Following in the footsteps of many other Harry Potter stars, Molly Weasley actress Julie Walters has been honored with the Richard Harris award at the British Independent Film awards. The Richard Harris Award was introduced in 2002 in honour of Richard Harris (who played Dumbledore in the first two Potter films) and recognises outstanding contribution to British film by an actor. Previous winners have included Potter actors John Hurt, David Thewlis, Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, and Michael Gambon.

Julie Walters CBE who started out in TV working with comedian Victoria Wood has built a highly successful career spanning 4 decades becoming one of the UK’s most beloved actors in the process. She broke in to film with her BAFTA and Golden Globe winning performance in a supporting role in the 1984 international hit EDUCATING RITA where she starred alongside Sir Michael Caine. The role also earned her an Academy Award nomination. Walters was once again nominated for an Academy Award in 2001 for Stephen Daldry’s BILLY ELLIOT and that same year was cast as Molly Weasley in HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE – a character she would continue to play for the next 10 years as the franchise became a global phenomenon. She has starred in some of British cinema’s greatest films including CALENDAR GIRLS in 2003, and one of the highest-grossing UK films of all time MAMMA MIA! Walters will next be seen as ‘Nan’ in THE HARRY HILL MOVIE out later this month, and plays Mrs Bird in the highly anticipated live-action drama PADDINGTON which is due for release in late 2014.  – See more at: http://www.bifa.org.uk/releases/julie-walters-to-be-honoured-at-the-16th-moet-british-independent-film-awards#sthash.cjIsnJ30.dpuf

A video of her at the event may be viewed below:

Thanks to SnitchSeeker for finding the video.

Variety reports that Evanna Lynch will be starring in Dynamite: A Cautionary Tale alongside Ian Harding and Carol Kane. The independent film is currently in the middle of production in New York City with about 2/3 to go. According to Variety, “Harding will play a family man who was a full-time dope fiend working within the underground porn biz in 1968 New York City, running books and films to delivery points and mob headquarters around the East Coast while trying to keep his family in the dark.”

Additionally, The Wrap reports:

Based on a true story, “Dynamite” follows family man Max Bornstein, who was a full-time dope fiend working within the underground, highly illegal pornography industry in 1968’s New York City. While running books and films to delivery points and mob headquarters around the east coast, Max had the Feds on his tail. But even in the wake of a federal investigation, Max’s worried most about his wife and two young children, a family kept in the dark about Max’s real life. As Max battles his consuming addiction, dissolving family unit and the growing suspicion about his drug use amongst his associates, Max watches helplessly as his well-crafted reality falls to pieces, leaving him searching for the spaces in between.

“We are thrilled to be bringing this inspiring true story to life. It’s an important tale of one man’s downward spiral and ultimate redemption,” said Christian. “Having the ability to produce films with an uplifting message has always been a goal for our company, and we hope the film’s story and heart resonates with audiences around the world.”

Harry Potter actors Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint have been nominated for the 2014 What’s On Stage Awards for their recent performances. Voting for the awards starts today, via this link, and runs through January 31st.  The Awards Ceremony and Concert will be held on February 23rd at the Prince of Wales Theatre, tickets to the event can be purchased here.

Best Actor in a Play

Ben Whishaw – Peter and Alice at the Noël Coward and Mojo at the Harold Pinter
Daniel Radcliffe – The Cripple of Inishmaan at the Noël Coward
James McAvoy – Macbeth at Trafalgar Studios
Lenny Henry – Fences at the Duchess
Rory Kinnear – Othello at the NT Olivier

The DEWYNTERS London Newcomer of the Year

Jack Huston – Strangers on a Train at the Gielgud
Kyle Scatliffe – The Scottsboro Boys at the Young Vic
Olivia Vinall – Othello at the NT Olivier
Rupert Grint – Mojo at the Harold Pinter
Tori Amos (composer) – The Light Princess at the NT Lyttelton

In addition to the news we reported earlier about the upcoming full-color, fully illustrated, Harry Potter books, Bloomsbury have sent over a Q&A with Jim Kay, the artist creating the new illustrations.  The Guardian has also released a photo of Hogwarts, as illustrated by Jim. Below are some questions specifically about his work for Potter. Click more below to see all the questions.

How did you feel when you found out you would be illustrating the Harry Potter novels? Scientists say the Big Bang is to be followed by the Big Crunch, I feel I have firsthand experience of this theory, for hearing the news that I’d got the commission was an explosion of delight, followed instantly by an implosion of brain-freezing terror. From my point of view it is, without doubt, the best commission you can be given – I’m a bit of a control freak, so to be given the opportunity to design the characters, the clothing the architecture and landscapes to possibly the most expansive fantasy world in children’s literature, well lets just say I’m extremely excited about it. However, I am also mindful of the huge responsibility this represents, I just want to make sure I do the best job I possibly can.

