Afshan Azad is a British actress, model, and celebrity who hit the big time when she played Padma Patil in five of the iconic Harry Potter films, from 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire through to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Incredibly, given that she has appeared in almost every instalment of the third-highest-grossing film series of all-time, it remains her only acting experience apart from a guest spot on CBBC. Instead, she models (being represented by the major BMA agency) and is raising a young family.

As well as her modelling work, the unrelenting passion for anything Harry Potter-related ensures that Azad has remained in the public eye since the series finished over 10 years ago. She has over 250,000 followers across various social media platforms and has appeared at numerous Harry Potter fan conventions all over the world.

Azad was born in Manchester in 1988 and attended school there. When casting agents from Harry Potter turned up looking for people to appear in Goblet of Fire, she went along for a bit of fun, and much to her surprise, ended up getting the part and changing her life forever.