No Phlegm for a Half-Blood Prince!
Ahem Ahem! There will be no Phlegm for the Half-Blood Prince!...well no part for actress Clemence Poesy in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie that is. In a new interview with MTV, the actress says she has not been asked back to reprise her role as Fleur Delacour (aka Phlegm) for the sixth Harry Potter film. Indicating she has not read the final three books (including OotP which is now on DVD) and hopes to read them on her next vacation, she is quoted as saying:
Somebody already told me the end of 'Order of the Phoenix,' and I was like, 'You're ruining everything!'" Posy laughed, since she plans to read the remaining books on her next vacation "back to back." Still, she can't resist asking for one one spoiler: "Has Harry done some bad things?"
She is uncertain if her character will be back as well for the film of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but recently was reunited with some fellow Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire actors for her recent movie, In Bruges which also stars Brendan Gleeson (Mad Eye Moody) and Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort). In this new film, "Ralph Fiennes, who as Voldemort is always trying to kill Harry, now playing a hitman boss named …Harry. "Isn't that funny?" exclaimed Posy. "We didn't tease [Ralph] about it, but maybe we will now. I had met Brendan before, and he was really sweet. He liked scaring kids with his costume, showing it to all the extras, who were like, 'How do you do that with your eye?"Not that Posy isn't above scaring the kids as well. "It would be nice of you not to write that," she teased. "The kids think I have powers, so I can say, 'Be careful, otherwise I can turn you into a frog! I've learned.' So don't tell anyone I don't have witchcraft powers."
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Emma Watson Nominated for 'Otto' and Glamour Magazine Awards
Further award nomination news comes today from Emma Watson's official site which has been updated noting Emma's recent nomination at the Glamor Magazine Awards for her role as Pauline in the previously released TV film, "Ballet Shoes." Miss Watson (Hermione Granger) was nominated in the category of "Best UK TV Actress" as part of the magazine's Women of the Year 2008 recognitions. Author J. K. Rowling was also nominated as part of the Women of the Year 2008 awards in the category of "Best Writer" for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Voting is now open, and if you would like, you can vote via the above link.
Further congratulations go out to Emma as she was also nominated in the category of Favorite Cinema Star of 2007 at the 'Otto Awards' handed out by the German magazine Bravo. Additionally, Emma's Harry Potter co-star Dan Radcliffe was also nominated in the Male category of the Favorite Cinema Star of 2007 award. You may also cast your vote for the Otto Awards right here.Congratulations to all!
On a final related note, Miss Watson was in attendance at the Burberry/Vanity Fair Portrait Exhibit this evening at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England. Photos of Emma arriving at the event can be seen here in our Image Galleries. This exhibition showcases some of the most iconic images from the magazine's history and runs February 14 through May 26, 2008.
Thanks to Amy for the heads up on JKR being nominated for the Glamour award as well.Construction Begins on Hogwarts Castle for Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Park
Construction has begun on building Hogwarts Castle for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Park at Universal Orlando, Florida. Longtime theme park blogger Jim Hill reports today that work is underway on the castle that will serve as the centerpiece of the Harry Potter attraction, and has photos of the steel beams that are forming the base of the castle. He writes "According to Universal insiders, this bare framework is just the start. In the weeks and months ahead, literally thousands of pieces of metal will be hoisted up & then bolted into place. As a full-sized recreation of Harry Potter's alma mater is built at the southwestern border of IOA's "Jurassic Park" section."
Also, Mr. Hill gives some reported background on how Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling was persuaded to go with Universal for the theme park, as well as one amusing story involving Harry Potter film production designer Stuart Craig, who is overseeing things for the Harry Potter theme park as well.
"Mind you, that's not to say that there weren't a few bumps in the road before Rowling finally agreed to sign that contract. Like that time that Universal Security had to be told NOT to arrest the man who was climbing the hill behind IOA's "Flying Unicorn" ride. You see, that man was Stuart Craig. The three-time Academy Award winner who has designed all of the sets for the "Harry Potter" films. And Stuart was just climbing that hill to see if he could find the proper spot to build Hagrid's cottage.Speaking of which … "The Flying Unicorn" is expected to shut down sometime in September of this year. So that this IOA attraction can then be transformed into "The Flying Hippogriff." More to the point, so that work can finally begin on Hagrid's cottage."
At last word, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was set to open in December 1 of 2009, but that remains still in a state of flux, given the early stages of construction for the theme park.
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J.K. Rowling Set to Receive James Joyce AwardJ.K. Rowling
Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling is set to receive another honor in the form of the James Joyce Award from the Literary and Historical Society at the University College Dublin in Ireland. The event is set to take place Tuesday, February 12th and we hope to have more information on the presentation shortly. The Literary and Historical Society is the college's oldest society which includes over 4,500 enrolled members and a debate team. Previous recipients of this award include comedians Eddie Izzard, Will Ferrell and Rory Bremner. Congratulations Jo!
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