Who Is Dominic McLaughlin? Meet the New Harry Potter Actor
From a Scottish performing arts school to Hogwarts: meet the young actor taking over one of the most recognisable roles in film and television, and discover what he appeared in before Harry Potter.
Who is Dominic McLaughlin?
Dominic McLaughlin is a Scottish child actor best known for being cast as Harry Potter in HBO’s television adaptation of the novels. He was announced in May 2025 after an extensive audition process and had already performed in television, film and theatre.
Where is he from, and where did he train?
McLaughlin is from Scotland and trained at The Performance Academy, a performing arts school based in Cambuslang, near Glasgow. The academy provides training in both stage and screen acting.
When his Harry Potter casting was announced, the school said he had trained with it for five years. Its public congratulations also highlighted his professional work before Hogwarts, making clear that he was a young performer with experience rather than someone discovered completely by chance.
What was Dominic McLaughlin in before Harry Potter?
His early career spans a children’s fantasy series, a family film and Shakespeare on stage. These are his best-documented credits before becoming Harry Potter.
Gifted as Martin Tempest
In the CBBC series, young people living in Edinburgh discover extraordinary powers. McLaughlin plays Martin, one of the central young characters. The series launched on BBC iPlayer in November 2025.
Grow as Oliver Gregory
McLaughlin appeared in the family comedy about a pumpkin-growing competition. It also features Nick Frost, who would later be cast as Hagrid in the HBO adaptation.
Macbeth in Edinburgh
He appeared in a stage production of Shakespeare’s tragedy at the Royal Highland Centre, alongside Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma. It was valuable professional theatre experience at a young age.
How did Dominic McLaughlin get the Harry Potter role?
McLaughlin secured the part through HBO’s open casting search for Harry, Hermione and Ron. Casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann met him in Glasgow, where his audition stood out for something unexpected.
In the official behind-the-scenes documentary Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic, the casting team revealed that he performed a rhyming poem about his weekend that he had written himself. They were also impressed by his quiet confidence and the emotional qualities he could bring to Harry.
HBO publicly named him as its Harry Potter on 27 May 2025. It was his first globally prominent lead role, but not his first acting job.
Rather than just read lines from the books, McLaughlin brought a piece of writing about his weekend to the audition. It helped casting directors see his personality.
What has Dominic McLaughlin said about playing Harry?
McLaughlin has described himself as a longtime Harry Potter fan. Speaking during promotion for Grow in August 2025, he said putting on the Hogwarts costume felt surreal and that playing Harry was a dream role.
Did Daniel Radcliffe contact him?
Yes. Radcliffe sent McLaughlin a supportive letter after he was cast. McLaughlin later recalled opening it on a train journey back to Glasgow and realising only at the signature who had written it. He called the experience extraordinary.
In short
Dominic McLaughlin is a Scottish actor who trained near Glasgow, gained experience in Gifted, Grow and Macbeth, then landed the role of Harry Potter with a distinctive audition.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Dominic McLaughlin?
McLaughlin has been widely reported as 12 years old in 2026. A precise date of birth has not been confirmed by HBO in its official casting announcement.
Where did Dominic McLaughlin train as an actor?
He trained with The Performance Academy, a performing arts school based in Cambuslang, near Glasgow. The school said he had studied acting for screen and stage there for five years.
Who did Dominic McLaughlin play in Gifted?
He played Martin Tempest in the 2025 CBBC fantasy series Gifted, which follows young people in Edinburgh discovering unusual abilities.
What did Dominic McLaughlin do at his Harry Potter audition?
In a behind-the-scenes documentary, the casting directors revealed that McLaughlin performed a rhyming poem he had written himself about his weekend.
Hasnaat Mahmood
Hasnaat covers TV, film and streaming for FindCheapStreaming, focusing on reliable casting announcements and straightforward biographies.