Latest news with #childActors
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Why on earth would you want your child to be the next Harry Potter?
Until Tuesday afternoon, very few people had heard of Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton or Alastair Stout. But now they are the most famous children in Britain, perhaps in the world, since all three have been cast as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley in the new TV series based on JK Rowling 's septet of novels. The words 'life-changing' don't begin to cover it. These three kids are going to be discussed on TikTok til kingdom come, their suitability for these hallowed roles analysed by fans who probably feel they own the characters. Then there will be the keyboard warriors voicing their opinions on anyone who has an association with the gender-critical Rowling. It makes you wonder whether it is really such a golden ticket after all. Of course, I would not want to trample on a moment of glory for three talented youngsters, but you do worry if their parents realise what they have signed up for. The previous three Harry Potter stars – Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint – were all subjected to the harsh glare of fame from a very young age, but at least in the early stages of the series' cycle, did not have to deal with the fiery pit of social media (though Radcliffe has said the pressures of fame led him to alcohol abuse). By the time the last film came out in 2011, the landscape had irrevocably changed. The cliché about child actors is that they end up damaged in some way by the experience. Certainly there are many casualties: Judy Garland, River Phoenix, Corey Haim, Gary Coleman, Jack Wild – all of whom endured difficult lives that were often linked to their early experiences (Garland, for example, was put on pep pills during the making of The Wizard of Oz, the consequences of which ultimately led to her premature death). Then there are the survivors, the ones like Corey Feldman, Tatum O'Neal and Macaulay Culkin who, to me, always seem like ghosts of their former selves, in desperate need of a hug. An interesting case is Drew Barrymore, who had developed a drinking problem by 11 and drug addiction by the age of 12, and is now unashamedly honest about what happened. She has even said that being put in an 'institution' for a year and a half at the age of 13 gave her the discipline she needed. Those are just some of the high-profile cases. I remember reading about Stephen Archibald who, aged 13, was cast in Bill Douglas's My Childhood (1972), the first of an acclaimed trilogy which reflected on Douglas's impoverished upbringing in 1940s Scotland. While Douglas escaped his past, Archibald wasn't so lucky. He died young, at 38, having spent time in prison. He barely learned to read. Admittedly, the case of Stephen Archibald is an extreme case, and indeed he was cast by Douglas precisely because he came from hardship and could so effortlessly convey an emotional truth. But I think it does show that success as a child actor does not provide a stable building block – either for a future acting career or for a secure future life. There is also the fact that child acting is not necessarily all jolly japes. Those that started out young in the industry often talk about how they were expected to behave like adults, had their youthful exuberance kept down by harassed directors. In an industry where time is money, the emotional welfare of a child performer is not necessarily going to be a priority. I once knew somebody who worked regularly as an extra on Grange Hill, Phil Redmond's provocative and much-criticised school soap which ran for 30 years until 2008. She told me that the overwhelming feeling on set was one of boredom, that there was a lot of hanging around in green rooms, or catching up on schoolwork with on-set tutors. When I asked her whether she felt it was worth it, she said it wasn't: she had sacrificed her education and, most importantly, that sense of freedom, that all-important sense of simply being a child. I know that things have changed in the past couple of decades. There was a time when the British stage school was a major part of the entertainment industry. These tended not to be gleaming beacons of excellence, but rather rackety institutions for talented tots – often working-class kids who were able to pay the school fees through appearances in West End shows, and on TV in advertisements or dramas which, in the 1970s and 1980s were enjoying a golden age. While the stage school model has not exactly been discredited, there are very few left today (and those that are, such as the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London, have upped their game academically), with parents realising that a mainstream education is probably the sensible option – unless their child has a yen for a career in cruise-ship entertainment. Now, the shift is to part-time performing arts schools such as Stagecoach and the Pauline Quirke Academy, both of which have many bases throughout the UK. The pushy stage mother, I suspect, is becoming a thing of the past. So far, the young cast of the new Harry Potter series have met with a very positive reaction, with the overwhelming sense that they should all be given a chance to settle into their roles. I hope this kindness prevails because, as we know, the modern world is unsparing – even towards those who are very young.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
J K Rowling gives decisive four-word verdict on new Harry Potter child stars fronting TV series
J K Rowling has given her decisive four-word verdict on the new Harry Potter child stars fronting the upcoming TV series. On Tuesday the three lead stars were finally announced after months of speculation - and Dominic McLaughlin has bagged the role of Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton is set to play Hermoine Granger and Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley. One fan took to X, formerly known as Twitter to get the author to tell them how loved they already are by the fandom. JK, 59, said: 'All three are wonderful. I couldn't be happier.' The writer was replying to a tweet which said: '@jk_rowling @streamonmax @harrypotter Please tell Dominic, Arabella and Alistair that they are already loved by the fandom and we can't wait to see the show! 'We wish them all the best and that they have a magic time.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loo p. Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in the film franchise, Emma Watson as Hermione and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movie franchise The lucky three children are set to start filming this summer and have been picked from more than 32,000 audition tapes from across the UK and Ireland. The programme will be made into seven seasons, similarly to the films - which have seven in total. The HBO TV show is said to be costing £75million an episode and the three child actors could land themselves even bigger fortunes than the original stars. Producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod praised the 'wonderful' talent of the three newcomers. They said: 'After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. 'The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. 'We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.' JK released the first Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997, followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets the following year. Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban was released in 1999, followed by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2000. Three years later Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix was published and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2005. The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released in 2007. Daniel Radcliffe took in the role of protagonist Harry Potter in the film franchise. Emma Watson played Hermione, while Rupert Grint was Ron Weasley. The first movie was released in 2001 and the final one came out in 2011. They played their roles for a decade. Back in December it was revealed that the films were being made into a TV show. Protagonist Daniel spoke out about the TV show while chatting with He said: 'My understanding is that they're trying to very much start fresh and I'm sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere. 'So I'm definitely not seeking it out in any way. 'But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world and I'm very excited to have that torch passed.
