Harry Potter star Jessie Cave has said that making content for OnlyFans “really has saved me” during an “embarrassing” period when she was struggling for work and money.
The actress, 39, is best known for her role as Lavender Brown in the popular fantasy film franchise and has gained attention since joining the platform in March 2025.
Despite OnlyFans being known primarily for adult content, Cave caters to a non-sexual niche with her “hair content”, and previously revealed she made more money on the platform in one year than during her entire acting career.
Why Jessie Cave turned to OnlyFans
Speaking to ITV’s This Morning about why she chose to use the platform, Cave said: “I just started doing funny videos of brushing my hair and plaiting my hair, and then people liked them.
“Then I was in a quite a desperate spot, and I just thought: Well, why don’t I?
“I mainly do one-woman shows with puppets. Yeah I was in Harry Potter, but I’m a struggling artist basically.
“I took a chance and I thought I’d make a little bit of money to pay back the money I lost during one of the Edinburgh Festivals I’ve done – because it’s extortionate now – and I’ve just kept going.”
Cave added: “It’s been a fun little hobby on the side, and it’s really opened me up and definitely made me more confident as a woman.”
Financial struggles despite Harry Potter fame
The actress said the platform “really has saved me” when she “struggled to find a way forward financially as an artist”.
Reflecting on how it felt to be struggling for money despite her role in the blockbuster film franchise, Cave said: “I was a smallish part, and it was 20 years ago.
“People just assume I’m rich and I have loads of money – and no, I don’t.
“It was embarrassing because on a certain level I would have really liked to get a job, but you know what it’s like.”
The mother-of-four explained that one of the reasons she struggles to find and fund opportunities for work is because “it costs so much for childcare”.
She continued: “I have managed to keep afloat (as an actress) for 18 years, and then it just came to a moment a couple of years ago where I was like, ‘I really don’t know what I would do’.
“This was an option, and I am now so glad.”
Content described as 'artful'
Cave described her content as “artful”, and said: “It just looks quite interesting – and if people like it, that’s great.”
The actress added that she is continuing to perform one-woman shows, and said: “This is how I’m making a living as an artist, which I think I want to have less shame about.”
Cave made her acting debut in the CBBC drama Summerhill in 2008, and went on to feature in Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince a year later.
The actress later shifted her focus towards theatre and made her West End debut in 2009 and also pursued a comedy career.
Other stars have joined OnlyFans including rapper Cardi B, American Pie star Shannon Elizabeth and Foundations singer Kate Nash, who previously told MPs she sold pictures of her bottom on the site in order to fund her tour.
Lily Allen is also among the famous faces on the platform, and revealed she had started uploading photos of her feet to the adult subscription site in 2024.
