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By Veronica Mixon
October 22, 2002
They are the most kids on the planet! Three lucky
British kids who are barely in their teens and
who generate millions of dollars in ticket sales
because they bring the characters of J. K. Rowling's
popular novels to life. Since gracing the big
screen one year ago in Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer's Stone, Daniel Radcliffe (13), Emma
Watson (12) and Rupert Grint (14) have become
mega-stars. They spend most of their time on the
magical movie sets, attend premieres and give
interviews.
Last month, the trio and American director, Christ
Columbus arrived in New York to talk about their
latest film, Harry Potter and the Chamber
of Secrets. They bravely answered questions
about their daily lives and their work.
THE INTERVIEW
What has life been like for you during last
year?
DANIEL: The best thing for me at the premiere
I met Ben Stiller, which was really cool and at
the NY premiere, I met Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon.
That's been the best thing so far.
RUPERT: Getting recognized is pretty cool.
One time I got recognized up a mountain in Switzerland
and that was cool.
EMMA: Probably the best thing is going
to the premiere and getting real cool outfits.
DANIEL, do you feel
like a heartthrob and do girls come up to you
now?
Daniel: I can't actually see it but if
other people see it, then great.
Can you predict what will happen for your
characters?
EMMA: She'll do something really clever
like be a doctor. She'll be really academic. DANIEL:
[points to Rupert and Emma] I think the two of
them will get together. RUPERT: I hope
they don't fall for each other.
Daniel, I'm told that you've developed a passion
for music.
DANIEL: I love the original Punk Rock.
Not so much the new stuff. I like the Sex Pistols,
The New York Dolls, The Stranglers, and those
kinds of things.
What kind of fan mail do you get?
DANIEL: I'm amazed the amount of effort
because around my birthday I got lots of things.
EMMA: Yeah, when it was my birthday, someone
gave me a massive big white Teddy bear. It was
about as big as me. They sent it in the post to
me and I just think that's completely amazing
because they never even met me.
RUPERT: For my sister's birthday, they
bought her a present as well.
Chris Columbus isn't directing the next film.
Instead it will be Alfonso Cuaron. How do you
feel about that?
DANIEL: I think that the most important
thing to mention is that Chris is still going
to be around. I think with the new director it's
going to be exciting and it's going to be a new
experience.
EMMA: Alfonso is a really, really nice
guy and I think it will be exciting.
RUPERT: I'm going to miss Chris as well
but he's always going to be around. [It will be]
More action movie and it's darker.
Do you think this new film is too scary for
little kids?
DANIEL: I personally don't think so. It's
all in the book and if you take away the darkness
from the film then you haven't really done the
book justice. If they've read the book, they won't
be scared at all.
EMMA: I think the fans of the book will
be really, really happy with it. I think it just
depends on the parent really.
RUPERT: It's pretty scary. I think its
up to the parents to see if they want to put their
child through that.
What's the best thing and the worst thing
about doing the Harry Potter movies?
DANIEL: I think the best thing is playing
a character who has inspired children all over
the world - and adults! Honestly, I don't think
there is a worst thing.
EMMA: It's the acting - even though there
is the glamour and attention - it comes down to
the fact that you're acting. Just being with the
fantastic actors and the people that I work with.
RUPERT: The upside is coming to New York.
Daniel, I understand that you've become a
fluff buff. What genres do you like?
DANIEL: I absolutely love Wes Anderson.
I love "The Royal Tenenbaums" and my favorite
film of all time is definitely "Twelve Angry Men."
So, I think that is an amazing film.
What did you do when you weren't on the set?
RUPERT: We did loads of fun stuff but
I can't remember anything.
DANIEL: When we weren't filming, I just
basically locked myself up in a very small room
and watched films.
EMMA: When I'm not filming, I'm basically
at school. I play lots of sports and hang out
with my friends most of the time.
Did you have a similar experience like Harry's
when you returned to school?
DANIEL: All the people have been absolutely
fantastic. There is no jealousy and I haven't
been bullied or anything. Everyone has been really
nice.
Have any of you ever not gotten along?
DANIEL: I threw Rupert out of a window.
No, we've never had a fight.
Do you plays your age or younger in the film?
EMMA: Play your age. We're the same age
as the characters so we're growing up with them.
You gained a lot of experience filming the
first Harry Potter. How did that affect you this
time?
DANIEL: I think I was a lot more confident
with Chris and if I had an idea, I was more comfortable
talking about it. On the first one, I wouldn't
be able to do that.
RUPERT: Yeah, I was a bit more comfortable,
too.
EMMA: I think everyone was a lot more
comfortable because we knew the director and we
knew what we were doing for starters.
Will you like to continue doing the series,
maybe doing 4 or 5 movies?
EMMA: I don't know if they want to make
a fourth or fifth one. But, it would be a really,
really good experience. I've really enjoyed them.
DANIEL: I'm definitely doing the third
one. [Everyone agrees they are all doing the third
one.] And, after that who knows. Each one takes
about a year to film so we've got quite a long
way to make that decision.
RUPERT: What was the question? I think
so because I really enjoy doing them all.
Describe the scenes that you enjoyed most
in the film?
DANIEL: The snake was 25 foot long and
it was actually quite hard to fight because I
kept knocking the teeth out of it.
RUPERT: The slugs were actually my favorite
scenes because I got to try out all these different
flavors of slime. There was orange, lemon, peppermint,
chocolate and they made them taste really nice.
I really enjoyed it.
EMMA: Being petrified - they made an amazing
wax model of me.
Could you talk about the hug and also how
your families deal with all the attention?
EMMA: The hug, it was OK in front of one
hundred kids. I was glad he didn't tell me to
get off of him.
RUPERT: Actually, [I was thinking] get
off me. No, no, it was cool. I didn't mind at
all. DANIEL: My parents are like really
amazing because they help me. I couldn't have
done anything like this without them.
RUPERT: My parents have helped me keep
my feet on the ground.
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