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Who is your favourite other school bully: Donovan from The Inbetweeners, Biff Tannen from Back to the Future, Heather Chandler from Heathers, Nelson Muntz from The Simpsons or Gripper Stebson from Grange Hill? Dr_J_A_Zoidberg
I have so much compassion for Draco [Malfoy], knowing that he is the result of piss-poor parenting on his father’s side. I know James Buckley from The Inbetweeners very well. His character is an example of a comedic bully. But as a lifelong fan of The Simpsons, I’m going to have to say my favourite is Nelson Muntz.
What’s the biggest fish you’ve ever caught? TopTramp
A 37lb 4oz common carp caught on the St Lawrence river in New York state 15 years ago. Chris, my older brother, got me into fishing, while he was my chaperone on Harry Potter. My mum chaperoned me for the first film, and my grandfather for the second. He looked so much like a wizard that [director] Chris Columbus cast him at the teachers’ table next to Dumbledore. Then my brother was commandeered. He was one of the worst chaperones in history – all he seemed to do was sleep the entire day – but that’s probably because we’d been up all night, fishing. Some days we’d leave set at 6pm, drive two hours back to Surrey where we lived, go straight to a lake, cast our rods, set up a tent, sleep – barely – for a few hours, wake at 6am, pack up, and head straight back to Hogwarts. It was a great introduction to a lifelong passion of being outdoors, fishing and walking the dogs.
What are the advantages of being a blonde? snazpizaz2
I’ll tell you there are disadvantages to dyeing your hair every nine days; the fact I still have hair at all is remarkable. Thankfully, I wear a wig for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but it does immediately put you into a Malfoy mood if your hair is platinum blonde. I do agree with Barbie: blondes have more fun.
If you could join the cast of any TV series, past or present, which would you like to appear in? writeronthestorm
I love the idea of Mr Bean, because he’s so universally respected and understood because there’s no language. I can only imagine how brief the scripts must have looked. I’m introducing some of my American colleagues to the joys of English sitcoms. I mentioned Only Fools and Horses and someone said: “What’s that?” I said: “Hold on,” pulled up the clip of Del Boy and Trigger at the bar and watched it three or four times in a row.
I just watched the trailer for Fackham Hall and it looks wonderfully silly. I laughed out loud at some of the gags – in particular, the one where you absentmindedly fire a poorly aimed hunting rifle. How did you avoid breaking character and bursting out laughing while shooting that scene? JaneMarple
If you don’t realise you’re watching a comedy by then, I don’t know when you will. Damian plays my father, and his wife, the late Helen McCrory, played my mother in the Harry Potter films. It was the first time I’ve had the chance to work with him even though I’ve known him for years.
What was it like working with Chadwick Boseman in the fantastic revenge/thriller Message from the King? BarryJohnJohn and writeronthestorm
Crikey, that was a few years back. Chadwick was such a professional and definitely cut from a different cloth. He reminded me of Andy Serkis, who was a real gentleman when we were doing Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but who would turn into a whole different beast the moment they said “Action”, and drag me across the floor as Caesar the ape. The ferocity with which Chadwick threw me into a car! There was very little acting needed, because he delightfully beat the shit out of me.
Do you think that Draco Malfoy could have found redemption by fighting Voldemort alongside the golden trio in the Battle of Hogwarts, instead of choosing to stand with his parents? Thebrightcstwitch
Yes and no. I’ve gone down this rabbit hole. But I’m not an author and I am aware it was written perfectly, the films were adapted perfectly, and the stage show is brilliant. I’m a fan, but I’m nota megafan to the point where I’ve written my own fan fiction. There’s a lot of fan fiction on Dramione – that’s where Draco and Hermione get together. My brother had a drawing of Draary – Draco and Harry together – as his screensaver for a while.
What are your memories of your chinchilla, Stanley? IvoryClair
I remember him being the fluffiest thing I’d ever stroked. Looking back, it must have been a bizarre pet for my dad, who’s not really an animal lover. He built him this giant cage, even though he lived in a relatively small house. Stanley was mostly kind, although he did bite me once.
