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December 26, 2009 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows actors grow up

WHAT a difference almost 10 years and six films make. In this first-look scene released from the next Harry Potter film, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint look all grown up compared to the innocent young things who faced the media for the first time in 2000.

The cinematic version of the last book in the J. K. Rowling series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is being split into two films by Warner Bros Pictures, which has so far raked in box office receipts of almost $5 billion worldwide from the popular franchise.

Filming of part one started in February and is due to wrap after Christmas.

Part two filming is scheduled to start in April and may provide Potter fans with an idea of just how much star Daniel Radcliffe has grown up.

Director David Yates has said the actor will appear nude in a scene where Ron imagines his worst fear – Harry and Hermione kissing.

The Deathly Hallows: Part I is due out next November..

Source: News.com.au

The actress with the mostest? It’s not who you think

Emma Watson is the highest grossing actress of the past decade.

The Harry Potter actress – who plays Hermione Granger in the wizard film series, which started in 2001 - has been awarded the title by Guinness World Records.

The 19-year-old’s starring role in the six films, as well as her voice part in animated movie The Tale Of Despereaux, helped take $5.4 billion worldwide, putting the takings ahead of some of Hollywood’s big players including Julia Roberts, Halle Berry and Cameron Diaz.

She also boasts the highest average box office receipts per movie.

Watson attended the open auditions for the first Harry Potter in 1999, when she was just nine, and had no idea what she was letting herself in for.

She said: “I had no idea of the scale of the film series. If I had I would have been completely overwhelmed.”

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Harry Potter star Emma Watson highest-earning actress of 2000s

Emma Watson is the highest-earning actress of the 2000s, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

The 18-year-old has starred in six Harry Potter films, which have made over £3.2 billion since 2001.

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The book also reveals that Daniel Radcliffe is the highest-earning male actor, shortly followed by co-star Rupert Grint.

The young actors beat Hollywood stars Johnny Depp and Sir Ian McKellan to the record.

However, US publication Entertainment Weekly has disputed the record for highest-grossing male, naming Alan Rickman for roles in Harry Potter, Love Actually and Sweeney Todd.

Source: Mirror.co.uk

July 7, 2009 - Hotseat: Harry Potter stars

It’s nearly the time Harry Potter fans have been waiting for - the latest film is out on 15 July.

Newsround’s Ricky got to chat to the stars on Monday.

You sent in HUNDREDS of questions so Ricky chose the best ones, added a few of his own and got close-up and personal with Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson.

Ricky plays a strange sound to Rupert, asks Daniel about his phone - and tries to get a part in the next film!

Ricky: Talking about your latest Harry Potter movie, what do you make of it?

Emma: It’s really funny and it’s quite dark and I know it’s so boring that I’m saying this for the millionth time (laughs) but I do think they are getting better and this one is no exception.

Emma Watson with Ricky

Ricky:

This will be your sixth premiere, does it change, does it get any more exciting, or more boring?

Emma: It’s got easier as I’ve learnt what to expect. I think the first time I went on to a red carpet I was 11 or 12 and it’s quite something. It’s so nice to see that people are still so fond of the series and so excited about the film.

Ricky: You’ve done quite a lot of photo shoots and you’re quite into fashion as well. Is that something that you want to do in the future?

Emma: Yeah, it’s definitely something I’m interested in. First and foremost I’m an actress and that’s my focus, but it’s always nice to do something different, you know? It’s nice to have a change and it was that for me.

A picture of Ricky over a still from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
This is what Ricky could look like as Harry Potter… scary!

Ricky:

I’ve had a quick chat with Daniel and he says he doesn’t want to play Harry Potter in the last two films and he has asked me to step in.

Emma: (laughs) Really?! Well that’s great news!

Ricky: Well I’m about his height you see! I just wanted to know what you thought of that?

Emma: Perfect! That’s exciting I’m really looking forward to working with you!!

