Actor Domhnall Gleeson recalled an unfortunate experience while filming the 2010 fantasy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

Entertainment Weekly reported that Gleeson, who is Irish, shared he had difficulty with his English character, Bill Weasley’s accent, while filming his first scene in a September 2025 interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

“My first day on that set, I was meant to be doing an English accent. They’d all been doing it — I was in the seventh and eighth movies, only a small part. And I went Australian. And I couldn’t stop. I went Australian on the first take and there was 300 people on set,” said Gleeson during the interview.

He then told Meyers that the film’s director, David Yates, called “cut” and asked him to try to refrain from using an Australian accent for Bill. The actor said he was mortified about the situation.

“It was shocking. It was one of the worst days of my life. And then things got a little bit better,” said Gleeson.

He then referenced that he’s playing an American journalist, Ned Sampson, in the new Peacock comedy, The Paper, which premieres on September 4.

“And so I hope my American accent in this [The Paper] is better, but you tell me!” quipped Gleeson while briefly donning an Australian accent.

Domhnall Gleeson Shared that He Tried Out for Several ‘Harry Potter’ Characters

In a 2018 interview with BUILD Series, Gleeson shared that he auditioned for several Harry Potter characters before landing the role of Ron Weasley’s (Rupert Grint) eldest brother for the franchise’s final two films.

Gleeson said he was able to visit the set of the fourth film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, because his father, fellow actor Brendan Gleeson, was cast as Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody. According to Gleeson, he was offered to work as a stand-infor James and Oliver Phelps, who played the Weasley twins, Fred and George, while on the film’s 2005 set.

“I looked so much like the Weasley twins,” explained the About Time actor.

While he “didn’t do that in the end,” he “ended up auditioning for the last two” Harry Potter films. Gleeson, who was a fan of Harry Potter, also said he “was so happy to be in them.”

This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.