Exclusive Interview with Daniel Radcliffe!

By Tribute on July 12, 2011 | Leave a Comment

Daniel Radcliffe talks to Tribute about his final days of filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

—By Bonnie Laufer

(Watch the video interview here)

Time to take out the tissues, folks. After ten very successful years, the Harry Potter movies have finally come to an end. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is finally upon us, and no one is more grateful about all of the film’s success than Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe. Along for the final ride are his trusty sidekicks, Emma Watson (Hermione) and Rupert Grint (Ron), supporting their dear friend Harry to the bitter end, to help him destroy his mortal enemy Voldemort and save Hogwarts once and for all.

In this film, fans get what they’ve been waiting for as loose ends are tied and friendships are solidified and modified, especially the one between Ron and Hermione, whose relationship finally turns into something much more in a scene that is absolutely touching. In an exclusive interview with Tribute in New York, Radcliffe talked about what fans can expect from the final film, his favorite scene in the movie, and the most important things he took away from working on the Harry Potter films for ten years of his life.

Not only is Part 2 filled with action, but it’s very emotional. In your opinion, what are the major differences between this film and the first? What can fans expect?

Radcliffe: Part 1 was like a slow-burning drama, and this one is an all-out action film with moments of intense emotional drama. I found this one to be quite a roller-coaster ride, and that is exactly what people can expect from this final film.  I’ve said it before, but it’s a heist movie that turns into a war film. It’s nonstop. The battle in Hogwarts is just incredible, and it’s really epic. I think people are going to be left slightly breathless by it.  If I do say so myself, it’s pretty fantastic. I was really pleased with it, and I am a very harsh judge of these films.

What ultimately challenged you making HPDH Part 2?

Radcliffe: I think what challenged me the most was, finding the emotional depth that Harry goes through was really tricky. I had to keep that up until the very end, and that was tough. I enjoyed the filming process for the last one as much as I could, and again, watching it I think I captured it. I was more pleased than I thought I would be.

A scene that really stood out was the resurrection stone scene, which made me very emotional.

Radcliffe: Were you? Okay, that’s good because my parents were too and they were wondering if anyone else would be. Very emotional stuff, not just as Harry Potter but being you!

What was it like to shoot that scene?

Radcliffe: It was a very hard scene…I put a lot of pressure on that scene because I was told that it was a favorite moment of so many people who have read the books, including myself. I was so hard on myself to get it right that I ended up getting more frustrated with myself, but I think in the end what you see onscreen turned out really well – and now I am really encouraged by your response, so thank you!

After all of these years of playing Harry Potter and working with the most amazing actors, what ultimately is the most important thing you can take away from all of this?

Radcliffe: Wow. Well, it would have to be the memories, the memories of my time on the set and most definitely friendships. I have met people and made friends with people with whom I will be close for the rest of my life. I have been so lucky to have made friends with people who I would have never met if I hadn’t had this experience. So memories, the friendships and two pairs of Harry Potter glasses!

Well of course you had to take those!

Radcliffe: No question about that!  I mean, really! (laughs)

I would also think that there is no way you would have the fantastic work ethic that you have, had you not worked on these films for so many years.

Radcliffe: I think about that sometimes and I think you are partly right, but also my parents are real workers. Dad’s Irish and Mom is Jewish, so that’s working-class folk! (laughs) So I think I can take some credit for that, but it is so much of who I am and my identity that I can’t take full credit for it.

Although you’ve already said goodbye to Harry Potter and the movies, your fans are saying their final goodbyes in July. Is there anything you want to say to your fans, especially the devoted ones who have stuck by you since the very first movie?

Radcliffe: I just want to say thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your unrelenting support across the years. I hope you have been satisfied with the films. I’m sorry that we haven’t been able to leave everything in. I think Harry Potter fans have a literary curiosity and imagination, and it’s not necessarily associated with fans of big franchises, so I just want to say, take that curiosity into the world and do extraordinary things with it.

 

---

---

1. There are no comments yet, why not be the first?

---