Ricky: Maybe we could start rehearsals later this afternoon?

Emma: (laughs) Yeah sounds great!

Ricky: Emma thank you so much for talking to us.

Emma: No worries, I’ll forward to working with you soon!

Source: CBBC Newsround

Tags: 2009, hbp!

How Potter stars deal with age-old problem of getting older

It has become a ritual akin to the start-of-term dinner at Hogwarts. If it’s the launch of the new Harry Potter movie - world-wide box office for the series so far $4bn and counting - it must be time for the Muggle press to gather and be amazed at how the franchise’s young stars have aged.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth in the series of eight films, finds Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Emma Watson (Hermione) and Rupert Grint (Ron) once again the oldest wand-swinging schoolchildren in town. Radcliffe is pushing 20, Grint is there already, while Watson remains the baby of the bunch at 19.

“It’s weird looking back on the first few films,” said Grint. “It doesn’t seem like us.”
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As the trio assembled in the ballroom at Claridge’s in London for the by now familiar waltz with the press, the questions reflected how much they have changed since the first film eight years ago - and how grim reality can intrude on even the most magical of franchises.

Harry Potter Six was the last screen appearance of Rob Knox, the young actor stabbed in a London street last May.

Radcliffe was yesterday among those paying tribute to the murdered 18-year-old, who played Marcus Belby.

“I won’t pretend I knew him incredibly well, or was his best friend on set, but I knew him and liked him, and what happened to him was obviously tragic and awful.”

Director David Yates added: “With Harry Potter you are surrounded by young people all day long who bring a great commitment to what they do, and Rob was no different. He came in and wanted to do brilliant work, he put his heart and soul into it, and you just think what a terrible waste’.”

The cast will wear white wrist ribbons at tonight’s world premiere in London in tribute to Knox.

Yates said HP Six was “pivotal” in the series. “The cast is getting just that little bit older now and hormones are starting to fly. It marks a real transition point between our cast as children and adults.” Watson was keen to damp down any notions of the love bug biting the cast for real.

“It would be of huge media interest if one of the three of us was hooking up. Unfortunately we don’t have that story for you.”

Rupert Grint became a health story recently after being diagnosed with swine flu.

“It was just like any other sort of flu - sore throat, in bed for a while. It was scary at first because of what’s been in the press.”

He joked: “I was like am I going to die?’, but it was fine.”

Now that the trio are older they can work longer hours on set. With the series due to finish filming next spring, working weeks are stretching to six days. More hours, plus passing their driving tests, are the main signs of the years passing, said Watson.

“None of us have started drinking coffee or smoking. And there’s definitely no alcohol,” she laughed.

Like the royal princes, the Harry Potter set have grown up in public, with the advantages and disadvantages that brings.

“It’s difficult to talk about the things we missed when we gained so much,” said Watson. “We probably had to grow up a lot quicker than normal children, we had a lot of responsibility. In that sense it was difficult and a lot of pressure, but the experience has been so amazing and unique.”

Would she be up for revisiting the role in 20 years’ time?

“Never say never, but I would hope I would have moved on by the time they’re doing Harry Potter, the remake.”

Meanwhile, as internet forums count down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the release of the film, it seems that whether “amazing”, “hurried”, “spontaneous” or “grown-up”, the Potter film promises to beguile its fans well in advance of its scheduled release date.

For two lucky fans who attended the cast preview of the Half-Blood Prince, the film depicts the best of the Potter sequence. Packed with extra scenes, range of character and anticipated romance, Lyria told MuggleNet users: “There are so many moments I keep remembering. This is EASILY the best movie they have made so far. It surpasses all of the others in so many ways.”

The film goes on general release on 15 July.

Source: The Herald

Tags: 2009, hbp!

Potter stars herald the latest installment

HARRY Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint gathered yesterday ahead of the premier of the latest installment of the hit series in London’s Leicester Square.

