Harry Potter New TV Show: 25 Castings That Must Happen

6. Michelle Fairley As Professor McGonagall

Harry Potter TV Show reboot Matt Smith Lucius Malfoy
HBO

Tough-as-nails yet with a warmth about her, Professor McGonagall was one of the best teacher characters in both the books and the films. Although Dame Maggie Smith has admitted she didn't enjoy playing the character that much, she was absolutely wonderful in the role.

Regarding her TV successor, a good choice would be Michelle Fairley, who is now best-known for her role as Catelyn Stark in Game of Thrones. She's a tremendous actress who's more than capable of being ferocious and intimidating, but, as she proved during her stint in Westeros, she's very skilled at playing tough, steely characters who also have an understated caring side to them.

Another good example of this is her brilliant villainous performance in 24: Live Another Day, in which she played a deranged terrorist who still very clearly loved and cared about her children. She'd smash it as McGonagall.

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Film Studies graduate, aspiring screenwriter and all-around nerd who, despite being a pretentious cinephile who loves art-house movies, also loves modern blockbusters and would rather watch superhero movies than classic Hollywood films. Once met Tommy Wiseau.