Learning to fly a broom is a must for any aspiring witch or wizard at Hogwarts, and that's where Madam Hooch comes in, although she's also happy to lend herself to Quidditch refereeing duties. Harry Potter fans will fondly remember her in the scene where Harry first learns to ride his Firebolt broomstick. She put him on the Quidditch team immediately!
The instantly recognizable Zoe Wanamaker, who plays the role, is actually American by birth, but ended up in England after her father traveled for work and was then denied permission to return because he was a suspected communist. She may be best known for her eleven year long starring role in British sitcom "My Family", although she's also fond of Agatha Christie, having appeared several times in adaptations of the author's work in both "Miss Marple" and "Poirot".