The casting for the HBO Harry Potter series is out – and we bet you can’t wait to meet the new Hagrid! These fun facts will introduce you to British actor Nick Frost, who will be stepping into the part of everyone’s favourite gamekeeper. So get ready to learn all about Nick’s life, career, his favourite sci-fi film, and his skills in the kitchen! And if you’re left with a pressing need for more Potter when you’re finished, don’t worry – we’ve got it! Try our Hagrid quiz, learn some Hagrid facts, or be like Hagrid and befriend a magical creature!

1. He’s going to play Hagrid

You might have seen Nick’s name in the news lately – and that’s because he’s about to star in the HBO Harry Potter series as Hagrid! He’s got some big shoes to fill (literally!) because Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid in the film series) did such a good job – but he definitely has the talent!

2. He’s a Londoner

Nick is a native Londoner! He was born in Hornchurch in East London, and went to high school in Ilford. He’s also lived in Highgate, and has lived in Richmond for a long time.

3. He left school at 16

Nick came from a big family, and when he was a teenager his parents lost their furniture business. His family lost their home and had to go and live with friends, so Nick dropped out of school and got a job at a shipping business to help out. He also worked overseas, and then in the London restaurant industry in several different positions, including a waiter, a barman and a cook.   

4. He’s besties with Simon Pegg

Nick is probably best known for his collaborations with actor, comedian and screenwriter Simon Pegg. They’re not just collaborators, though – they’re also close friends! They met in London, when Nick was working as a waiter at a Mexican restaurant alongside Simon’s then-girlfriend. They bonded when Simon made an obscure Star Wars reference that only Nick understood, and the rest is history!

5. His early roles were in corporate training videos

All actors start somewhere, and Nick’s earliest roles were in corporate training videos (videos that companies have to show their employees before they start their job). He appeared in a video for the Dixons group called “Chris Carter and the Coverplan Challenge”!

6. His big break was Spaced

Nick’s first big acting job was the TV comedy series Big Train, but his big break came in the Channel 4 comedy series Spaced. The show was written by Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes, and Nick plays Simon’s character’s best friend. The role was written specially for him! Spaced was a big cult hit, and it led to TV and film roles for Nick.

7. He made a spoof survival show

One of Nick’s early solo projects was the 2002 TV show Danger! 50,000 Volts! The show was a spoof of survival TV shows, which were huge in the early 2000s. The show put Nick in a lot of silly situations, including a spin-off episode where he has to survive a zombie apocalypse!

8. His first film was Shaun of the Dead

You’ve probably not seen zombie horror-comedy Shaun of the Dead (it’s pretty gory!), but you might know that Nick plays one of the main characters in the film. This was his first major film role, but you really couldn’t tell from his performance – he does an incredible job! The film was the first part of the “Cornetto Trilogy”, a trio of films starring Simon and Nick and directed by Edgar Wright (who also directed Spaced).

9. He’s a writer

Nick isn’t just an actor – he’s also a writer and producer! He co-wrote Paul with Simon Pegg and he wrote the 2024 horror comedy film Get Away, which he also starred in. He co-created, wrote and starred in the TV series Truth Seekers, a comedy horror about ghost hunters. He’s also written an autobiography, and a cookbook (more on that later)!

10. He’s a total nerd!

Just like Simon Pegg, Nick Frost is not shy about the fact that he loves all things nerdy! Nick is a big film buff and he especially loves horror and sci-fi films. He’s a huge Star Wars fan, so it must have been awesome when he got to star in the series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (he played SM-33)! He’s also a big X-Files fan, and he regularly attends comic conventions as a guest. He said in an interview with SciFi Now that if he could cosplay any character, he would pick Sailor Moon!

11. He has ADHD

Nick has talked a lot about his neurodivergence (which is when your brain works differently than most people) in books and interviews. He was diagnosed with several conditions in his 40s, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), dyslexia and anxiety. He says the diagnosis helped to explain several things about his past and his personality.

12. He loves to cook

Nick has an unexpected super-skill – he’s an absolutely amazing cook! He published a cookbook in 2023 called A Slice of Fried Gold, which is full of anecdotes and musings as well as recipes! Nick says that cooking helps him cope with his neurodivergence, and that the kitchen is one of the places he feels most comfortable. His trademark dish is “pies in a bowl”, which is exactly what it sounds like. He made it a LOT when living with Simon Pegg!

13. He loves Close Encounters of the Third Kind

While Nick likes a lot of sci-fi, his special favourite is the Steven Spielberg film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. His film Paul has a lot of references to Close Encounters and even shot at some of the same locations. He owns a pristine first edition of the film’s novelization, and when he worked with Steven Spielberg on the 2011 film The Adventures of Tintin, he got Steven to sign it!

14. He’s also in How To Train Your Dragon

You’re probably already excited about the upcoming live-action adaptation of How To Train Your Dragon, but Nick’s probably more excited – he’s in it! He plays Gobber the Belch, Berk’s blacksmith and Stoick’s bestie.

15. Indiana Jones is his hero

In an interview Nick was asked for his heroes. He named his dad, his kids, his girlfriend and his ex-wife as real heroes – but said that Indiana Jones is his ultimate fictional hero! Good pick!