Home » Harry Potter » How Did They Make Hagrid So Tall in Harry Potter?

How Did They Make Hagrid So Tall in Harry Potter?

Harry Potter is the gift that keeps on giving, with a cast of characters and creatures that are truly unforgettable. One of the most beloved by fans is none other than the towering half-giant, half-wizard, Rubeus Hagrid, who introduces the boy wizard to the magical world he’s destined to save.

The Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, Hagrid’s quirky hobbies and lovable personality make him so darn charming. And he loves all creatures, even the ones that might cause anyone else to scream and run for the hills.

Being part-giant has its perks and downsides. Hagrid is basically immune to magic, but his spells aren’t as strong as the average wizard’s – especially because he casts them with a broken wand hidden in an umbrella. A Patronus is too “complex” for his abilities, according to J.K. Rowling herself.

That doesn’t mean he’s not a force to be reckoned with. Hagrid is one big dude. In the books, he’s at least 11 feet tall, which is like having a living, breathing skyscraper as a friend.

The movies could only replicate this so much. They had to shrink him down to 8 feet 6 inches to avoid logistical nightmares. If they made him any bigger, they’d have to film the rest of the cast from a helicopter!

Still, making Hagrid so big was really hard to pull off. So what went into creating Hagrid’s film depiction?

Table of Contents

Robbie Coltrane’s Portrayal

We all know and love Robbie Coltrane as our favorite gentle giant. But did you know that J.K. Rowling personally picked him for the role? She saw his 6-foot-1 frame and thought, “Yep, that’s the guy who can pull off a pink umbrella and a scraggly beard.”

Playing a half-giant is no small feat, pun intended. To bring Hagrid to life, Coltrane had to wear all sorts of wacky props and costumes, including fat suits and padded overcoats. They even had him walk around in platform shoes, giving his already-towering frame a few extra inches.

The hair and beard required lots of upkeep, too – we can only imagine the amount of detangler and beard oil needed to get those looking camera-ready. But in the end, it was all worth it, and Coltrane’s portrayal is unforgettable.

How Tall is Hagrid Described in the Books?

Hagrid isn’t just any old wizard – he’s a giant among men (well, half-giant). According to the books, he’s “three times as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide.” Not the guy you want in front of you at a movie theater.

His hair and beard don’t make him any less intimidating: they’re like a tangled forest of blackness that could hide an army of gnomes. And don’t even get us started on his hands – they’re “the size of trash can lids”! And those boots? They’re described as being like “baby dolphins” strapped to his feet. Must be hard for him to go shoe shopping!

It’s easy for a book to contain a character this big – all the author has to do is describe him, and voila. But you may be wondering, how did they capture his size in the films?

Well, it involved a lot of movie magic.

You may also like: How Tall Are the Harry Potter Characters?

5 Ways Hagrid Was Made to Look Bigger in Harry Potter

The movies may have been made in the Muggle world, but the filmmakers used magic to increase Coltrane’s height – including shooting characters at different angles, putting large props in Hagrid’s hut, filming Hagrid up close, using a stunt double, and utilizing both green and blue screens to shoot Coltrane separately. A recipe for a spot-on portrayal!

Filming Characters at Different Angles

If you want to make a half-giant like Hagrid look truly larger than life on screen, you have to pay attention to camera angles – both low and high.

By shooting him from down low, the filmmakers were able to capture his towering presence and make us mere mortals feel smaller in comparison. And for those shots where Hagrid needed to look down on his fellow wizards and witches, they went for the high angle approach – showing that from his perspective, we may as well be toddlers.

They tried to avoid horizontal shots whenever possible, unless Coltrane was wearing his special seven-inch boots. Otherwise, the illusion would have been shattered!

Large Props in Hagrid’s Hut

Normally, Hagrid’s hut is a magical place full of giant-sized props that make even the tallest actors look like hobbits. Forced perspectives and clever camera angles help achieve the illusion that Coltrane is three times the size of a regular man.

The real secret, though? The second, smaller, hut. That’s right – there were two versions of Hagrid’s hut used in the movies. The second set had the same props as the original, but regular-sized – and only Coltrane filmed in it. This made it seem like the props too big for everyone else were a perfect fit for Coltrane. It was like having a mini version of Hagrid’s world just for him!

You may also like: Harry Potter Cast & Character Ages

Close-Up Shots of Hagrid

Viewing Coltrane up close made him look like the hulking figure he was meant to be seen as – particularly when he was acting in scenes that featured Madame Maxine. When the two were together, it was like a game of “two truths and a lie”. The truth was that actress Frances de la Tour had to strut on built-in platforms to appear taller. The lie was that they could ever be seen in a full-body shot together! Instead, the director relied on camera angles to give the impression of a size difference.

And when Hagrid mingled with the regular-sized folks, close-ups were a lifesaver to keep his real height under wraps.

Using a Stunt Double, Martin Bayfield

What about long-shot sequences, though? For those, the Harry Potter directors brought in former rugby player Martin Bayfield. This guy was the perfect pick for the job as he had the right build to convey Hagrid’s massive size. To keep him from sweating like a pig in Hagrid’s suit, they fitted his animatronic head with tubes of water so he could cool off during long takes.

Bayfield wasn’t just a stunt double for Hagrid; he also played young Hagrid in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The idea was to use the suit with the animatronic head for scenes where Hagrid was in the background. The effect worked so well, the audience still has trouble distinguishing the stunt double from Coltrane!

Green and Blue Screens to Record Coltrane Separately

Last but definitely not least, green and blue screens were vital – they allowed the filmmakers to record Coltrane separately from the rest of the cast, making him look like a half-giant among hobbits.

With the help of CGI, editors then shrunk or enlarged him as needed, making him seem as tall or wide as a house. It’s like having a magical resizing spell, but without using wands. The result? The audience can’t even tell when Hagrid is being played by a real actor or a digital creation. The filmmakers truly worked their magic.

You may also like; Harry Potter Wands List

Muggle Movie Magic

The Harry Potter movies did an exceptional job of bringing the beloved Hagrid to life on screen. With a combination of practical effects and digital editing techniques, they were able to create the illusion of Hagrid’s impressive height and size. From the forced perspective to special props, separate green screen recordings, and even a stunt double, the team behind the films spared no effort to make Hagrid look like a half-giant. The attention to detail paid off, and the result is a character that feels just as real and iconic as he does in the books.

Lia is a professional writer and editor who is passionate about films and literature.