[NOTD] News Of The Day - 04/08/2007

The boy who cast a spell on Hermione

Not so long ago Emma Watson was bemoaning her inability to find a boyfriend. The 17-year-old actress feared her feisty portrayal of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films might have intimidated potential suitors. But last week, Emma's fears seemed unfounded as she enjoyed a magical time on the French Riviera under the spell of handsome young rugby player Tom Ducker. Scroll down for more The teenagers were spotted hanging out in nightclubs and eating lobster with 90 bottles of champagne in an expensive seafront restaurant. Staff at their hotel, Chateau de la Chevre d'Or in Eze, near Nice – where suites with ocean views cost 385 a night – described Emma and Tom, who is also 17, as 'delightful guests'. In the five years since the first Harry Potter film, Emma – like co-star Daniel Radcliffe – has accrued a fortune, estimated at 10 million. But unlike Daniel, who insists he only buys things that cost about 10, such as books and DVDs, Emma appears much less prudent – at least when she is on holiday. Scroll down for more While sipping Veuve Clicquot in the Castel Plage restaurant on the famous Promenade des Anglais near Nice's old town, she was taken by some artwork, worth about 15,000, that was hanging on the wall – and offered the owner cash for it. The work, entitled "Je suis incognito ici, faites le savoir" (I'm incognito here, tell everybody) is by renowned Italian artist Ben Vautier. "Emma fell in love with it and offered to buy it there and then," said owner Ali Abdelhafidh. "The words on the piece seemed to sum up her evening. But sadly it just wasn't for sale, so she posed for a photo next to the picture instead." He added: "They arrived quietly at about 7.30pm and drank champagne and ate lobsters all night. They were clearly loving each other's company and said they were in a very romantic place, with the Mediterranean just in front of them and great music. Scroll down for more "They said they were having a wonderful holiday and did not leave until well after 2am. It was great to see a young couple so much in love but Emma had time for everyone else, too. "A lot of celebrities come here, including Elton John and Bono, but having Emma here was something special. She's a real star in every sense of the word." A fellow diner said: "They were knocking back the champagne and didn't stop laughing and joking. Emma was acting like a beautifully mannered young woman. Castel Plage is very sophisticated and the two of them looked in their element." But back home in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, Tom's father John, 50, said: "They are just friends – don't read anything more into it than that. My wife and I have met Emma once or twice. She is a lovely young lady."

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Emma met Tom, who has signed for Wasps, in Oxford where she lives. Like her, he is an academic high-flier, scoring near-perfect grades in his GCSEs last year. Although Emma's parents have set up a trust fund to bank her riches until she is 21, she receives a monthly allowance believed to be well into four figures. The couple told staff at Castel Plage that they would also be sampling the nightlife in nearby Cannes and St Tropez, before heading east to the Italian Riviera. Emma, who was born in Paris and speaks good French, said she was "having a wonderful time" and glad to be away from the "Harry Potter madness back home". Meanwhile, negotiations are under way to secure Emma, Daniel, and Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley, in their roles for the final two instalments of the blockbuster series. Emma has often hinted that she is uncertain about a commitment that will tie her up until she is 20, especially as her role left her little time for romance, despite being surrounded by hundreds of "cute guys working on the crew". In a recent interview she said: "People say to me, 'It must be so easy for you. They must be lining up for you.' It's not easy. It's a minefield. Really. It's stressful."

But, perhaps, not any more.

Source: The Daily Mail, UK

Emma Thompson's mum spins some Harry Potter style magic on statue theives

In the Harry Potter films Emma Thompson plays a teacher educating the children of Hogwarts about witchcraft and wizardry.

But now it would seem the star's mother, actress Phyllida Law, has turned to casting spells of her own - after thieves stole two treasured garden statues. Mrs Law, 75, has warned the crooks responsible that unless her ornaments are returned, they will be cursed. The stone creatures were taken from the wall in front of her home in Hampstead, North-West London, last week. Scroll down for more

A cat, a dog, a hedgehog and a frog remain but there are two large holes where the others once sat.

Mrs Law - star of films including Peter's Friends - urged the thieves to do the right thing by putting up a placard in her garden, saying: "Be so kind as to return the children's stone statues ... otherwise curses will occur!! You have been warned!!!' Neighbours believe the threat was inspired by Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, in which Emma, 48, starred as Professor Sybil Trelawney. Next to the words are two mocked-up Neighbourhood Watch logos with a picture of a witch riding a broomstick bearing the words "neighbourhood witch". There is also a photograph, believed to be of Mrs Law, dressed as a witch with a pointy hat, a long nose and a ghostly white face. Scroll down for more Beside the front door, another sign, written in chalk, reads: "I'm so sorry, kids! "Someone stole our stone animals!" And on the wall where the ornaments used to sit is written in felt-tip: "That is so mean" and "I'm so sorry, kids". Emma Thompson's sister, former EastEnders actress Sophie, 40, says she was appalled at the theft when she visited the house on Friday. She said: "It's so mean, isn't it? "I don't know how they got away with it. It's a horrible thing to happen." Neighbours said they were at a loss as to how the thieves stole the ornaments because they were stuck down with a strong glue. One said: "All the kids around here like the animals and talk about them with their parents when they pass by." Another added they thought Mrs Law was trying to shame the thieves into returning the ornaments but feared her tactic was unlikely to work. It is not thought the theft was reported to police. A spokesman for the Metropolitan force said there was no record of the incident.

Neither Mrs Law nor Emma Thompson, who lives opposite her mother with husband Greg Wise, was available for comment.