FILM: Harry Potter press conference

Emma Watson (Hermoine), Rupert Grint (Ron) and Jessie Cave (Ron’s love interest, Lavender Brown) all spoke about how much they had enjoyed making the film.

Jessie said: “I felt incredibly lucky and privileged to be a part of it. It’s so enhanced my life and I’ve enjoyed every single moment of it.”

Emma added: “It’s difficult to talk about the things that we’ve missed when we gained so much. The experience has been so amazing and so unique, it’s been incredible really.

“There will be a big hole.”

Veteran actor Jim Broadbent comes into the film as Professor Horace Slughorn, allowing us an insight into the younger Tom Riddle, a former pupil.

He said: “It’s a unique experience coming in and joining the Potter world. To do a blockbuster that isn’t stressful is a delight.”

And leading actor Daniel Radcliffe added: “I’ve had a fantastic time with Potter.

“I will be incredibly sad to leave it behind.”

“I did have swine flu.”

Rupert spoke about getting swine flu.

He said: “I did have swine flu but it was just like any other flu I’ve had before. I was in bed for a while.

"It was quite scary when they first told me I had swine flu. Am I going to die? I was honestly fine. It was just a bit of a sore throat.”

Emma spoke about her plans to study in America at the end of August: “I am looking forward to a bit of normality for a while.

"But it by no means means that going to university that I am not going to work again or act again. I will hopefully schedule any work I want to do around the holidays.

“I am 19 years ago, I’ve got no idea what I want. I’m just going with it but I am very excited about university.”

The actors all clearly get on well together with Emma Watson referring to co-star Rupert as Rup or Rups and producer David Barron describing the set as “ego free.”

Emma talked about getting on particularly well with Helena Bonham Carter (who played Bellatrix Lestrange), describing her as a mentor. She also said how much she admires JK Rowling who emails her “from time to time.”

Dumbledore actor Michael Gambon also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the young cast, saying: “It’s great being surrounded by young actors and I can learn a lot from their simplicity.”

Tributes to Rob Knox

The stars also paid tribute to murdered actor Rob Knox and spoke about donning white wristbands at the London premiere in Leicester Square on Tuesday (July 7).

Mr Knox, 18, who appeared in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, was killed outside the Metro Bar in Station Road, Sidcup, on May 23 last year.

Karl Bishop, aged 22, of Carlton Road, Sidcup, was convicted of murdering the teenager and will spend at least 20 years in jail for the killing.

Daniel Radcliffe paid tribute to the teenager saying: “I would not pretend that I knew Rob incredibly well. I knew him, I liked him and what happened to him was tragic.”

Producer David Heyman added: “When anybody’s life is cut short it casts a shadow and for all of us it makes us realise how lucky we are and to live each moment as best we can.”

Mr Knox took the part of Marcus Belby.

Director David Yates called his death a “tremendous waste.”

He paid tribute to the teenager’s acting, saying: “He put his heart and soul into it, what a terrible waste.”

Interests

Daniel and Emma share a love of literature with Emma admitting she is “so geeky.”

She said: “My way of dealing with it is I will open a book. I love learning, I don’t ever want to stop.”

And “Harry Potter” said he had had poetry published in a magazine called Rubbish and he had given Michael Gambon a book of his poetry as a present.

He also offered an insight into his life at home, saying he is different to the person seen on the red carpet.

“There is the me that is sat in a darkened room watching cricket with a bowl of pasta in my socks and my underwear, is not nearly as appealing to women.”

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is out on July 15.

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