AMC+/Warner Bros.There are a few things that are guaranteed to rile up the internet: pineapple on pizza, the skibidi toilet trend, and casting decisions of franchise reboots. In this case, we’re referring to the new Professor Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter TV show.
It’s not been long since HBO announced Paapa Essiedu as the scowling spell-slinger, and you’d think from the reaction he’s replacing the Queen of Britain (he’s not, he’s playing a fictional potions professor with a greasy fringe and a God complex).
Already, there have been calls (and even a petition) for Adam Driver to replace him. And look, we love Kylo Ren, but not every man with a deep voice and long hair is automatically qualified to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Paapa Essiedu, in case you missed it, is an absolute acting powerhouse. Not only has he demonstrated his range in a variety of hit TV shows and movies, but he also made Shakespeare look cool again. So, here are 10 things you didn’t know about Essiedu that prove he’s the perfect new Severus Snape.
Paapa Essiedu made Shakespearean history
Marquee TVNot only did he make Shakespeare cool again, but Essiedu also made history in 2016 when he became the first Black actor to play Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
He was just 25 years old at the time, and he earned critical acclaim for making the role his own – a bit like he will when he steps into the role of Snape in the Harry Potter series.
Essiedu went on to win the Ian Charleson Award for his performance in both Hamlet and as Edmund in King Lear, another Shakespearean title. The man’s got the British classics down to a tee – all he’s missing now is a Time Lord gig and a pint at the Queen Vic.
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He shares an unexpected link with Alan Rickman
NetflixSure, we could highlight the fact that Essiedu and former Snape star Alan Rickman both worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company, but where’s the fun in that? A better link is that they’ve both got Rasputin on the résumé (sort of).
You see, the late Rickman played Grigori Rasputin – a Russian mystic and faith healer in the 1800s – in the 1996 TV biopic, Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny. As for Essiedu, he appeared in the Black Mirror Season 6 episode ‘Demon 79’, playing a demonic version of Bobby Farrell, a member of the 70s pop group Boney M.
And if you recall, one of Boney M’s hit singles was ‘Rasputin’, a song that describes the titular historical figure as a playboy, mystical healer, and cunning political figure. The track even plays in the Black Mirror episode (it’s why Essiedu’s Gaap looks like Farrell).
Yes, I might be reaching, but it’s a fun little coincidence, don’t you think? Gaap would probably agree.
Paapa Essiedu nearly became a doctor
SkyBefore entering the acting world, Essiedu originally wanted to be a doctor. He was so close, in fact, that he secured a spot at University College London to study medicine.
However, over time, he gradually shifted his focus to acting, especially after taking drama for his A-levels.
Although he was a shoo-in for UCL, Essiedu ended up studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London instead, which is where he met fellow Black Mirror star Michaela Coel. Speaking of which…
Essiedu will destroy you in I May Destroy You
BBCCoel went on to write and star in I May Destroy You, a raw BBC drama based on her real experiences that touches on various themes such as sexual assault, consent, identity, race, and LGBTQ+ issues with deep sensitivity and unflinching honesty.
Essiedu plays Kwame, Arabell’s (Coel) best friend and a gay man dealing with sexual assault. His performance is nothing short of impeccable, and will no doubt leave you devastated yet in awe.
Not only did he earn praise for his role as Kwame, but he also used his platform to advocate for authentic representation, emphasizing the importance of portraying nuanced Black experiences on the small screen.
He collaborated with Coel to make the role his own, telling Vanity Fair that Kwame was initially “way louder and bigger, more in your face. That became a far more interesting route for me – what he doesn’t say rather than what he does say.”
Paapa Essiedu overcame personal tragedy
BBCEssiedu has been vocal about the fact that he experienced grief during his formative years, which he channels into his performances.
The actor was raised in Walthamstow, London, by his mother, a fashion designer and teacher, while his father returned to Ghana and died when Essiedu was just 14 years old.
