The one thing you didn't notice about Hermione in the Harry Potter films

Ever wondered why this important detail was missing from the movies?

Hermione big front teeth
(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

Ever wondered why this important detail was missing from the movies?

It's something that die-hard Harry Potter fans have queried ever since the first Harry Potter movie was released, but up until now we haven't had an explanation. According to the books, Hermione Granger has 'very bushy hair and rather large front teeth' (until, after being hexed by Draco Malfoy in The Goblet of Fire, she lets Madam Pomfrey shrink her teeth to a little smaller than they originally were). However, in the movies, Hermione is played by Emma Watson, who you may or may not have noticed, has rather lovely normal sized teeth.

Well, we FINALLY have an explanation as to why this key detail was missing from the movies.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, director Christopher Columbus revealed that they did initially try out fake teeth on Emma Watson, but she found it really difficult to act while wearing them (understandable – imagine the effect on your speech!).

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One scene did, however, make the cut for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, in which Emma is in fact wearing fake teeth – right at the end of the film. And, in case you missed it, this is the hidden meaning behind Hermione's Patronus.

'The thing we shot on the first day of Sorcerer's Stone was the final train sequence where Harry looks at Hogwarts, and Emma, Dan and Rupert are huddled up on the side of the train' Columbus said.

'If you look closely at that scene, Emma – because Hermione, it was a big thing in the books about her teeth – she sort of had an overbite, so she's wearing fake teeth in that scene.'

So that you don't have to dig out your DVD to inspect the film's final scene for yourself, you can watch it below (Hermione appears around 1:30). We can't believe we never noticed this one.

So there you have it. Next time someone is querying this book detail that's missing from the film, you now have an explanation for why Hermione's teeth are normal sized.

Lucy Abbersteen
Beauty Contributor

Lucy is a freelance beauty editor and contributor at Marie Claire, and has written for titles including Glamour, Refinery29, Popsugar, woman&home and more. She was previously Marie Claire’s junior beauty editor. During her career, she’s covered everything from backstage beauty at fashion week to interviews with famous faces like Drag Race royalty and Little Mix. As for her beauty ethos, she’s a big advocate for not having to spend a fortune on beauty products to get good results, and when she’s not got beauty on the brain you’ll find her reading or hanging out with dogs.