Janet McTeer’s 10 Movies & Shows You Should See Before Harry Potter Series Arrives

Things are finally coming together for the Harry Potter TV series which has so far hired some of its Hogwarts professors, though it has yet to announce who is set to portray the trio of leading characters.

Apart from Paapa Essiedu and John Lithgow, the list of newcomers is now also joined by Janet McTeer who will portray Professor Minerva McGonagall, the role that initially belonged to Maggie Smith.

Before HBO’s Harry Potter arrives sometime in 2026, here are some movies and shows starring Janet McTeer that you better check out.

The Menu (2022)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Menu has scores of 88% and 76% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie is rated 7.2/10

In the Ralph Fiennes-led bit black comedy horror also starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult, McTeer portrays Lillian Bloom, a food critic arriving at an exclusive restaurant on a private island where celebrity chef Julian Slowik already has everything prepared for the most unforgettable night in his guests’ lives.

Paint It Black (2016)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Paint It Black holds scores of 88% and 48% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie’s rating is 5.7/10

Based on a 2006 novel of the same name, Paint It Black stars McTeer as Meredith, the mother of a young artist who commits suicide, which stirs a series of clashes between her and her son’s girlfriend.

Hannah Arendt (2012)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Hannah Arendt holds scores of 86% and 75% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the movie rates 7.1/10

The biographical drama stars McTeer as Mary McCarthy, a close friend of philosopher and political theorist Hannah Arendt who travels to Israel to cover Adolf Eichmann's war-crimes trial for The New Yorker magazine.

Me Before You (2016)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Me Before You keeps scores of 54% and 73% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie’s rating is 7.4/10

In this romantic drama led by Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke and The Hunger Games’ Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer portrays Will Traynor’s mother Camilla who keeps tense relationships with her son, but still struggles to accept his disability after the accident.

Maleficent (2014)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Maleficent has scores of 54% and 70% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the movie is rated 6.9/10

McTeer comes as the narrator for the Angelina Jolie-led fantasy drama, following Maleficent’s attempts to avenge those who betrayed her and took her land away from her, which later results in the only way to peace in the kingdom being banished.

Ozark (2017 — 2022)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Ozark holds scores of 82% and 86% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the show rates 8.5/10

In Netflix’s hit crime drama series, McTeer is first introduced in season 2 as Helen Pierce, a Chicago-based attorney who represents the Navarro cartel.

The White Queen (2013)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The White Queen has scores of 80% and 82% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the show’s rating is 7.7/10

The BBC historical drama stars McTeer as Jacquetta Woodville of Luxembourg, the mother of Rebecca Ferguson’s Elizabeth Woodville who is the "White Queen" and consort to Edward IV.

Kaos (2024 — )

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Kaos keeps scores of 77% and 83% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the series is rated 7.4/10

The Jeff Goldblum-led mythological dark comedy sees McTeer as Hera, the wife of Goldblum’s Zeus whose life starts falling apart once a sinister prophecy declared by Prometheus starts manifesting itself with the latter’s intention to overthrow Zeus.

Parade’s End (2012)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Parade’s End holds scores a score of 67% from audiences
• On IMDb, the show’s rating is 7.4/10

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch in the leading role of Christopher Tietjens, Parade’s End stars Janet McTeer as Mrs Satterthwaite, the mother of Christopher’s wife Sylvia.

Sense and Sensibility (2008)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Sense and Sensibility keeps a score of 80% from viewers
• On IMDb, the series’ rating is 8/10

Yet another adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1811 novel of the same name stars McTeer as Mrs Dashwood, the mother of Marianne and Elinor who now have to seek new ways to remain in the society after their patriarch’s sudden passing.