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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Interviews with Bonnie Wright, Evanna Lynch and Matthew Lewis
By Joanne Mace
Sixteen-year-old BONNIE WRIGHT plays Ron's younger sister, Ginny Weasley.
As well as all of the Harry Potter films, Bonnie has starred in two television productions; Agatha Christie; a Life in Pictures in which she played the young Agatha Christie and as Sarah Robinson in Stranded.
Bonnie also plays the guitar, saxophone, takes ballet and contemporary dance and sings. She loves art, English, listening to music, watching films, surfing, cycling and playing football, hockey and tennis.
Q: What has it been like to step more into the limelight as Ginny has become more prominent?
In the first few books, she was the little sister of the Weasley family, but in the later books, she comes through more on her own.
It's been more fun doing this film as Ginny's character's developed. The six of us go through to the Ministry of Magic and it was really interesting to be a part of. Ginny's a bit more confident - I have definitely enjoyed that.
I started when I was nine and I'm sixteen now. It's nine months at a time from the beginning of shooting to when it comes out and I think I enjoy it better now because we've grown up together and when we're filming it's a really relaxed atmosphere. We're going to start the sixth film at the beginning of September.
When we all come back into the next film it's like coming back from the summer term, we're all kind of like, oh, you've grown. We all keep in contact when we're not filming. Different people live in different parts of England but we let each other know what we're up to at school and things.
Q: What's good about being a Weasley?
A: We have a Christmas scene in Grimauld place and it's quite a dark atmosphere but our family brings a bit of life into it, some colour. I think the humour in the Weasley family brings things more alive.
Julie Walters, who plays Mrs Weasley is really kind of open and friendly towards all of us - she likes to have that family ring around us all. She's bubbly on set.
SHY and softly spoken 14 year-old EVANNA LYNCH plays Luna Lovegood, the free spirited, but fiercely loyal friend to Harry and determined member of Dumbledore's Army.
Evanna flew from her home near Dublin and travelled to London to come face to face with 15,000 other young hopefuls at an open audition.
But casting director Fiona Weir knew as soon as she saw her that "there was only one Luna". And just a few short weeks later, Evanna joined the production in the role.
When not filming, Evanna enjoys spending time at home, particularly with her family pets, which include a cat called Luna and a kitten named Dumbledore.
Q: What was it like to be a fan and then be on the set?
A: It was this feeling the whole time like I shouldn't be here among all these stars, these professionals. I was trying to keep my distance because I wanted to watch everyone. They want you to be at home and be part of it, and it became normal very quickly. I know I had been prepared, thinking, it's going to be like this, but that was more of a fantasy.
I was a bundle of nerves. I didn't expect that because during the screen test, I was fine, I was ready. I thought I'd be holding everyone up because I didn't know the ropes, but you do a few takes and got used to it.
Q: What was it about Luna that made you think, that's the part for me'.
A: It was just because she was happy, she's got everything sorted out, she's kind of like Dumbledore - she doesn't need anyone. She's happy being free. I wish I was as free as that.
Watching the movies, I always thought it would be so cool to be in Harry Potter and to make that your job, but before Order of the Phoenix, I didn't know who I'd be so I thought I'll just watch.
Then 2003, 21st of June, that was her - I wanted to go for Luna. I'm not one to sit around and wait for fate to do things so I got my friends and made a tape. They played Harry and Ron - they were very good about it, very patient - and I sent that away. That never came of anything because they can't deal with individual applications because they get so many but I did get a letter the same day I went on Mugglenet and there was a post saying open auditions for Luna Lovegood.
Q: J K Rowling knows you from your fan letters and has apparently said that she thinks you'll be great in the part - that must be a thrill?
A: If she's happy with you playing one of her characters, that's an honour. She still hasn't seen it, she'd just going from meeting me so I'm really scared. I'm always picturing the moment after she's seen it and I've had nightmares where she just walks away. I don't want to know what the Potter fans think of me - there's always going to be someone who won't like it - and that'll just upset me. If I'm happy with it, it just matters if I've done my little vision of Luna.
LEEDS native 16 year-old MATTHEW LEWIS reprises his role as Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Matthew has been acting since he was just five years old after joining a performing arts club. He won the role of Neville after an open casting call was held in his hometown.
Matthew has previously featured in a number of television series' including; Heartbeat, City Central, Where the Heart Is, Sharpe, Emmerdale, Dalziel & Pascoe and Some Kind Of Life...
Q: Having just spoken to Evanna, I have to ask you first about the wand incident with Helena.
A: We were doing a scene in the Ministry of Magic where she's holding the character of Neville hostage and Helena plays the character really well, being sadistic and twisted about it. She was moving the wand about on my head, just teasing me and I'm pulling away in fear. She put it straight into my ear and the doctor had to have a look at it and I was deaf for two days in that ear which was pretty weird. She was very apologetic and I can hear fine now!
It was fun - I have always enjoyed playing Neville because he's been that comic relief in the film, and I love making people laugh. This year I got to do that and also a lot of emotion and drama when he talks to Harry about his parents. To not only be working harder and be in more scenes, but also the diverse nature of the work was a lot of fun. I hope it carries on up to the seventh film.
Q: Given that you're obviously quite a dude (Matthew looks very different from Neville in the flesh, much more trendy) is it fun to play a character who's very different to you in real life?
A: It's kind of strange because I was never really bullied at school. I was pretty confident and I've never shyed away from much but a lot of people have come up to me and said that they were bullied at school and him playing Neville has influenced them a lot in their lives and helped them out. So that's given me great inspiration to carry on doing the job right.
I don't want to just say I'm a natural (he laughs self-deprecatingly), but the books are so well written that you don't have to do much research. You can just read how Rowling wrote it down and perform it that way.
It's surprising how many fans say he's their favourite character. It's really cool to think that you're playing these people's favourite character who they have ingrained in their head from the book. For them to say you're doing it right, is superb.
I'm pretty lucky in that I don't look anything like Neville, at least, I don't think I do. Around Leeds, people recognise me. But I can still go shopping. I kind of get the best of both worlds.
Q: Do you think Neville's going to die?
A: A lot of people have come up to me and said, you're going to die mate'. Cheers! But I like to think he'll be there fighting to the end. If he does die, I'd like it to be really heroic, saving someone else's life.
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