Who is Arabella Stanton? Harry Potter's new Hermione Granger is a star already

The enchanting new chapter of Harry Potter has officially kicked off.

After months of intrigue and conjecture, HBO has finally unveiled the young stars who will spearhead its eagerly awaited original TV series-and all attention is on fresh face Arabella Stanton, the young actress cast as Hermione Granger, a role once famously played by Emma Watson.

Joining Stanton in the magical trio are Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, rounding out the new generation of Hogwarts champions.

The casting announcement, made on 27 May, concludes an extensive search that saw over 32,000 children audition for the iconic roles made famous by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Watson, according to Forbes. The casting call, launched last autumn, invited hopefuls aged 9 to 11 from across the UK and Ireland to submit two audition videos-one performing a story or poem, and another sharing something personal about a loved one or pet.

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And it was Arabella Stanton who emerged victorious, reports .

How are Harry Potter stars chosen?

Behind the scenes, casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann sifted through thousands of auditions to find the perfect match for the magical trio. And according to the show's creative leads, they found just that.

"After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the to witness their magic together onscreen," exclaimed showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod in a euphoric joint statement.

Theatre buffs might already be familiar with Stanton's noteworthy West End debut, despite her being a fresh name for much of the public.

What did Arabella Stanton say about being in the new Harry Potter?

Stanton has shared her own heartfelt reaction on playing the lead in Matilda the Musical on an account understood to be hers: "I started auditioning for Matilda the Musical the week after my 9th birthday and feel so lucky and honoured to have spent the age of 9 being able to play Matilda Wormwood at the Cambridge Theatre, London for the Royal Shakespeare Company (and at for an extra special performance at the 500 Words Final)," the touching post reveals.

Stanton enthused about her first major role: "Being able to play the part of Matilda as my West End debut has been incredible .. dreams really can come true!"

This exciting revelation of the young leads is part of the latest cascade of announcements for the anticipated HBO series, which is quickly drawing together a top-tier ensemble set to populate the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Here's who has officially joined the ranks as announced on May 27, 2025.

While the upcoming reboot won't see any familiar faces from the original film saga returning, one known star has had his say. Matthew Lewis, adored for his portrayal of Neville Longbottom, has ruled out a return to his former role, stating he's "Too old to play Neville again," but intriguingly noted he'd jump at the chance to inhabit Remus Lupin's shoes, the complex yet enlightened Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.

With a fresh-faced ensemble poised to delve into the wizarding realm and HBO's daring new direction, an enchanting future looms—and Arabella Stanton might just be at its centre.