'Insulted' Harry Potter star quit after just one movie 'It was terrible'

When JK Rowling sold the film rights to her hit Harry Potter books, she was determined not to allow Hollywood to Americanise her Wizarding World. Stars from across the pond, like Robin Williams, lobbied hard for roles like Hagrid and Lupin. Of course, this has changed today with John Lithgow playing Dumbledore in the TV show reboot, but at the time, the author was determined to keep Hogwarts purely British. Her personal choices included Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman, but one British actor didn't get on well with the franchise. Zoë Wanamaker was cast as Quidditch instructor Madam Hooch in the first year movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which is currently being remade as season 1 of the TV reboot by Warner Bros. But over the years, fans have noticed that the My Family star never reprised her role in the other seven movies, and there's a specific reason why.

According to The Telegraph, the 76-year-old was appalled by the pay she was offered, describing it as "terrible." In 2001, she told the outlet, "Some actors signed three-film deals, but the money was so poor I was insulted, so I just signed for one. If they want me for a second, they'll have to up their rates."

Wanamaker also lamented how they didn't receive royalties from the merchandise featuring their likeness. This included being "cyber-scanned" for the tie-in Harry Potter video game. However, in 2018, she did reprise Madam Hooch in the iOS RPG Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, along with many other actors from the films. Meanwhile, Sherlock's Louise Brealey has been cast as the character in the Harry Potter TV series.