During his first year at drama school, his mother died of breast cancer, something that he struggled to come to terms with at the time. As well as seeking therapy, Essiedu said his experience with grief helped him with his role as Hamlet.
“The temptation with pain is to try to make it go away. But painful as grief can be, if you try to vanquish it it can deny the existence of the person you are grieving for,” he told The Times. “So actually long-term grief is a way of keeping those we have lost alive.”
His 100-minute solo performance was harder than Hamlet
YouTube: National TheatreAfter all this talk of Hamlet, you might assume it was his most challenging role. However, one that’s even trickier to tackle (even more so than Shakespeare) is the 100-minute monologue required for the West End one-man play, Death of England: Delroy.
To put this into perspective, that’s the entire runtime of Reservoir Dogs (don’t ask me about the reference, it’s just the first 100-minute movie that came to my head).
And it’s not just the length that makes the play so demanding. The story – which centers on a Black working-class man searching for truth and confronting his relationship with the UK – is a raw, emotionally relentless piece that forces the actor to carry every beat, mood shift, and gut punch entirely alone.
Essiedu achieved this and then some, earning critical acclaim for his portrayal as Delroy. If this doesn’t prove to you he has what it takes to play Snape, I don’t know what will.
Essiedu is married to actress and comedian Rosa Robson
BBCOkay, admittedly this entry has nothing to do with Harry Potter and Essiedu’s acting chops, but it’s a fun fact: he’s been in a relationship with actress and comedian Rosa Robson for over eight years, and the pair are married.
Like some other celebrity couples, they choose to keep their relationship relatively private, occasionally appearing together at events like the BAFTAs. While details about their wedding are scarce, their enduring relationship is a testament to their strong bond.
Robson has appeared in a number of TV shows and movies over the years, including Buffering, Inside No. 9, and The Outlaws.
He starred alongside Saoirse Ronan in The Outrun
StudioCanalIn the 2024 movie The Outrun, Essiedu appeared alongside Oscar-nominee Saoirse Ronan. He takes on the role of Daynin, the ex-boyfriend of Rona, a woman grappling with addiction and recovery.
The film, adapted from Amy Liptrot’s 2016 memoir, premiered at the 2024 Sundance and went on to receive positive reviews and a couple of awards at different film festivals. Essiedu’s portrayal adds depth to the narrative, and is one of many that showcase his emotional range.
Snape may spark an interesting playlist
Warner Bros.In a conversation with The Cut, Essiedu revealed, “I make playlists specific to the character or the production I’m working on.”
Although this ritual is mostly tied to his stage work, it’s easy to imagine him crafting a moody, brooding playlist to get into the mind of Severus Snape – something that pairs well with late-night potions classes and unresolved trauma.
Given Essiedu’s thoughtful approach to character-building, don’t be surprised if he turns to anything from Radiohead’s deepest cuts to haunting classical scores. And I’m not saying ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ will be on there, but I’m not not saying it either.
Paapa Essiedu’s first acting gig was in an underrated (but canceled) TV show
Channel 4Yes, long before I May Destroy You, Men, and Gangs of London, Essiedu bagged himself a spot on an episode of Utopia. If you haven’t seen it (the UK version), I strongly urge you to give it a go.
Way ahead of its time and stunning to look at, the thriller series centers on a mysterious cult graphic novel and a shadowy organization known as The Network, delving into a political conspiracy that eerily echoes real-world issues.
The fact it was canceled after a mind-blowing cliffhanger only fueled speculation that it was too close to the truth, cementing it as a legendary entry to the TV landscape.
Essiedu only played a minor role, but what a title to say is your first paid acting gig – and a solid reminder that even future Snapes have to start somewhere.
While you wait for more updates on the Harry Potter show, find out how to stream the movies, read about the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child rumor, and learn about newcomer Luke Thallon. You can also check out the new TV shows dropping this month.