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11 June 2004 1752 BST
Graphic: It's a wrap: Potter's Percy on the Prisoner of Azkaban
Picture: Chris Rankin as Percy Weasley
Chris Rankin and friends at POA premiè°ùe party. Left to right: Kari Bjorge, Chris, Emma Stubbs and Lisa Thompson.
After working on the Prisoner of Azkaban for more than a year, Norfolk actor Chris Rankin is now enjoying a few days of showbiz glitz with Potter parties and guest appearances.

Read transcript of Chris' POA webchat

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HARRY POTTER and all related indicia are trademarks of Warner Bros. © 2004 Warner Bros. All Rights Reserved. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J.K.R.

Grahpic: Check this out

Have you say on The Prisoner of Azkaban

The first week of filming on POA

Chris on life as Percy Weasley

Chris Rankin's Hallowe'en webchat

Chris talks about COS DVD launch party


Make a wizard hat

Graphic: Funky facts
Did you know this about Chris...

Born: 1983

Starsign: Scorpio

Hobbies: Singing, action sports, bad piano playing

1st snog: Tamar Upton, I was 12

Top scoff: Italian

Fave place: New Zealand

TV Show: Graham Norton

Film: Hedwig and The Angry Inch
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It's been more than a year in the making, but Potter fans across the world have been snapping up tickets to see The Prisoner of Azkaban faster than Harry riding his Nimbus 2000.

For actor Chris Rankin, he feels the latest Potter film is the best yet. He's been talking to Â鶹ԼÅÄ Norfolk's Martin Barber about working on the film, the premiè°ùe and a hint from JK Rowling.

Why has it taken so long to make the POA?

It's seems like a very long time ago that we started, around February 2003. I've been shooting bits and bobs all over the place, so it's been very periodical.

It's a bit bizarre as I think, as people, we've grown up a lot since we started making this film. I certainly feel I'm a completely different person to the person I was in January 2003.

Certainly Daniel, Emma and Rupert have grown a lot. They're learning very quickly and are growing up faster than we're getting the films out at the moment.

The new director, Alfonso Cuaron, has really changed the feel of a Harry Potter film.

Picture: Chris Rankin as Percy Weasley in the Prisoner of Azakaban
Chris as Percy Weasley with his Hogwarts school mates.
Credit: Murray Close

Yes, it's darker and much more of a teenage angst film I think. There's this edgy feel to it. I've seen it three times already - three times in four days!

There's this kind of feeling that the camera never stops moving throughout the film and this brings a much more worried feel.

I think it's exactly right as this book is so completely different to The Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets.

The focus of this film seems to be very much more on the main characters. Less Great Hall scenes and the like. Does that seems a bit weird?

It's always a bit bizarre when you see the film for the first time. I did a lot of work on it and I filmed a lot of scenes.

I think the lines I had are the ones in the film, but there's a lot of scenes I was expecting and they weren't there.

I think this film particularly focuses on the main three characters and how they relate to Sirius and Lupin - it's important to make that the main part of the film.

To be honest, I don't think it mattered too much that everyone kind of cameod essentially.

I still find it a bit odd how they've gone from the book to the film and missed a lot of stuff out that could be quite important later on.

I can't remember if it was in the original script or not, but in POA there was failure to mention how Professor Lupin knows how the Marauder's Map works and nobody ever mentions he was best friends with Harry's dad. This is quite important later on when you get to the OOTP.

Graphic: Computer image of Harry Potter
Win POA console game

You've said one of your favourite scenes was filming the slashing of the Fat Lady's portrait, how long did that take?

That was about five or six days work on the first unit, then we went and did it again on the second unit to concentrate of the visual elements. We must have spent the best part of 10 days on that for what, 45 seconds!

Dawn French is incredible, but sadly I never got to meet her. The first time I saw the finished scene was at the cast and crew screening last Saturday.

Are you pleased with the end product?

Yes. I think in terms of pure film-style, this is the kind of film I'd go and see. It's very Tim Burton in some ways. It has that gothic horror feel to it in places. The first films were very much children's films, this one has nudged it into something else.

A Harry Potter premiè°ùe is always a big night, but for this film things seems to have been off the scale.

It was out of this world, absolutely amazing. We had more people in Leicester Square than we've ever seen before.

Personally, from a minor character point of view, I've never had that much enthusiasm out of a crowd before.

There were some people there at half-four in the morning and they were still there at two the following morning as we came out of the after premiè°ùe party.

Speaking of the party, spill the beans - what happened?

I drank far too much champagne and got very drunk as always happens at the party. [laughs]

I met Roger Taylor from Queen who was a very nice man, Lulu was there. There never are many VIPs at the party because it's an event for the cast and crew.

It was an incredible night held at the Natural History Museum. They put mini-pumpkins all around the dinosaurs, with chocolate fountains and lots of food and champagne.

Did you have a hangover?

Er, maybe just a little one. [laughs]

You have new members in the cast this year - Michael Gambon as Professor Dumbledore and David Theulis as Professor Lupin. What are they like?

They're both really nice. Michael Gambon is probably the most eccentric man I've every met. I've always said that he's the Dumbledore I saw in the books. David Theulis is such a lovely man, as is Gary Oldman.

Picture: Chris Rankin as Percy Weasley in the Prisoner of Azakaban
Chris enjoys time back in Norwich. Funky new hair!

I met him at the film premiè°ùe and he was just the nicest man ever. Humble, quiet and just having a nice time. It was good to meet him as he's a big idol of mine.

Where are we up to with The Goblet Of Fire?

I'm not really sure what's going on with that at the moment. Some photography as started, but I think the majority of principle photography kicks off in July. I'm not entirely sure yet if Percy will be there, we'll have to wait and see.

You were chatting to JK Rowling at the premier party - any hints towards book six yet?

Yes and no. I got a bit of information out of her. I said 'I want a word with you Miss Rowling, I've been getting hate mail about Percy Weasley.'

She did hint he might just redeem himself in the future, we'll have to wait and see.

Somewhat non-committal then.

Yes, but it's more than anybody seems to have got out of her in a very long time. He might redeem himself. [Laughs]

Read transcript of Chris' POA webchat on Thursday 10 June, 2004.

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