In new interview by The Star Ledger – NJ, Potter casting director Fiona Weir talked about how they cast the prominent British actors that makes cameos and portrays roles in the Potter films.
“The Harry Potter world is a crowded world, and we always try to choose actors who are very vivid,” says casting director Fiona Weir, whose first “Potter” film was 2005′s “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” “Even though they can play into the heightened ‘Harry Potter’ world, it’s important they remain truthful and naturalistic.”
“These are British stories, and over here we have a wealth of fabulous actors,” says Weir. She works in collaboration with director David Yates, who’s been at the helm since 2007′s “Order of the Phoenix.” They’ve just started production on the series’ coda, “The Deathly Hallows,” which is to be released in two parts.
“We don’t have a blockbuster film culture like there is in America,” notes Weir. “Our actors, a majority of them, come from a theater background or come from an independent film background.”
Of course casting the right British thespian for the role is very challenging. They have to look sometimes at the actor’s background and previous works to see if they are fit for the role.
“It’s a unique phenomenon,” she explains. “Some of the cast came to it knowing the minutiae of the stories, and for some it’s their first experience with it and they devour the books. More than one actor has said, ‘My children will forgive me for everything I ever do if I get to be in the film.’”
“That was a big challenge, but Ralph was the only person, really, for that part,” says Weir. “I’ll never forget him in ‘Schindler’s List.’ There was no one in the world more frightening than the commandant he played.”
This of course is a joy to the young Potter cast such as Tom Felton, who can get tips and learn from their more experienced British thesps.
“Our teachers are the best actors in the world,” says Felton, who will make an appearance at the Garden State Plaza in Paramus on Friday. “Sometimes you’ve got to remind yourself to stay in character, because you can just sit there and marvel at how each of these people jump from their own persona to this whole other persona.”
“Helena is such a lovely, highly educated lady,” says Felton. “She’ll be telling me about something interesting that happened in the 16th century and straight away, when they roll cameras, she turns into the most evil woman I’ve ever seen in my life.”
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