How One Actor Missed His Shot At Appearing In ‘Harry Potter’ Thanks To One Rat And A Friendly Favor

Harry Lawtey’s hilarious tale of almost making it to Hogwarts.

Jesse

• Published in News
• September 22, 2024

It’s not every day you hear someone lost a role in one of the biggest franchises in history all because of a rat. But then again, not everyone is Harry Lawtey. Yes, that Harry Lawtey—the charming Robert from HBO’s hit show Industry. 

But before he was gracing the screen in a suit and tie, he was just another kid on the set of Harry Potter, holding a smelly rat and making a career-altering mistake.

Back in his early days as a budding actor, Lawtey had a small role as a background actor in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was his first-ever experience on a film set, and what should have been a magical opportunity turned into a lesson he’ll never forget.

The scene in question was the iconic final train station scene where the grown-up wizards send their kids off to Hogwarts. As Lawtey recalls, “The animal handler came around, handing out all these animals in cages to us extras.”

“I was given a rat. And no offense to rats, but I wasn’t thrilled about holding it for half an hour while waiting for the cameras to roll.” After standing with the rat for what felt like an eternity, his friend offered to take it off his hands after noticing his discomfort. 

Without hesitation, Harry passed the rodent over, probably thinking, “Good riddance.” Little did he know that one unfortunate act had already sealed his fate.

Harry Lawtey serves life lessons in style!

“Quite literally a minute later, they were like, ‘Guys, we’re going for the first shot.’ And the first AD goes, ‘Who’s the kid with the rat?’” Lawtey, now rat-less, watched as his friend was ushered to the front of the shot while he was left in the background.

The scene ends in the final cut, and Harry’s friend gets his moment of fame while Harry remains just another blurry face in the crowd. Reflecting on the incident, Harry shares, “The moral of the story is to never give away a rat.” Wise words, indeed.

But Harry’s acting journey didn’t end with that rodent handover. In a recent interview with his Industry co-star Myha’la Herrold, Harry opened up about more than just his rodent regrets. 

They discussed the ins and outs of working on Industry, which has now claimed the coveted Sunday night slot on HBO. “It’s surreal to be part of something that has such a strong following now,” Harry noted, adding that he never expected the show to grow to its current success. 

From holding rats to holding court on HBO’s Industry. Quite the glow-up, don’t you think?

And with the addition of Game of Thrones star Kit Harington to the cast, it seems like Industry is gearing up for its most thrilling season yet.

Beyond the small screen, Harry also shared insights about his latest project, a film titled Mr. Burton, in which he portrays the legendary Richard Burton in his younger years. 

This role demanded a complete transformation, both physically and vocally, as he had to adopt a strong Welsh accent. For Harry, this film has been a labor of love and one of his most challenging roles to date.

Harry’s career might have started with a rat, but it’s clear that he’s destined for much bigger things. And who knows? Maybe that rat was a lucky charm after all, paving the way for his breakthrough role in Industry. 

So, if you ever find yourself holding onto something—be it a rat or an opportunity—think twice before letting it go, no matter how unpleasant it may seem. You never know when the spotlight might come calling!

Jesse