Interview with Percy Weasley

It's a cold, dark winter night, the wind howls around Hogwarts school for witches and wizards. Only the very brave Rebekah Ireland ventures out to interview Chris Rankin who plays Percy Weasley in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'.

Hi Chris thanks for taking the time to have a chat, i'm sure you are busy with 'chamber of secrets' coming out soon, so i'll get straight down to the questions...

How did you get the part in the Harry potter series?

A mate of mine phoned me up one day, saying he'd seen something on tele, and thought it'd be a laugh to apply and see what happened. I sent off a letter and photos etc, and didn't hear anything for 6 months, by which time I'd forgotten about it. Then I got a phone call out of the blue, asking me to come and audition, so i did, and got the part!

Were you a fan of the books before you heard about the film?

Yup! read them all at least twice, and was really interested in them - otherwise i probably wouldn't have bothered applying.

Your character Percy is a real goody-to-shoes, house captain and a A student, are you like him in real life?

Not at all.... although possibly I should be. I try to play Percy as someone who just needs more attention, being brought up in a large family means that he doesn't get the attention he personally needs, and by working hard and being a goody two shoes, he gets the family praise.

This film has the same director as the first, was it very different to work on?

Yes and no... obviously we all knew what we were doing second time round, and mostly it was the same cast and crew. The director of photography has changed this time though, and thus the shots and styles have changed a bit, which rubs off on how a scene comes across, and I think we've got a much more sinister mood on this one.

Has your acting come on since the first film now that you are more experienced, did you pick up any more tricks of the trade from Maggie Smith or Alan Rickman?

I think working with people of such high calibre, you are always learning something, even if it's not acting techniques. but yes, I did learn a lot about how to use your eyes more, and less OTT acting.

The first film was a huge hit, did you expect that and have you had much fan mail?

I did excpect it to be a hit, but mentally I don't think I was totally prepared for how HUGE it really is. I do get a suprisingly large amount of mail actually, and I'm always flattered to recieve it, as I don't consider myself to be anything more than someone doing his job.

The next book in the series is much anticipated, have you met JK Rowling, if so what was she like?

JK Rowling is the most wonderful person to talk to, she's always really focused, and very interested in what you're saying. I'd like to talk to her about Percy's life sometime.

Are you going to concentrate on acting now or will you go to university and do something else?

I think I'll stick with what I'm doing for the moment although I hope to get time to go and get proper training at a drama school.

The film has quite a lot of computer generated stuff in it, like Dobby, how was it acting to thin air and then seeing it all put in place after post production?

It's a bit wierd, they give you a place to look, and then expect you to act to thin air, which is strange... especially if the eyeline isn't quite right...

Did everyone get on well on the set? Was it a good atmosphere to work in and who was the most fun to be around?

We all got on really well, from painters and electricians up to big names, we were all equal, which was great. I loved working with Julie Walters, she's such a caring person aswell as an incredible actress to watch.

Did you have your own Winnebago?

lol - well once or twice

What do your school mates and friends from home think of your success?

Most of them were SO supportive, and still are, which is always greatly appreciated (and help keep my ego lowered!!) some, however got a bit annoyed that I'd been lucky... In a way it helped sort out who my real friends were.

Why do you think the Weasleys get such a tough time of it from the Malfoys?

Because we're better than them and they know it.

Did you have to do any research into your role apart from read the books loads?

Not really.... there's not much depth to Percy at the moment, but I'm hoping he'll get bigger and more complex as the series goes along...

Fred and George are always playing jokes in the film, did any backfire and could you tell them apart?

It took a while, but I now can tell one from the other.... only one joke backfired. which was when they swapped places for a great hall scene, and no one noticed for ages!!!

Will you start work on the next film soon? Which is your Favourite Harry potter book, and are there any scenes in particular you are looking forward to filming?

Book 2 is my favourite, so I've loved doing the last movie.... I'm looking forward to doing three, although no one is really sure when were starting. There's a bit in the great hall with big squashy sleeping bags that sounds like it could be fun, from what I remember of the books.

Thanks very much Chris, you were great in the first film and we are sure you will be great in 'Chamber of secrets'. Good luck with the rest of filming and the films to come.

Interview courtesy fazed.com