The sixth film of Scots author JK Rowling’s boy wizard novels, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, opens across the UK next week.

Cast and crew from the new film have revealed that will wear white ribbons on their wrists at the film’s world premiere tonight as a mark of respect to murdered actor Rob Knox.

Knox, 18, who played Marcus Belby in Half-Blood Prince, was stabbed outside a bar in Sidcup, Kent, last May – days after completing the movie. Filming of the first part of the final novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is already under way.

Source: The Scotsman

Tags: 2009, hbp!

Emma Watson: I pounced on Rupert

Emma Watson has confessed she was so desperate to complete her kissing scene with Harry Potter co-star Rupert Grint, she pounced on him.

The 19-year-old actress plays Hermione Granger in film adaptations of JK Rowling’s hit novels and has worked with Rupert, who plays Ron Weasely, since she was 11.

In the final film, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, their characters share a kiss.

Emma confesses on this week’s Friday Night With Jonathan Ross show that she hated kissing Rupert because there was so much public scrutiny in the scene, adding: “I pounced on him, I was so desperate to get it over with.”

The young actress also revealed she plans to continue acting, despite starting university in September.

She said: “Definitely… I’m so excited about going to university but it doesn’t mean to say I can’t do something else, I want to have my cake and eat it… I’d like to try comedy.”

And Emma insists starting acting at such a young age did not mean missing out on her childhood.

She said: “I never felt like I was missing out… we were able to be kids because we were together, whatever weird thing we were doing.”

Jonathan’s other guest Sandra Bullock denies having had plastic surgery, saying: “I was accused of it, but no-one has asked me to alter my appearance.”

Friday Night With Jonathan Ross airs on BBC One at 10.35pm on Friday July 3.

Source: Press Association

Tags: 2009, dh!

Daniel rejects idea of dating Emma

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe said there has been “something really incestuous” about the idea of him dating co-star Emma Watson.

The 19-year-old actor said that while a relationship between him and Watson, 19, who plays Hermione Granger, would be “everything the fans ever wanted”, it was just not happening.

But he said the teenage stars of the boy wizard films were all “unbelievably horny” between the filming of the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and the fifth, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

He told Esquire magazine: “There was a period when we were the only boys and girls any of us knew.

“And so, you know, we were all unbelievably horny from about the third film to probably about the end of the fifth; then it all settled down.

“But, God, for a few years…”.

He added: “There was never anybody I fancied that much in the cast, though the conspiracy theorists always like to say that me and Emma are dating.

“We know it’d be everything the fans ever wanted.

“I’m sorry guys, it’s not happening. It’s just not. There’s something really incestuous about the idea of it.”

Radcliffe also said he was bullied at school but used the skills he learned on the film sets to fight back.

Source: Press Association

Tags: 2009!

I’m no heartthrob, says Harry Potter star Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe, the British actor who plays boy wizard Harry Potter, laughed off suggestions he has become a heartthrob on the eve of Tuesday’s premiere of the sixth film of the series.

Radcliffe, 19, who won the role of Harry as a cherubic 11-year-old, has updated his image by appearing naked on stage in the play “Equus” between filming recent adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s phenomenally successful books.

But he said most fans still think of him as the bespectacled Harry.

“If girls like me, it has not been proven yet,” Radcliffe told journalists ahead of the London premiere of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”.

“OK, I go to the red carpet in Tokyo and thousands of girls scream at me… but the me that sits in a darkened room watching cricket for eight hours with a bowl of pasta in his underwear and socks is not quite so attractive to girls.”

Radcliffe admitted in an interview that the male actors on the Potter set had felt male hormones kick as they grew into adolescence on the set, telling Esquire magazine: “We were all unbelievably horny from about the third film to probably about the end of the fifth; then it all settled down.”

But Emma Watson, who plays the geeky Hermione Granger in the films, said fans should forget any hopes of her, Radcliffe and Rupert Grint — who plays the gawky Ron Weasley in the films — pairing off with each other in real life.

