BAFTA-winning Lenny Rush takes over as Dobby in HBO’s Harry Potter reboot
BAFTA-winning actor Lenny Rush has been announced as the performer behind beloved house elf Dobby in the second season of HBO’s Harry Potter television adaptation.
The 17-year-old, widely recognised for his starring turn in the comedy-drama Am I Being Unreasonable?, picked up the British Academy Television Award for Best Male Comedy Performance for that role.
Beyond acting, Mr Rush has presented BBC Children in Need and the BAFTA Awards ceremony, and appeared on Would I Lie to You? He is also due to feature in the BBC’s forthcoming six-part drama The Reluctant Vampire.
In the original film series, Dobby was rendered entirely through CGI with voice work provided by Toby Jones. Mr Rush’s casting marks a notably different creative direction for the character.
Alongside Mr Rush, HBO revealed that Billy Barratt will portray the young Tom Riddle, the character who eventually becomes Lord Voldemort.
The 19-year-old is the youngest recipient of the International Emmy Award for Best Actor, earned through his performance in BBC TV film Responsible Child.
His recent credits include Apple TV’s Invasion and the 2025 horror feature Bring Her Back, and he is set to appear as Nathan Prescott in the forthcoming Life Is Strange television series.
Bonnie Hill has meanwhile been confirmed as Ginny Weasley for the second season, stepping in after Gracie Cochrane departed the role citing "unforeseen circumstances."
Mr Hill’s previous work includes Netflix’s The Six Triple Eight.
Game of Thrones star Kit Harington, previously announced for season two, will take on the part of Gilderoy Lockhart.
Mr Rush responded to the announcement by sharing a series of photographs on social media, including childhood snapshots of himself in Harry Potter costume during a visit to the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London.
"I am over the moon to be joining the magical world of HBO’s Harry Potter series, as Dobby," he wrote.
"Even littler me (a massive Harry Potter fan, as you can tell) wouldn’t believe it! Very excited to join this amazing franchise."
He playfully added: "Also, on the fourth slide, it’s only a butterbeer I was drinking, at the Harry Potter Warner Brothers tour, don’t worry!"
The throwback images offered a charming glimpse of the young actor’s longstanding connection to the wizarding franchise he is now officially part of.
The first season, which has completed filming at Leavesden Studios outside London, is set to debut on HBO on December 25.
The second season, adapting J.K. Rowling’s Chamber of Secrets, is currently in pre-production at the same facility.
Dominic McLaughlin leads the series as Harry Potter, supported by Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
The adult cast features John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, and Janet McTeer as McGonagall.
Francesca Gardiner serves as writer and executive producer on the series, with Mark Mylod executive producing and directing multiple episodes.
Ms Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films also executive produce. Warner Bros. Television is producing in association with Brontë Film and TV.
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