Ariana Grande, Liam Payne, Barack Obama, and Other Celebrities Who Love "Harry Potter"

Updated on July 25, 2022 10:39 AM by Anna P

How did the global phenomenon start?

When the train from Manchester, England, to King's Cross station in London was delayed in 1990, J.K. Rowling started writing the acclaimed children's series. Harry, an 11-year-old orphan raised by his cruel aunt and uncle, learns he is a wizard in the course of the narrative.

Over time, the author from the United Kingdom eventually developed the plot into a seven-book series.

Was Challenging

As a single mother of her daughter Jessica and a recipient of welfare, Rowling admitted to CBS News in 2003 that she found writing to be challenging.

Rejection

"I'd stroll her about Edinburgh in the stroller and wait for her to nod off. And then I would literally run to the closest cafe and write for as long as she slept," she recalled at the time, adding that before she got a contract, "four of five publishers" rejected her novel.

Global phenomenon

In the UK, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was released in 1997. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the name by which Scholastic publishes the book that Rowling sold to them. With more than 500 million copies sold globally, the release signaled the beginning of a global phenomenon.

The Pressure

Rowling felt pressure to provide new novels more quickly as interest in the Wizarding World grew among readers. After speeding through the 636-page Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, she made the decision to take her time.

A Step Back

She admitted to the New Yorker in 2012 that "the pressure of it had grown overpowering." "Writing was challenging for me, which had never happened before in my life. Overwhelming levels of inspection were used.

I had not been at all ready for that. I also had to take a step back. Needed to back up badly."

Movie

The 2001 film with the same name, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, was based on the first book. The prequel series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was ultimately inspired by the movie franchise, which took in more than $7 billion at the box office.

Theme Parks

The fantasy television series was also turned into two theme parks by Universal Studios, one at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida and the other at Universal Studios Hollywood in California.

Check out the list of famous people who adore Harry Potter.

Zendaya and Tom Holland

Holland stated, "I think I could know more about Harry Potter than J.K. Rowling," in a BBC1 Radio interview from February 2020. I'm kind of Harry Potter obsessed.

While Zendaya has said that she finds the movies "calming," she also revealed to InStyle in August 2019 that she probably watches at least a portion of a Harry Potter movie "once a day."

Jennifer Lawrence

Lawrence acknowledged her love of Harry Potter and Twilight in a 2012 interview with The Daily Beast. She thought Stephenie Meyer's first novel about vampires was "amazing," but she definitely loved Harry Potter.

At the time, she proclaimed, "I'm more of a Harry Potter geek." All of the books were read three or four times by me. I am familiar with all incantations and spells.

Camila Cabello

It took the "Havana" singer longer than most to become a fan, tweeting in all caps in January 2015, "Is it too late to join the Harry Potter fandom?"

Selena Gomez

In July 2011, the former cast member of Wizards of Waverly Place spent one of her free days in Harry Potter Land in Orlando. On Twitter and Facebook, she shared that she enjoyed herself with her friends and even tried butterbeer.

Drake

Drake was thrilled to discuss his appreciation for the franchise in an interview he gave to The Hollywood Reporter in November 2017. The "Hotline Bling" rapper spent four years looking for a $160,000 first edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Ariana Grande

The vocalist of "7 Rings" gave the names Sirius Black, Snape, and Lily to three of her dogs in honor of Harry's godfather, professor, and mother, respectively.

Pete Davidson

The Deathly Hallows emblem, a triangle design, is inked on the Saturday Night Live star's arm.

Prince Harry, Prince William, and Duchess Kate

In 2013, the royal triplets paid a visit to the Harry Potter set at the Warner Bros. Studios in London, where they learned how to use wands properly.

Barack Obama

The previous US president told Rowling in July 2009 that he is an enormous admirer of the series and has even read the novels to his daughters, Malia and Sasha.