“When we were younger, we were always going back and forth to school so it is not as if Rupert and Dan were the only boys I saw,” the 19-year-old said at the news conference.

“I know it would be of huge interest to the media if we were hooking up. But we grew up together and we are just like siblings.

“There have not been any pairings like that (among the cast), I’m afraid.”

Watson admitted that her decision to attend a university in the United States from August was motivated by her desire to “just be a teenager”.

“I am just looking forward to meeting people my own age and having a normal life for once. But that does not mean that I’ll never be acting again.

“It was always my dream (to go to university) before I did the films and so I don’t see why I should change it,” she said.

Just like her character, Watson has excelled at school, despite squeezing in lessons between gruelling days of filming.

“My way of dealing with all this is to read a book,” she admitted. “Oh dear, this is so geeky, but it has got me through it.”

The six Potter films so far have earned 4.5 billion dollars (3.2 billion euros), making them one of the most successful film franchises in history.

Source: AFP

Tags: 2009, hbp!

Romance rocks wizard world in new Potter movie

LONDON (Reuters) - Romantic comedy meets the wizarding world in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the sixth installment in the hit movie franchise in which hormones, as well as hexes, are on the loose at Hogwarts school.

And with filming on the final two pictures due to wrap up in 2010, the young actors who spent much of their teen years on set and coping with the superstardom their success has brought are finally looking ahead to life after Potter.

“It was nice to be back and to know that this film is, to me, more of a romantic comedy than ever before and that we would have a chance to focus more on that side of things,” said Emma Watson, who plays the feisty bookworm Hermione in the films.

“Sometimes I have to bring myself back with Hermione, because she is so innocent and so naive and she really is very vulnerable in this film,” the 19-year-old actress told reporters on Monday at a press conference to publicize the movie.

“She really does get her heart broken by Ron and Lavender and that whole situation.”

Director David Yates, who also made the fifth movie “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” added: “Our cast are just getting that little bit older now and the hormones are starting to fly and for me it marks a real transition point between our cast as children and our cast as adults.”

In Half-Blood Prince, out in theatres on July 15, Hogwarts is increasingly vulnerable to attack from Lord Voldemort, wizard Potter’s nemesis.

Professor Slughorn, played by Jim Broadbent, joins the cast, and Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore places more and more trust in his star pupil Potter, determined to prepare him for his inevitable showdown with Voldemort.

Meanwhile, love blossoms, with Harry drawn to Ginny and Ron attracting the attention of Lavender Brown as a heartbroken Hermione looks on jealously.

END IN SIGHT

The films, the first five of which have earned an impressive $4.5 billion at the box office, are based on British author J.K. Rowling’s seven-book Harry Potter series, which has sold an estimated 400 million copies worldwide.

There will be eight films in all, with the final volume, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” divided into two.

“We’re working at the moment on Deathly Hallows, and I think we’re all aware that this great juggernaut is reaching the end of its journey in a way,” said Yates, who is also directing Deathly Hallows Parts One and Two.

“We finish shooting next spring and everybody comes to work … with that knowledge in the back of their mind.”

According to Hollywood studio Warner Bros., the seventh film is scheduled to hit cinemas in November, 2010 and the eighth in the summer of 2011.

“I’d like to continue acting, really, if I can,” said Rupert Grint, who plays Ron.

“It’s kind of all coming to an end now and I suppose you’ve got to start thinking about that kind of thing.”

Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry and has starred on the Broadway stage, also plans to go on acting.

“Hopefully just keep acting is the plan. I just want to keep going for as long as I can and I’ve had a fantastic time with Potter. I will be very sad to leave it.”

Watson is going to university in the United States.

“I’m very excited and looking forward to a bit of normality for a while, it would be nice,” she said. “But that by no means means that by going to university I’m never going to act again.”

Source: Reuters

Tags: 2009, hbp!

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