The "Harry Potter" movies bedazzle not only with special effects, but also with their Shakespearean casts. Some of Britain's top actors portray mentors and dark spirits.
Going all the way back to the first term at Hogwarts, the ensemble has included notable elders, from the late Richard Harris as the kindly Albus Dumbledore to the formidable Ralph Fiennes as Harry's arch enemy, Lord Voldemort.
This summer, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which opens July 15, features returning stars Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon and Robbie Coltrane. New to the cast is Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent, who enters the picture as potion expert Horace Slughorn.
"The Harry Potter world is a crowded world, and we always try to choose actors who are very vivid," says casting director Fiona Weir, whose first "Potter" film was 2005's "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." "Even though they can play into the heightened 'Harry Potter' world, it's important they remain truthful and naturalistic."
Hogwarts has been like acting school for the younger cast members. Tom Felton, a k a Draco Malfoy, says he has learned by observing the other performers at work. Draco was introduced as a school bully in earlier episodes, but the character becomes decidedly more sinister in "Half-Blood Prince."
"Our teachers are the best actors in the world," says Felton, who will make an appearance at the Garden State Plaza in Paramus on Friday. "Sometimes you've got to remind yourself to stay in character, because you can just sit there and marvel at how each of these people jump from their own persona to this whole other persona."
Between takes, Felton said, he chatted with Bonham Carter, who portrays a ghastly predator named Bellatrix.
"Helena is such a lovely, highly educated lady," says Felton. "She'll be telling me about something interesting that happened in the 16th century and straight away, when they roll cameras, she turns into the most evil woman I've ever seen in my life."
The franchise is firmly rooted in England. Rather than recruiting American stars to feign British accents, a la Renee Zellweger in "Bridget Jones's Diary," the producers have consistently drawn from the British talent pool.
"These are British stories, and over here we have a wealth of fabulous actors," says Weir. She works in collaboration with director David Yates, who's been at the helm since 2007's "Order of the Phoenix." They've just started production on the series' coda, "The Deathly Hallows," which is to be released in two parts.
"We don't have a blockbuster film culture like there is in America," notes Weir. "Our actors, a majority of them, come from a theater background or come from an independent film background."
The list of "Potter" alums reads like a West End who's who. Past installments have featured such thespians as Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Gary Oldman, John Hurt and Imelda Staunton. It may seem an unlikely assortment for a series based on children's books, but Weir says "Potter" has its own allure for performers.
"It's a unique phenomenon," she explains. "Some of the cast came to it knowing the minutiae of the stories, and for some it's their first experience with it and they devour the books. More than one actor has said, 'My children will forgive me for everything I ever do if I get to be in the film.'"
One of the toughest roles to fill was Lord Voldemort, a villain as mythical as Darth Vader and Hannibal Lecter combined.
"That was a big challenge, but Ralph was the only person, really, for that part," says Weir. "I'll never forget him in 'Schindler's List.' There was no one in the world more frightening than the commandant he played."
Bonham Carter was also selected based upon her work in a completely different genre.
"Ever since 'Fight Club,' she's been playing quite frightening people," says Weir.
The characters have grown more complex as the saga nears its closing chapter. Draco emerges as a powerful nemesis in "Half-Blood Prince." Felton was struck by the transformation when the novel debuted four years ago.
"My friend told me, 'You have to get the book,'" Felton says. "I had a feeling something was happening with Draco, but I had no idea it would become this whole other scale. Draco's no longer calling Harry names. He's trying to kill him."
In terms of typecasting, Felton isn't overly concerned because he changes his appearance to play Draco, bleaching his hair. He's already seen one former cast-mate flourish post-Potter.
"I don't think it affected Robert Pattinson too much," he says, referring to the "Twilight" star, who portrayed a doomed student in "Goblet of Fire." "He's showing us the way."
Going all the way back to the first term at Hogwarts, the ensemble has included notable elders, from the late Richard Harris as the kindly Albus Dumbledore to the formidable Ralph Fiennes as Harry's arch enemy, Lord Voldemort.
This summer, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which opens July 15, features returning stars Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon and Robbie Coltrane. New to the cast is Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent, who enters the picture as potion expert Horace Slughorn.
"The Harry Potter world is a crowded world, and we always try to choose actors who are very vivid," says casting director Fiona Weir, whose first "Potter" film was 2005's "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." "Even though they can play into the heightened 'Harry Potter' world, it's important they remain truthful and naturalistic."
Hogwarts has been like acting school for the younger cast members. Tom Felton, a k a Draco Malfoy, says he has learned by observing the other performers at work. Draco was introduced as a school bully in earlier episodes, but the character becomes decidedly more sinister in "Half-Blood Prince."
"Our teachers are the best actors in the world," says Felton, who will make an appearance at the Garden State Plaza in Paramus on Friday. "Sometimes you've got to remind yourself to stay in character, because you can just sit there and marvel at how each of these people jump from their own persona to this whole other persona."
Between takes, Felton said, he chatted with Bonham Carter, who portrays a ghastly predator named Bellatrix.
"Helena is such a lovely, highly educated lady," says Felton. "She'll be telling me about something interesting that happened in the 16th century and straight away, when they roll cameras, she turns into the most evil woman I've ever seen in my life."
The franchise is firmly rooted in England. Rather than recruiting American stars to feign British accents, a la Renee Zellweger in "Bridget Jones's Diary," the producers have consistently drawn from the British talent pool.
"These are British stories, and over here we have a wealth of fabulous actors," says Weir. She works in collaboration with director David Yates, who's been at the helm since 2007's "Order of the Phoenix." They've just started production on the series' coda, "The Deathly Hallows," which is to be released in two parts.
"We don't have a blockbuster film culture like there is in America," notes Weir. "Our actors, a majority of them, come from a theater background or come from an independent film background."
The list of "Potter" alums reads like a West End who's who. Past installments have featured such thespians as Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Gary Oldman, John Hurt and Imelda Staunton. It may seem an unlikely assortment for a series based on children's books, but Weir says "Potter" has its own allure for performers.
"It's a unique phenomenon," she explains. "Some of the cast came to it knowing the minutiae of the stories, and for some it's their first experience with it and they devour the books. More than one actor has said, 'My children will forgive me for everything I ever do if I get to be in the film.'"
One of the toughest roles to fill was Lord Voldemort, a villain as mythical as Darth Vader and Hannibal Lecter combined.
"That was a big challenge, but Ralph was the only person, really, for that part," says Weir. "I'll never forget him in 'Schindler's List.' There was no one in the world more frightening than the commandant he played."
Bonham Carter was also selected based upon her work in a completely different genre.
"Ever since 'Fight Club,' she's been playing quite frightening people," says Weir.
The characters have grown more complex as the saga nears its closing chapter. Draco emerges as a powerful nemesis in "Half-Blood Prince." Felton was struck by the transformation when the novel debuted four years ago.
"My friend told me, 'You have to get the book,'" Felton says. "I had a feeling something was happening with Draco, but I had no idea it would become this whole other scale. Draco's no longer calling Harry names. He's trying to kill him."
In terms of typecasting, Felton isn't overly concerned because he changes his appearance to play Draco, bleaching his hair. He's already seen one former cast-mate flourish post-Potter.
"I don't think it affected Robert Pattinson too much," he says, referring to the "Twilight" star, who portrayed a doomed student in "Goblet of Fire." "He's showing us the way."
Credit by : nj.com
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