Chris Rankin admits the last four years have been fantastic as Hogwarts' prefect and now head boy, Percy Weasley in the Harry Potter films.
It's the second time the actor, who lives in Norwich, has popped into our chatroom to answer your questions on life with Potter. Hundreds of you joined in the Potter chat on Thursday 10 June, 2004. If you couldn't take part on the night, this is what was said. BBC Host: Hi everyone. Welcome to our live chat with Chris Rankin who plays Percy Weasley in the Harry Potter films. Ok... we're almost ready. Chris, are you ready?? BBC Host (Chris nods yes!) OK, let's get started! 
Chris as Percy Weasley with his Hogwarts school mates.
Credit: Murray Close |
What's you favourite part about playing Percy? How do you think your character has evolved over the course of the movies? CR: My favourite part about playing Percy is the humour behind the snob. He's so full of himself at times! Are there any similarities between you and Percy? CR: We're both ginger! No, seriously - I was a prefect at school. That's about it really. Who is your fav character in POA? CR: In POA my favourite character would have to be Aunt Marge. Pam Ferris who plays her is a lovely, lovely lady. She's brilliant at playing the part. You probably made some great friendships on the set, who do you consider your closest friend? CR: My closest friend on the set would have to have been Sean Biggerstaff. Such a shame he wasn't on the third film. Are you going to be in any more of the upcoming movies? CR: Let's just wait and see, shall we. How do feel you about not having much of a role in this movie? CR: Um to be honest it doesn't bother me in the slightest. The film works as it is and to keep too much sub-plot would make it long-winded. Bonjour from Paris, Chris! If you had to play a HP baddie (other than Voldemort), which one would you prefer and why? CR: I think I've answered this one before. It would have to be Tom Riddle. He's a typical film bad guy! Pure evil! 
Caught on webcam: Chris with Jamie from Mugglenet who came along to join in the webchat fun. |
Are you planning on doing any films other than Harry Potter? CR: That all depends on my agent. I certainly intend to keep working after Potter's finished but I'll see what I get. If you could do one magic trick, what would it be? CR: A-ha! I can do a magic trick. Last week I was guest of honour at a screening of POA for the NCH. I had to stand up in front of 2,500 people at the Odeon in Leicester Square. They asked me to do a magic trick. I can now pull a Nimbus 2000 out of a plastic bag! Would you have liked to play Harry? CR: No. For a start I'm too old and it's just not my kind of character. Hi Chris, was there a love interest between any of the actors on set? CR: All that I know is what I read on the internet! In real life I haven't seen anything! Have you ever had a really embarrassing moment and if so what is it? CR: On set I'm renowned for falling up stair cases! I think I've done it in all 3 films. What do you think about how Percy acts in the fifth book? CR: I think it's fantastic! I enjoy playing baddies more than the good guys. To see Percy becoming more than a bit evil is great. If the Wyrd Sisters were to be played by a rock/pop band in GoF, which band would you choose? 
Justin Hawkins of the Darkness - a Wyrd Sister maybe? |
CR: Fantastic question! I think for true comedic value the Wyrd Sisters should be played by The Darkness. And not just because they're local to me in Norfolk. Hey Chris my real name is Percy Weasley and I get asked for my autograph all the time. Roughly how many people ask you for yours in a day and what is the best or weirdest thing a fan has sent you? CR: NO WAY - you can't really be called Percy Weasley! If so, fantastic! I get fan mail once a month. My agent sends me fan mail with 60 or 70 letters in it. The weirdest thing I've ever been sent was a necklace from a girl in Japan. Do you cringe when you watch the first Harry Potter film when you see how much you have changed? CR: I haven't watched the first HP for about two years. It's like watching videos that your parent made when you were little! What is it like on the Harry Potter set? CR: It's good fun, although it gets very tiring when you're shooting a big scene like the Great Hall. There's sometimes 1,500 people on set and with the fires and flambauxes going it gets very hot after 10 hours. You just want to go home. Do you like working with Alfonso Cuaron better than you did with Chris Columbus? CR: Both Alfonso and Chris are fantastic directors. I enjoyed working with Alfonso on this film and I think his style of directing suited this film is better than Chris' would. What's the longest time you've ever spent shooting a scene? CR: The longest scene I've ever shot was on this first film. It was the scene with Peeves the Poltergeist. We shot it in Gloucester Cathedral cloisters. Sadly it never made it to the final take although I hear Chris Columbus is going to be making a director's cut. In which it will be reinstated. There were loads more questions, read the rest of Chris' POA webchat with BBC Norfolk. | 
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