Billy Barratt has become one of the most closely watched young British actors of his generation, and interest in billy barratt age has surged following the latest announcement about his next major role. Born on June 16, 2007, in Brixton, London, Barratt is 19 years old as of September 2026. His latest career milestone is his casting as young Tom Riddle in the second season of HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television adaptation.
The announcement gives Barratt one of his most recognizable roles to date and arrives after years of work across television and film. From his award-winning performance in Responsible Child to appearances in Invasion, Kraven the Hunter and Bring Her Back, he has steadily moved from child actor to an increasingly prominent young performer.
How Old Is Billy Barratt in 2026?
Billy Barratt is 19 years old in 2026.
The actor was born on June 16, 2007, meaning he celebrated his 19th birthday earlier this year. His birthplace is Brixton, London, England, and his birth name is Billy Ace Barratt.
Barratt began appearing professionally on screen while he was still a child. That early start means his résumé is considerably longer than might be expected for someone who has only recently entered his late teens.
His age is particularly notable when considered alongside his achievements. Barratt won an International Emmy Award at just 13, making him the youngest actor ever to win the Best Performance by an Actor category. Six years later, he is entering a major global fantasy franchise in one of its most intriguing roles.
Billy Barratt at a Glance
- Full name: Billy Ace Barratt
- Date of birth: June 16, 2007
- Age: 19
- Birthplace: Brixton, London, England
- Nationality: British
- Profession: Actor and musician
- Breakthrough performance: Ray in Responsible Child
- International Emmy win: 2020
- Latest major casting: Tom Riddle in HBO’s Harry Potter series
Billy Barratt Cast as Tom Riddle in Harry Potter Season 2
The biggest current development in Barratt’s career is his newly announced role in HBO’s Harry Potter series.
HBO announced on September 4, 2026, that Barratt will portray Tom Riddle in Season 2. The second season will adapt Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second book in J.K. Rowling’s series.
Barratt joins the production alongside Lenny Rush, who has been cast as Dobby, and Bonnie Hill, who will play Ginny Weasley beginning with the second season.
The announcement is significant because Tom Riddle is central to the story of The Chamber of Secrets. Although the character initially appears as a mysterious figure connected to an enchanted diary, viewers eventually learn that Riddle is the younger version of the person who will become Lord Voldemort.
That gives Barratt a particularly challenging role. He will need to portray a younger Riddle who appears intelligent, charismatic and controlled while gradually revealing the darker nature of the character.
Why Tom Riddle Is an Important Role for Billy Barratt
Tom Riddle is not simply a supporting Hogwarts student. The character provides the key to understanding the central mystery of The Chamber of Secrets.
In the story, Harry discovers an old diary that appears to contain the memories and personality of Tom Riddle. The diary ultimately becomes an essential part of the mystery surrounding attacks at Hogwarts.
Barratt’s casting therefore places him at the center of one of the second book’s most important storylines.
It is also a very different opportunity from some of his previous roles. His earlier performances have ranged from serious television drama to science fiction and horror. Tom Riddle gives him the chance to play a character whose apparent innocence hides a much darker identity.
The casting announcement arrives before Season 1 of HBO’s new Harry Potter series has even premiered. The first season is scheduled to debut on December 25, 2026, while Season 2 is expected to begin filming later this year.
A specific Season 2 premiere date has not yet been announced.
Billy Barratt’s International Emmy Achievement
One of the defining moments of Barratt’s career came in 2020 when he won the International Emmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor.
He was only 13 years old at the time.
Barratt received the award for playing Ray in the BBC drama Responsible Child. The television film centers on a 12-year-old boy who faces a murder trial, exploring difficult questions surrounding childhood, criminal responsibility and the legal system.
The performance placed Barratt in an unusually demanding dramatic role. Rather than being recognized simply as a promising young performer, he competed in a major international acting category against established adult performers.
