Brooklyn Coincidentally Has 3 Harry Potter Stars in Its Cast

Updated on 11/10/2015 at 5:00 PM

One of this year's best and most affecting films is Brooklyn, the adaptation of a 1950s immigration tale about Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) in the New York borough. In addition to being a sweet and emotional story of love and independence, there's a fun fact about the cast that any muggle will appreciate: there are three Harry Potter stars in the cast. You may not recognize the actors not outfitted in their fantastical garb, so we're pointing out who's crossed over from Hogwarts to Brooklyn.

Domhnall Gleeson in Brooklyn

Irish actor Gleeson plays a very eligible bachelor with whom Eilis (Saoirse Ronan) spends some time in Ireland. Gleeson, who's been having a huge couple of years (he's in this Winter's Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens), was mostly unknown when he appeared in the Harry Potter series just a handful of years earlier.

Domhnall Gleeson in Harry Potter

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 and 2, Gleeson played hunky older brother Bill Weasley, who managed to pull off long, red hair and a scar and still be crush-worthy.

Julie Walters in Brooklyn

Character actress Julie Walters has a maternal role in Brooklyn as Mrs. Kehoe, the owner of the boarding house where Eilis rents a room.

Julie Walters in Harry Potter

Walters also had one of the most maternal roles in the Harry Potter series — she played Mrs. Weasley. That makes her the mother of Bill, Gleeson's character, meaning Brooklyn is a bit of a reunion for Walters and Gleeson (except that they don't have any scenes together, unfortunately).

Jim Broadbent in Brooklyn

Memorable British actor Broadbent appears in the film as Irish Catholic Father Flood, the priest who looks after Eilis in America.

Jim Broadbent in Harry Potter

Potter fans everywhere would know Broadbent as Professor Horace Slughorn, a role he played in two of the films.