Celeb Round Up: Imelda Staunton, Harry Melling and Josh Herdman’s New Roles

In our latest Harry Potter Celeb Round Up, Imelda Staunton gets a CBE, Harry Melling gets a crown and Josh Herdman joins the MMA.

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It’s time for another check in with various Harry Potter celebrities in the news. With so many major names cast in the original movie series, it’s hard to keep up with them all sometimes. But with several making headlines in the last week, let’s check in to what they’re all up to.

First up, Imelda Staunton who made Dolores Umbridge one of the most memorable embodiments of the banality of evil in the last century. Last we checked in with her, she was sweeping the Olivier Awards Now she’s followed that up with a brand new role: Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

For the Americans in the audience, this is a step up from the entry level OBE that most actors and sportsball players find themselves awarded for their contributions to UK celebrity culture. It’s not quite the level of getting a Sir or a Dame (that’s the following step up, the Knight Commander or Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.) But with Staunton only at the tender age of 60 and a good few more decades to work to go, it’s a good sign that the lady will soon be a dame. Hem, hem indeed!

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 22: Actress Imelda Staunton poses with her husband Jim Carter after she received a CBE from the Prince William, Duke of Cambridge for services to drama at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on April 22, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok – WPA Pool / Getty Images)

(And yes, that’s her with her husband Jim Carter, of Downton Abbey fame.)

Speaking of Dames and Sirs, David Tennant, the tongue flicking actor behind Barty Crouch Jr., recently helmed the show Shakespeare Live for the Bard’s 400th anniversary. Check him out in a Line of Hamlets….along with Hamlet the Dame!

In those hoping to follow in the famous foot steps of the actors they played along side, Harry Melling, once known as the overweight Dudley Dursley, is making a bid for his own Shakespearean fame.

According to Broadway World, he is cast as Edgar in the Deborah Warner genderflipped King Lear, which stars Oscar winner Glenda Jackson in the title role. Harry Melling’s new svelter look has been turning heads recently as he leaves the Dudley look behind for his new goal of being a leading man on stage. Let’s hope that his Shakespeare loving Potter pals come out and support him.

And finally, in a bid to perhaps get as far away from his Potter roots as possible, Josh Herdman, who was once known as the thickheaded stooge and Draco supporting henchman Gregory Goyle, also has a new gig. The New York Post goes gaga over how completely unrecognizable he is–Much like Melling. But those changes are due to his new career as an MMA fighter.

Not just any MMA fighter, but a winning one–apparently “he recently won his first cage-fighting match against Polish opponent Janusz Walachowski in Romford, east London.” I’m sure he’ll be ready for the next time the Dark Lord is looking for a few good henchmen.