His victory made history. The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences identifies Barratt as the youngest actor ever nominated and the youngest actor ever to win the Best Performance by an Actor category.
That achievement remains one of the strongest indicators of his acting ability and helps explain why his career continued to attract attention as he moved into his teenage years.
The Role That Put Billy Barratt on the International Map
Responsible Child was a major turning point for Barratt.
The drama required him to carry emotionally intense scenes and portray a child dealing with circumstances far beyond his years. His performance received substantial industry attention and ultimately led to his International Emmy victory.
The role also demonstrated that Barratt could handle serious dramatic material rather than being limited to conventional children’s television parts.
That distinction has remained important throughout his career. His later projects have continued to place him in stories involving difficult emotional situations, dangerous environments and complex characters.
Billy Barratt in Invasion
Following his early success, Barratt became part of Apple’s science-fiction series Invasion.
He played Caspar Morrow, a young character caught up in the global events surrounding an extraterrestrial threat.
The series gave Barratt an opportunity to work in a large-scale science-fiction production and introduced him to an international streaming audience.
For a young actor, Invasion represented another significant step because it required him to work within a long-form television story rather than a standalone television drama.
His work on the series also helped bridge the gap between his early child-actor career and the more ambitious film and television projects that followed.
Billy Barratt in Kraven the Hunter
Barratt also appeared in Sony’s Kraven the Hunter, released in 2024.
He portrayed young Dmitri, a younger version of the character played as an adult by Fred Hechinger.
The movie provided Barratt with experience in a major comic-book-inspired action production. It also placed him alongside an established cast and expanded his film credits beyond television drama.
Although his appearance was part of Dmitri’s earlier story, the project demonstrated Barratt’s ability to contribute to large-scale commercial productions.
Billy Barratt’s Role in Bring Her Back
Another major career development came with the 2025 horror film Bring Her Back.
Barratt played Andy, one of the film’s central characters, alongside Sora Wong and Sally Hawkins.
Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou, the filmmakers behind Talk to Me, the movie follows a brother and sister who are placed with a foster mother and become caught up in disturbing supernatural events.
The role was another demanding performance for Barratt. Unlike a brief supporting appearance, Bring Her Back required him to remain closely connected to the film’s emotional core.
The movie further established him as an actor willing to work in darker material and helped maintain the momentum he had built through earlier dramatic performances.
Billy Barratt’s 2026 Work
Barratt’s career has continued moving forward in 2026.
His credits this year include Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead, in which he plays Young Neb. The science-fiction adventure is set in a post-apocalyptic world shaped by a catastrophic flood and follows characters living in a world dominated by water and isolated island communities.
Barratt is also associated with the television thriller Gone, in which he plays Dylan Sedgwick.
These projects have kept his career moving across different genres at a time when many performers his age are still establishing their first major credits.
His latest Harry Potter casting represents an even larger step because of the international recognition attached to the franchise.
Billy Barratt’s Family Background
Barratt comes from a family with connections to the entertainment industry.
He is the grandson of Welsh singer Shakin’ Stevens, one of the best-known British rock-and-roll performers of the 1980s.
His mother, Carolyn Owlett, has also worked in entertainment as an actress and model and was a member of the pop group The 411.
Despite those family connections, Barratt has built his own professional identity through acting from a young age. His International Emmy win and subsequent film and television roles have established a career independent of his family’s entertainment history.
How Billy Barratt Has Changed as an Actor
Barratt’s career illustrates a gradual transition from child performer to young adult actor.
His earliest appearances came when he was very young, including television and film work before his breakthrough in Responsible Child. The International Emmy win then gave him international recognition at an unusually early age.
During his teenage years, he expanded into science fiction with Invasion, action with Kraven the Hunter, and horror with Bring Her Back.
Now, at 19, he is moving into a major fantasy franchise with his casting as Tom Riddle.
That progression suggests that Barratt is not being defined by a single genre. Instead, his career has been built around roles that allow him to explore different types of characters and increasingly demanding stories.
