Nina Young as The Grey Lady
The Harry Potter nerds among you will know that, although she is often referred to as The Grey Lady (on the right) throughout the franchise, this ghost is the after-death depiction of Helena Ravenclaw. If you don’t know, we are talking of course, about the actual daughter of one of the four Hogwarts founders – Rowena Ravenclaw.
Having that kind of fame often takes its toll, and feeling pressured by the family name and her mother’s great achievements, The Grey Lady ran away to Albania with her mother’s priceless Diadem. Poor Helena, never to be heard of again.
Sophie Thompson as Mafalda Hopkirk
Mafalda Hopkirk (top left) is one of those characters that you would recognize much more by her voice than her appearance. This is because she works for the Ministry of Magic and is a prominent employee within the Improper Use of Magic department. Any ideas? Yep, this is the voice we've heard in numerous Howlers that have been sent to Harry throughout his many endeavors in the Wizarding World. Some of which weren't even his fault (or so he claims).
We only see Mafalda Hopkirk in person when Hermione takes on her appearance through the use of Polyjuice Potion in The Deathly Hallows.
Sophie Thompson Now
For those of you who don't spend every day obsessing over Harry Potter (like we do), you would've had the time to see Sophie Thompson in many of her other roles, as she was already a hugely popular actress in England, even before the franchise. Eventually, she married the equally talented composer, Richard Lumsden. Through the course of her career, she has showcased her wide range of talents in movies like Jericho, Bounty Hunters, and Eat Pray Love.
She also starred in a number of TV shows, including Celebrity Master Chef – and won the title of the season! However, for Potterheads across the globe, Sophie Thompson will always be the voice of the Howlers.
Nina Young Now
You may have realized that Nina Young's portrayal of The Grey Lady only happens in the first movie. Sadly, once The Grey Lady became a much more vital character in The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, she had already been replaced and played by someone else.
Nevertheless, Nina Young managed to make a name for herself on the big screen, both in and outside the Wizarding World. She has since become an accomplished actress and producer known for her work on Tomorrow Never Dies, Johnny English, clash of the Titans and James Bond. Not bad for a once-upon-a-time ghost.
Shefali Chowdhury as Parvati Patil
Well obviously you didn't think we would have Padma on this list without her twin sister Parvati, did you? Out of both of the Patil sisters, Parvati is the true Gryffindor in the movie. Her bravery and courage are clear to us, especially when she is asked to accompany Harry to the Yule Ball, only to have him ignore her completely while sulking over Cho Chang.
Through the entire evening, Parvati manages to keep her cool and not display her anger at the inconsiderate adolescent boys. She also proves her worth through her talents in Divination class, and during the Battle of Hogwarts.