HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ reportedly cost more to make than any of the movies — yet 1 film actress got so broke she resorted to this to make $20K in a day

Since the movies earned well over what they cost to produce, one might think all of the actors involved would make enough income to last them a while. But that certainly wasn’t the case for English actress Jessie Cave who played Lavender Brown in the final three films.

Over ten years after filming, Cave had four young children of her own, and told The Times that acting rejections and childcare costs left her broke and at “a point of complete desperation.” So in a last-ditch effort to make some money, she turned to OnlyFans.

But it’s not what you think. Her hair was the only “main character” in her videos. Whether she was just brushing it or “tying it around her waist,” the Times explained, the content landed with viewers. Ultimately, Cave charged a $6 monthly subscription fee and offered paid DMs that earned her roughly $20,000 in just a day — and eventually more than she ever made acting in a year.

Whether you’re a starving artist or just looking to shore up your savings, here’s what to keep in mind when starting a side hustle.

Cave isn’t the only one looking for a side hustle to make ends meet

Cave didn’t return Moneywise’s request for comment but, on a 2025 episode of her podcast, “Before We Break Up Again,” she recalled the “doors getting slammed in [her] face and just so much rejection over the years” in her acting career.

She then cited fellow Brits Lily Allen and Kate Nash as inspirations to join OnlyFans — where they sold feet and posterior pics respectively. Singer Nash specifically noted she did so to make up for money lost on touring.

And while Cave’s made more than she could have imagined, she believes her side hustle will run its course because she doesn’t plan to involve nudity. As such, she told the Times that she’d like to eventually conclude it by cutting off and selling her hair.

Cave also predicts we’ll see “more people needing to use other platforms to make money when they’re not being an artist” — though the need for an income injection extends beyond artists.

A 2026 survey by Side Hustle Nation found that 39% of working Americans — or roughly 80 million people — have side hustles, with 61% of those saying they do so to save extra cash or pay off bills and debt.

They reported that online businesses such as newsletters and affiliate marketing were among the top earning side hustles, with e-commerce stores and local services also proving profitable.

An April Lending Tree report, meanwhile, noted that side hustling is actually waning compared to previous years, but that a majority of those who do it say “life would be unaffordable” without it. They added that, on average, U.S. side hustlers make $1,242 a month — a steady rise over the past four years but not quite at the level of a former “Harry Potter” star.

And though celebrities enjoy a visibility advantage when it comes to side hustles, there are ways regular folks can turn a passion or hobby into a profitable part-time enterprise.

Thinking of a side hustle? First, make sure it adds up

Before launching into your own side hustle, start by considering the basics, including how much time, energy, capital and, frankly, expertise you can invest in it.

Experts often recommend building around a skill or niche you’re already interested in and for which there’s an audience. Cave, for example, said on her podcast that she decided to sell hair videos because of the increased engagement they received on Instagram.

Be sure to also research your desired industry, what its customers want and how to reach them, while also considering the scale of what you’re about to launch.

A Forbes guide recommends starting simple by offering “one service, one class, one digital guide or one small batch” rather than full product lines. It’s also important, Forbes added, to set a designated testing window after which you evaluate the long-term prospects of the business.

If you do stick with it, many point to the importance of treating it like any real business while also ensuring you don’t overwork yourself — especially if you have a full-time job. To that end, it’s also advised that if your side hustle and your full-time job are similar in nature, you might save some conflict-of-interest hassles by clearing it with your employer first.

And if the money starts coming in, you should know what to do with it — from the tax implications to dealing with an unpredictable income stream. Catherine Valega, a certified financial planner with Green Bee Advisory, told Moneywise that she’s worked with OnlyFans creators before, and she offered some simple advice for side-hustlers.