With the end of Harry Potter fast approaching, most of the attention is focused on Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. This is pretty understandable, since they literally grew up in front of our eyes on the big screen. But what so many people (mainly squealy teenage fangirls) forget is that Hogwarts, the Order of the Phoenix, and the Death Eaters are staffed with some legitimate acting legends. There are Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Golden Globe winners, theater stars, writers, directors, and… wait, WHO isn’t allowed into China?

Alan Rickman (Severus Snape): I’ve loved Alan Rickman since I was thirteen and found out that we share a birthday (February 21st). He’s infamous for his portrayal of Hans Gruber in Die Hard, and was almost as villainous in Quigley Down Under as Elliot Marston. He proved his comedy prowess in the likes of Love Actually and Galaxy Quest. And if you’re like me and think his voice is like velvet, get this; in Dogma, his character Metatron was the voice of god. Could I be any more excited that he’s in a Broadway show opening this fall?

 

Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange): Before she became the perfect Bellatrix (seriously, could she look more evil and demented?), Helena had roles in such classics as Fight Club, Planet of the Apes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, A Room With A View, and The Wings Of The Dove, which earned her her first Oscar nomination. She’s also starred in Sweeney Todd and 2010′s Best Picture The King’s Speech. I think having Bellatrix hanging over my shoulder would cure me of my stutter too!

 

Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort): Portraying the most evil wizard of all time wasn’t Ralph’s first foray into villainy — he was nominated for an Oscar for playing Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List. He has roles in In Bruges, The Hurt Locker, The Reader, Clash of the Titans, and Maid in Manhattan. Yep, Voldy was in a chick flick opposite J-Lo!

 

David Thewlis (Remus Lupin): Did you know that our favorite Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was the voice of the earthworm in James and the Giant Peach? He can be seen in Dragonheart, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Big Lebowski, and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (David is the only man in a Nazi uniform that I’ve ever made an effort to like). He starred in Seven Years in Tibet alongside Brad Pitt, and the two were banned from China for their roles. David may not be a werewolf, but it sounds like he’s got a touch of Lupin’s badass-ery!

 

Dame Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall): Dame Maggie won two Golden Globes for her roles in California Suite and A Room With A View, an Emmy for her role in My House in Umbria, and two Academy Awards for her roles in California Suite and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. And that’s not even mentioning her other 22 award wins and 40 nominations! You can catch her in The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, The First Wives Club, The Secret Garden, and Sister Act.

 

Gary Oldman (Sirius Black): If anyone thought Gary’s Sirius has a touch of rock’n'roll in him, you’d be correct — he portrayed Sex Pistols front man Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy. He also played Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK, Count Dracula in Dracula, and Jim Gordon in the Batman series. And if anyone wants to hear Sirius’s dulcet tones while, uh, shooting people, he voices Sgt. Reznov in the Call of Duty: World at War and Call of Duty: Black Ops video games.

Click here to see MuggleNet’s list, which includes Michael Gambon, Richard Harris (the two Dumbledores), Emma Thompson (Professor Trelawney), and Kenneth Branagh (Professor Lockhart).

Who’s your favorite Harry Potter adult?