John Lithgow shares struggle of carrying iconic long beard of Dumbledore

John Lithgow, who is set to star in upcoming Harry Potter TV series as Albus Dumbledore, shared his experience playing the wizard.

The Crown star had to wear a long beard that goes down all the way to his knees. Working with it is a challenge for Lithgow.

While appearing on the Today show on Friday, April 17, to promote his role in Broadway's Giant, he said, “The beard goes down to my knee. It gets tangled in my buttons and my fly. It's just impossible."

Despite any wardrobe malfunctions, Lithgow describes being on set as out of the world.

The veteran artist, who began filming his scenes at Leavesden Studios last year, added, “You cannot even imagine. A lot of it is left over from the movie days, but they have just brilliantly expanded — created a world. And to enter into that world, it's kind of breath taking.”

The Sherk actor further admitted that he was nervous on his first day, which involved two night shoots.

“The first I worked on the show was two night shoots in a row and you're always a little bit addled doing that by three in the morning," he recalled. "I knew that this was the first thing I did and the first scene on Privet Drive and I knew that whatever I do now, I've set the template for the next several years. I better do it right."

Despite decades of acting experience, he confessed he still gets stage fright.

The series, with its first season covering Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is slated for release in 2027 on HBO Max.

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