court battle for her livelihood. Not quite the fame and fortune we imagined for this star. But what a beautiful, strong woman she has turned into.
Emma Watson Now
As incredible as Hermione is in the books and movies, she doesn't hold a torch to Emma Watson in real life. Born in Paris and raised in Oxfordshire, England, Watson always knew that she wanted to be an actress. Her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise was actually her first professional role. Can you believe it? Aside from becoming an internationally known face, the role also earned her roughly $60 million! After that, Watson also starred in one of our personal favorites - The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and made a stunning rendition of Belle, in Beauty and the Beast.
With all the fame she acquired, Emma continued her education and graduated from Brown University, with a BA in English literature. She still works as an actress, and has also expanded her career into the fashion world, becoming a model and fashion consultant. In 2014, she became the UN Women Goodwill ambassador, and continues to fight for gender equality. Yes, she's a pretty tough cookie.
Afshan Azad as Padma Patil
There were many changes when adapting J.K. Rowling's original characters to film, and Padma Patil is a perfect example. We all know that Padma is only one-half of the giggly Patil twins, but in the books, Padma is actually sorted into the Ravenclaw House (as opposed to her sister, Parvati Patil, whose fate lies among the Gryffindors).
However, in the movies, Padma is a Gryffindor, too, just like her sister Parvati. Either way, they both prove themselves to be on the good guy's team, and add to the overall picture of our bewitching middle school setting, as well as being vital members of Dumbledore's Army.
Geraldine Somerville As Lily Potter
Considering her role as the mother of our hero, Harry Potter, Lily Potter plays a rather minuscule character in the whole scheme of things. Her story, however, plays a major part in Harry's life and memories. Throughout the movies, we see only bits and pieces of Lily's younger years through Harry's memory, or his glances into others' memories of her.
After He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named finds the Potters in their home in Godric Hollow, Lily desperately attempts to save her baby boy's life by shielding him in her arms. Unbeknownst to Harry, this action would later end up saving his life multiple times. But in the long run, it's her backstory that ends up protecting him the most.
Geraldine Somerville Now
Geraldine Somerville made a name for herself long before the Harry Potter franchise. Before her role as Lily Potter, Geraldine was mostly known as Detective Sergeant Jane Penhaligon, from the once-popular crime show series, Cracker.
She then moved on to smaller roles, such as Louisa, Countess of Manton, in the Titanic mini-series, or Sarah Griffin in the BBC's mini-series, Quirke. Lately, Geraldine Somerville served as Lady O, in the 2017 blockbuster, Goodbye Christopher Robin.