Get ready to meet the new Potions Master of Hogwarts! HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series has just announced its cast, and British actor Paapa Essiedu has been announced as Severus Snape! You probably haven’t seen him on screen or on stage, so we’ve prepared some fun facts for you to get to know him better! We’ve got lots more Snape stuff for you if you’re ready to delve into the series again – learn some Snape facts, then try our trivia quiz and test your knowledge of Snape quotes!

1. He’s taking on Alan Rickman’s role

You might have heard about Paapa Essiedu in the news recently because he’s just been cast to play Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series! He’s following in the footsteps of Alan Rickman, who played Snape in the film series. Those are some big shoes to fill – but we know Paapa can do it!

2. He was born in 1990!

Paapa was born on the 11th of June, 1990 (for horoscope fans that means he’s a Gemini – intelligent, adaptable, funny and a great communicator)! This actually means he’s closer in age to Snape from the books than Alan Rickman was. In Philsopher’s Stone Snape is meant to be about 31 years old. Paapa is going to turn 35 in 2025, but Alan Rickman was 55 when he first played Snape!

3. His parents are from Ghana

Paapa was born to Ghanaian parents in London. He was raised by his mother Selina, who taught fashion and design for adult education classes. She made a lot of clothes in their home – Paapa says their kitchen had a huge table for cutting material and two sewing machines in it! He used to help her, and he still owns a pair of pyjamas she made for him when he was a teenager.

4. He grew up in London

Paapa grew up in Walthamstow, which is a town in the borough of Waltham Forest in East London. He says he was a happy kid and didn’t leave the East End much.

5. He was going to be a doctor

He’s not just a talented actor – he also has serious smarts! Paapa did very well in the sciences at school and was accepted to study medicine at University College London, which is no small feat!

6. He became interested in drama after seeing Don Juan

The course of Paapa’s life really changed when he saw a production of Don Juan (a 17th century comedic play by French playwright Molière) as a teenager. He described it as like a “sliding doors” moment in his life – a moment where two different life paths lie before you. He then went on to star in a sixth-form production of Othello as the title role, and later studied drama at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

7. He’s a Shakespearean actor

It’s no surprise after his early Othello performance that Paapa loves Shakespeare – but did you know he was part of the Royal Shakespeare Company? This super-prestigious theatre troupe has previously included actors like Simon Callow, Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen – and Alan Rickman!  Paapa’s first role was in a 2012 production of The Merry Wives of Windsor, and his big break on stage came when he understudied the role of Edmund in King Lear. The actor playing the role fell ill, so Paapa stepped in and received rave reviews! He later played Hamlet with the RSC, a role every young actor dreams of!

8. His film debut was in Murder on the Orient Express

Paapa booked several TV roles including an adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but his first big-screen role was in 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express. The film was Kenneth Branagh’s new imagination of the popular detective character Hercule Poirot, and it also starred Judi Dench, Michelle Pfeiffer and Daisy Ridley. Paapa played a policeman!

9. His breakthrough came in I May Destroy You

He already had theatre roles and some great TV shows under his belt, but in 2020 Paapa’s real big break came from the TV series I May Destroy You (which is definitely one for grown-ups!). The show starred Michaela Coel, who also wrote and co-directed it. Paapa attended Guildhall with her, and they became friends on the very first day! He then played her character’s best friend in I May Destroy You, and the show got rave reviews from critics. Paapa received acting nominations from BAFTA and the Emmys for his performance!

10. He’s not a great singer

In an interview with the Guardian, Paapa says his most embarrassing moment happened at school,  when he was trying to raise funds to attend Guildhall. He performed speeches and sang songs including U Remind Me by Usher and Hey There Delilah by the Plain White T’s – but he also says he can’t sing at all! Paapa says that people paid just to laugh at him – but hey, he got to attend Guildhall, so who’s the real winner?

11. His wife is also an actor

Paapa is married to actress and comedian Rosa Robson. Rosa went to Cambridge where she was a member of Footlights, which is a famous student comedy sketch group. They’ve been together since 2016!

12. The closest he came to death

Paapa says the closest he ever came to death was in 2016, when his agent called to tell him he got the part of Hamlet. He was walking on the street at the time, and while he was on the phone a bus mirror whizzed past and took his hat off! Eek!

13. He loves poetry

It’s not very surprising to hear this about a Shakespearean actor, but Paapa loves poems! He contributed to a film series by the Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation, reading the poem Kumukanda by Zambian-British poet Kayo Chingonyi. Paapa picked the poem for its lyricism and its moving depiction of African-British identity.

14. He co-founded a theatre group

Not just an actor, Paapa has also turned to helping others get into the world of theatre! He is a co-founder of theatre company Invertigo, who focus on elevating the work of new and lesser-known playwrights.

15. He loves sweets!

Paapa said in an interview that his worst habit was eating sweets right before bed. No judgment from us, Paapa – hope you can get your hands on Honeydukes’ finest soon!