Harry Potter changed the lives of its young cast in ways that few film franchises ever could. For Jessie Cave, playing Lavender Brown meant becoming part of a cultural phenomenon that would remain recognizable even two decades later. But fame does not always translate into the kind of career or financial security people imagine comes with it.

Now, Cave is opening up about just how difficult that reality became.

Jessie Cave has revealed that financial struggles and the rising cost of childcare led her to join OnlyFans after years of finding it difficult to maintain her career while raising her four children. Speaking on This Morning with hosts Craig Doyle and Angela Scanlon, Cave admitted that she felt embarrassed by her financial situation despite having appeared in the Harry Potter franchise.

“It’s really embarrassing, and people don’t like talking about money, do we? I was in Harry Potter, but it was a smallish part, and it was 20 years ago,” Cave said, explaining that her role as Lavender Brown was relatively small and came around two decades ago, while her career since then has largely involved comedy, writing, and theatre.

The 39-year-old eventually found an unexpected way to earn money through OnlyFans, where she posts non-s***** content centered around her exceptionally long hair. Cave has previously revealed that the account has grown to around 3,500 subscribers, who pay $6 a month to access her videos, with additional income coming from paid messages, while she explained her decision to turn to the platform during an interview with This Morning. For Cave, however, the decision was not simply about finding another source of income.

The cost of childcare had made it increasingly difficult to pursue work, with even performing at the Edinburgh Festival becoming financially challenging when factoring in the cost of bringing her four children. Cave described OnlyFans as a stopgap that allowed her to keep herself financially afloat while figuring out what she wanted to do next as an artist.

Why a 'Harry Potter' Alum Says Her OnlyFans Page Cost Her a Spot at a Fan Convention

And Cave is far from the only entertainment figure to discover that OnlyFans can offer a different kind of control when traditional Hollywood opportunities begin to dry up.

Jessie Cave’s decision is part of a wider shift among entertainment figures who have turned to OnlyFans for reasons extending beyond the platform’s usual reputation. The Sopranos star Drea de Matteo previously revealed that she turned to the platform during a period of severe financial pressure, describing it as something that helped her keep her home.

Meanwhile, American Pie star Shannon Elizabeth has spoken about joining OnlyFans as a way to reclaim greater control over her career and how she presents herself. The circumstances are different for each performer, but their experiences highlight how established Hollywood careers do not always provide the financial stability audiences might assume.

For Cave, OnlyFans has offered a way to keep working on her own terms and provide for her children while waiting for the next chapter of her career to take shape.

‘American Pie’ Actress Shannon Elizabeth Joins OnlyFans to Reclaim Career Control

Do you think Hollywood needs to offer better residuals and long-term financial support so actors do not have to turn to unconventional options when work dries up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!