Is there a particular character or scene that you are looking forward to illustrating? It’s like trying to choose the shiniest object in Aladdin’s Cave; you pick up one treasure, and another gem catches your eye. I couldn’t even pick a favourite creature at the moment (maybe a Thestral, or a Bowtruckle, but then the goblins are wonderful characters, mind you there are trolls too – you see my problem!). It’s been lovely thinking about creating the characters, but at the moment my favourite task is creating Hogwarts – it’s the first time I’ve thought about building something supported by magic – it’s harder than you’d think.

How do you as an artist approach such a large job? Where do you begin with such a wide range of possibilities? It sounds obvious but you start with the text. The story is everything, and so I want to bring what I can to really show the depth of Rowling’s stories, to their best. Then it’s a case of research, and lots of it. The books have made me look at people differently, I’m always scanning crowds for interesting faces. For an illustrator there’s no such thing as an ugly or odd looking person – they are all interesting. Luckily for me, Kettering is home to some very interesting people indeed. Museums and libraries are my favourite places for inspiration. You might see something, it could be a medieval shoe, an old clock, or a stuffed monkey and immediately it gives you ideas about the characters in the story, the things they would do, the way they walk. The tricky thing I’ve found is my annoying habit of reigning in the more fantastical elements of my sketches when working them up, it’s taken a while for it to sink in that for this commission I can go a little bit crazy. Above my desk, the words ‘It’s Fantasy, Stupid” are now a daily reminder to have a bit of fun.

Are you a Harry Potter fan? If so, what are your first memories of reading the books? I AM a Harry Potter fan, although true to form, I arrived a little late to the party. I actually heard Stephen Fry’s wonderful audio book of Philosopher’s Stone before reading it, initially because I’d sat on a tube train full of school children who were chatting about Potter with great excitement. It was actually the recollections of starting a new school that really connected with me (we moved house when I was young, and I had to start at a big school where I didn’t know anybody). As an adult I’d forgotten how hard school actually was, and it all came flooding back – particularly when reading The Order of the Phoenix – the dread of exams! It’s amazing to think, all of Potter’s world, the streets, the shops, the creatures, the characters, all of these wonderful things come from the brain of one person. To me, that’s magic, some grey matter in someone’s head inspires others to read, play, and create ideas of their own. It’s like a spell that jumps from person to person, recasting itself as it goes. I want to keep that spell going, perhaps adding my own little twist, if possible. I hope over the years we will see lots of different illustrators having a go, in the way that Alice in Wonderland has inspired artists for over a century.

Who is your favourite character from the Harry Potter universe? This is like trying to choose your favourite record, it changes all the time. I have a soft spot for Neville, particularly because of his awkwardness, but you have to admire Hermione, because she puts the hours in at the library, she’s the cement really that holds it all together, well it would be a different story. I want to know more about Severus, there’s so much depth there. Visually, though, it has to be Hagrid; he’s got a wonderful heart, clothed in an enormous, shabby body. Hagrid’s hut is, for me, like an extension of his physique: it makes him a part of Hogwarts, but keeps him at a distance too.

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Bloomsbury Publishing today announce that all seven of J.K.Rowling’s Harry Potter books will be published for the first time in stunning full-colour editions, illustrated by the award-winning artist Jim Kay. The first in the series Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will be published in September 2015.

Jim Kay, winner of the 2012 Kate Greenaway Medal, will illustrate all seven books in full-colour and design the new book jacket image as well as the inside artwork. A lifelong Harry Potter fan, Jim Kay says: ‘From my point of view it is, without doubt, the commission of a lifetime …to design the characters, the clothing, the architecture and landscapes to possibly the most expansive fantasy world in children’s literature, well let’s just say I’m extremely excited about it. However, I am also mindful of the huge responsibility this represents. I want to make sure I do the best job I possibly can.’

The Harry Potter novels have now sold approximately 450 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 74 languages. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was recently voted the nation’s favourite children’s book in a poll by reading charity Booktrust.

Bloomsbury is in touch with all international Harry Potter publishers and hopes to make the publication a global event. Emma Hopkin, Bloomsbury Children’s MD said of Jim’s selection: ‘Jim is the perfect mix of extremely talented artist and ardent Harry Potter fan, which will bring great spirit to his illustrations of J.K. Rowling’s extraordinary world.’

Daniel Radcliffe recently popped into the  BAFTA headquarters and answered a few questions about acting. Here are some snippets as well as a video:

• “If I feel the script is trying to emotionally manipulate the reader in a way I’m not feeling, that’s something I find pretty off putting.”
• “I like that my job means I have to prepare something different each time. Every scene presents a different set of challenges.”
• “You have to trust the director, trust the other actors you are with, give yourself over and be as emotionally open and available as you can.”
• “The more challenging a scene is the more fun it is as well, because the more of my job I get to do.”
• “Learn as much as you can about the type of actor you’d like to be…If you’re working on a film, always remember how lucky you are.”
• “Most actors treat every job as if it’s going to be their last, because that’s the permanent fear we live in, but I think that’s a good attitude to have.”

Daniel Radcliffe can currently be seen on our screens in the new series of A Young Doctors Notebook in the UK (the first series is airing in the US on Ovation) and BAFTA have an exclusive Q&A podcast with the cast and crew, including the man himself, available on BAFTA Guru.

Thanks to BAFTA for letting us know!