As The Fat Lady

Comedian Laura Smyth has been cast in the new Harry Potter TV series.

The stand-up will play The Fat Lady, a witch depicted in a portrait who guarded the entrance to Gryffindor Tower at Hogwarts. 

She was played by the late Elizabeth Spriggs in the film version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Dawn French in the Prisoner of Azkaban.

HBO announced Smyth’s involvement today, while revealing that  

Leo Bill will play Nearly Headless Nick, Andrew Brooke he Bloody Baron, Daniel Fearn The Fat Friar  and David Threlfall the voice of The Sorting Hat.

Smyth previously had a small role as comedy MC Glenda in  Richard Gadd’s Baby Reindeer.

A former English teacher from East London, Smyth became a full-time comedian and is known for the Radio 4 special I Don’t Know What To Say, about her breast cancer diagnosis, and motherhood series Your Mum.

Last month she had to postpone her planned Born Aggy stand-up tour, citing personal family news that meant she had to stay close to home.

Published: 30 Oct 2026