What Can Fans Expect From Billy Barratt as Tom Riddle?
Although HBO has not revealed extensive details about Barratt’s scenes, the source material gives viewers an idea of why his character matters.
Tom Riddle’s story is closely tied to the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets. Harry encounters Riddle through the enchanted diary, and the young Hogwarts student gradually becomes one of the most important figures in the story.
The role requires a performer capable of balancing charm and menace. Riddle is not presented simply as an obvious villain. His intelligence and ability to manipulate others are important parts of his character.
Barratt’s previous experience with emotionally complex roles could make the part an interesting fit.
It also gives him the opportunity to portray a character whose importance extends far beyond one season. Tom Riddle’s identity is directly connected to the larger history of Voldemort and the mythology of the wizarding world.
When Will Billy Barratt Appear in the Harry Potter Series?
Barratt is expected to appear in Season 2, which is based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
The first season of HBO’s adaptation is scheduled to premiere on December 25, 2026. Season 2 is slated to begin filming in fall 2026, but HBO has not yet announced an official release date for the second season.
That means fans will have to wait for the show’s first season before seeing how the new television adaptation establishes its version of Hogwarts and its young cast.
Barratt’s appearance will come as the story moves into its second chapter and introduces the mystery surrounding Tom Riddle and the Chamber of Secrets.
Billy Barratt Age and Career: What Comes Next?
At 19, Barratt is entering an important stage of his career.
He has already achieved something extraordinary by becoming the youngest winner of the International Emmy for Best Performance by an Actor. Since then, he has accumulated credits in acclaimed dramas, streaming television, major studio productions and feature films.
The next stage could be even more significant.
His role as Tom Riddle puts him inside one of the world’s most recognizable entertainment franchises at a time when HBO is rebuilding the Harry Potter story for a new television audience.
For Barratt, the role also represents a chance to show how he has developed since his breakthrough as Ray in Responsible Child. The character demands restraint, intelligence and an unsettling quality beneath the surface, making it a potentially memorable addition to his résumé.
As the production progresses, more information about the second season and Barratt’s involvement is likely to emerge. For now, the casting announcement stands as the latest major milestone in a career that began when he was a child and has continued to grow remarkably quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Billy Barratt
How old is Billy Barratt?
Billy Barratt is 19 years old as of September 2026. He was born June 16, 2007.
When is Billy Barratt’s birthday?
Billy Barratt’s birthday is June 16.
Where was Billy Barratt born?
He was born in Brixton, London, England.
Who does Billy Barratt play in Harry Potter?
Barratt plays Tom Riddle in the second season of HBO’s Harry Potter television series.
What made Billy Barratt famous?
His breakthrough came with the BBC drama Responsible Child, in which he played Ray. His performance earned him the International Emmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in 2020.
How old was Billy Barratt when he won his Emmy?
Barratt was 13 years old when he won the International Emmy in 2020.
Is Billy Barratt in Bring Her Back?
Yes. Barratt plays Andy in the 2025 horror movie Bring Her Back.
What other movies has Billy Barratt appeared in?
His film credits include Mary Poppins Returns, Blinded by the Light, Crater, My Spy: The Eternal City, Kraven the Hunter, Bring Her Back and Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead.
What TV shows has Billy Barratt appeared in?
His television credits include Responsible Child, A Christmas Carol, Invasion and Gone, among other productions.
Final Thoughts
Billy Barratt’s journey from a young London actor to an International Emmy winner and now a major Harry Potter cast member has been unusually fast. At 19, he already has experience across serious drama, science fiction, horror, action and fantasy. His new role as Tom Riddle gives him another opportunity to demonstrate that range while stepping into one of the most recognizable fictional worlds in popular culture.
What do you think of Billy Barratt taking on Tom Riddle? Share your thoughts and stay tuned for the latest updates on his growing career.