Jessie Cave, widely recognized for portraying Lavender Brown in the Harry Potter film franchise, has disclosed that her income from OnlyFans has already eclipsed the total earnings from her nearly 20-year acting career. The actress, who appeared in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as well as both parts of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, shared in an August 7 interview with The Times that she generated £15,000—approximately $20,000—in a single day after launching her account in 2025.
Reflecting on her financial journey, Cave noted that she has earned more within one year on the platform than she did throughout her entire career in the arts. This career includes roles in television series such as Call the Midwife and Black Mirror, along with the film Great Expectations. Initially, Cave expressed feelings of shame regarding the move, describing it on Substack as evidence of her failure to maintain a stable income as an actress and writer after 18 years of professional work.
Cave explained to The Times that she turned to the platform following a breakdown and a period of absolute desperation after being rejected for an acting role. While she initially viewed the venture as a temporary measure to secure a modest sum, she stated that the platform has genuinely saved her and her family’s lives. Cave, who shares four children with her fiancé, Alfie Brown, acknowledged that she faces challenges with the work, noting that she does not enjoy every aspect of it, though she remains committed to the platform because she cannot afford to stop.
The actress also addressed the professional repercussions of her decision, revealing in September that she was excluded from a Harry Potter fan convention due to her presence on the site. She reported that organizers cited the event as a family-oriented show and claimed the platform was affiliated with adult content. Cave expressed frustration at this reasoning, pointing out that many actors who participate in such conventions have appeared in films or television shows featuring nudity or sex scenes, whereas her own content involves nothing more than playing with her hair.
Despite the criticism, Cave remains pragmatic about her future on the platform. She noted that she is not producing explicit content, which limits her time and growth potential on the site, yet she continues to balance the demands of the work with her personal life. The update provides a candid look at the financial realities facing many actors in the current entertainment landscape.
She said doing so was “proof of my failure to make (or rather, keep hold of) money as an actress and writer,” adding that she had “nothing to show for 18 years of work in the arts industry.”
