With just a week to go until previews commence, the London production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has finally given us a first look at the actors in costume, starting with the Potter family: Harry, Ginny, and Albus Severus Potter.
The magical character portraits, which debuted on Pottermore, reveal a very grown-up Harry and Ginny Potter (née Weasley) and their young son, Albus. The Potters are played by Jamie Parker (Harry) — donning Harry’s beloved scar and trademark glasses — Poppy Miller (Ginny), and Sam Clemmett (Albus Severus).
“[Parker] is Harry now,” author J.K. Rowling told Pottermore. “There’s a kind of relief in watching him, he gets it so right.”
Speaking of young Albus, Rowling opted to stay mum about Harry and Ginny’s middle child: “There’s much I could say about Sam-as-Albus, but we’d be into spoiler territory so quickly I’ll just say we couldn’t have cast better.” Clemmett is so in tune with his character, that he even envisioned Albus’s wardrobe.
At the beginning of the show, Albus will wear hand-me-down Hogwarts robes from his older brother, James Sirius Potter, an idea that came from the young actor himself. (After all, we know Harry is an “overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and father of three school-age children,” which isn’t cheap.)
“I wanted him to feel quite uncomfortable, and be able to play with his clothes,” Clemmett said.
As for Ginny, the retired chaser for the Holyhead Harpies is now a cool mom who, as Miller said, dresses like a “tasteful Pygmy Puff.” Rowling added, “I think a lot of people would like to have Poppy’s Ginny for a mother. Kind and cool, exactly as I imagined her.”
Even more characters from Rowling’s wizarding world — like Paul Thornley’s Ron and Noma Dumezweni’s highly anticipated Hermione — will be unveiled over the next few days, so be sure to check back for even more cast photos.