Filming starts on third Harry Potter

The cameras began rolling for Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban on 24 February, but its glitzy premiere will not happen until next year.

However, Chris, who plays head boy Percy Weasley, has given us the lowdown on what's happening at Hogwarts.

Graham Barnard spoke to him on the first day of filming. Chris, 19, revealed that this sequel is far scarier than the last two and and he talked about what his life is like as a jobbing actor.

What happens in this film?

Basically like the first and second one, Harry is still back at Hogwarts school with his friends Ron and Hermione.

He starts by having an argument with his uncle and aunt and runs away from home and gets the bus, the magic bus called the night bus, to London where he meets up with his friends and he then goes back to school.

There's lots of scary stuff happening. A guy escapes from the prison which is called Azkaban and they reckon he's after Harry for reasons I will not tell you because it will give away the story.

It sounds a bit darker than the first two films.

By far. It's a lot scarier than the first two.

Your character Percy is the head boy, but what does he get up to this time?

Not a lot this time. It's quite nice, he's taken a bit of a back seat because in the last two he was just a prefect but in this one he becomes head boy so he's still there and being as pompous and keeping order on things - but from a distance this time, which is good.

Have you learnt all your lines?

I don't know how I do it to be honest. It just happens - it goes in, I look at it, it's there.

Where is it being filmed?

Most of my stuff is going to be at the studios - called Leavesden Studios - just outside Watford which is actually where I am at the moment in a hotel in St Albans.

What have you been up to since the last film?

Well, the last film I finished shooting in June. I've been playing it a bit quietly. Obviously we had the premiere for it and then straight into pantomime over Christmas which was fantastic.

Since then I've been taking it nice and quietly and have had a bit of a break. I'm just starting to rehearse for a play at Little Sheringham Theatre which I'm doing at the end of March.

Can you believe that you are one of the stars of the Harry Potter films?

It's beginning to sink in now but it's still tremendous fun. I absolutely love doing them.

Do we have the same actor playing Harry Potter?

Yes, we do. Daniel's still doing it. The main cast - apart from the late great Harris - everybody who was playing a character is still playing them.

Who's replacing Richard [Harris] this time around?

I'm not sure. I've heard and read that Sir Michael Gambon is doing it but whether that's true or not I don't know.

I'd be lost for words if I found myself in the presence of all these great British actors, do you get in awe of them or is it everyday to you?

It was quite daunting to start with but they're just normal people I've discovered. Very, very civil and amazingly talented people. It's wonderful to work with them.

It's half past godness knows what know on the first day of filming, how's the schedule?

It depends on how big a day it is. Today I'm only doing costume fittings and hair and make-up so it won't be too harsh. I'm going to be there all day but it won't be too bad.

If I'm doing a big scene, like a Great Hall scene, we'd have started filming at eight and we'd finish at five or six in the evening.

Are you still working at the cinema in Norwich?

I haven't done so since the pantomime finished but I'll be going back in the next couple of weeks.

That's what I admire about you: you are big time but you're not.You're still happy to work in the cinema in Norwich.

I love it. It's such a good job!

interview courtesy: BBC Norfolk