Harry Potter star unrecognisable 12 years after ditching fame for MMA career as he reunites with co-star Tom Felton
HARRY Potter star Tom Felton has shared an epic reunion photo with his on-screen pal Josh Herdman, who played Gregory Goyle in the hit movies.
Josh, 36, is almost unrecognisable 12 years after his last Harry Potter role.
Wizarding World fans rejoice at each and every time they see one of Tom Felton’s Instagram posts, as he’s constantly sharing throwbacks to his time in the film series and keeping the legacy of Harry Potter alive.
From his close friendship with his on-screen dad Jason Issacs to the special bond he shares with Emma Watson, Tom, 36, has remained close with many cast members.
Now he’s shared another cast reunion pic, revealing that Slytherin’s Malfoy and Goyle are still the best of pals.
Tom posted the happy snap on Instagram on Monday (4 December). It showed the pair out and about exploring Düsseldorf, Germany, where Tom was performing his music.
Alongside the photo, The Flash star posted a touching tribute to his former co-star and long-time friend.
He wrote: “To my right-hand man. Literally through every film, always had my back. Such a pleasure to be reunited this weekend with this legend.
“Send some love to my man Josh Herdman,” he added.
While Tom has maintained a strong public presence since the Harry Potter franchise concluded in 2011, Josh has ditched the fame.
Instead, he turned his attention to martial arts, although sort of by accident.
Josh admitted he was partying too much at the height of his fame and he used fitness to get back on track.
“If I’m honest, I was a party animal. I was like many young people are,” he explained.
He continued: “I don’t know, it was the people I was hanging around with and you have money.
“It was just what I was doing, and I had enough of it, so I gave it up and started to focus on my fitness. I quit smoking and I haven’t looked back.”
Despite loving acting, Josh decided to take up martial arts and cage fighting in an initial bid to help with mental health struggles.
It has become his passion, and the star has since managed to transform his body and is almost unrecognisable from his Harry Potter days.
In April 2016, he made his amateur fighting debut as an MMA opponent, defeating Polish fighter Janusz Walachowski at the City Pavilion in Romford, East London.
In 2022, Josh was even a contestant on the ITV competition series The Games.
However, Josh hasn’t completely left his acting career behind, though.
In 2018, he appeared as Righteous in the film Robin Hood, alongside Jamie Dornan, Taron Egerton, and Jamie Foxx.
He has appeared in Wizards vs Aliens, UGetMe, The Bill, Common People, Marcella, White House Farm and Alex Rider.