Belgium’s Jommeke newspaper visited the Half-Blood Prince set early last year, where they spoke to Jim Broadbent (Slughorn) and Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), and watched a scene being filmed for the sixth movie.   You can see scans here.

• The Belgium premiere for Half-Blood Prince will take place on Saturday, July 11, which Bonnie Wright and Evanna Lynch will be attending.

• Although not confirmed yet, it appears that Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson will only attend the UK premiere for the sixth movie (on July 7th), and no other because of their busy Deathly Hallows film schedule. [THIS IS FALSE, all three will be at the NYC premiere, thanks Jo]

• Jim Broadbent talks about how pleased his grandchildren are that he has taken a role in the Harry Potter films, playing Slughorn. He discusses his character, stating that he is not really bad, just a weak person. Slughorn has a wall of photos with himself and celebrated students; the Potions professor also finds it a treat to teach the famous Harry Potter.

• Robbie Coltrane jokes about his three young co-stars, Dan, Rupert and Emma, where he proudly states that fame and fortune has not go to their head, and that they don’t believe they are any better than anyone else on set.

• The tour guide, Amy, explains how Quidditch in the sixth film will be bigger than it previously has been; she also shows the reporters around Dumbledore’s office and tells them that the famed Astronomy Tower scene took place a week before their arrival.

• The reporters describe the scene they are privileged to watch, which includes Dan, Rupert and Emma, heavily layered in clothing as they walk down a snowy path to Hagrid. Emma and Dan point out the mistakes they make during their takes, of which there are nine before the scene is complete. Between takes, however, Dan and Rupert are noted to throw off their coats as the set is hot, and are eager to go back to Rupert’s dressing room and play a game of ping pong. A comment from Dan is published at the end, where he says that filming can get tiring, and that it will be strange to no longer play Harry after Deathly Hallows has completed.

Thanks SS!

There is a new interview with Jim Broadbent online! Jim will be playing Horace Slughorn in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

“I’m not a massive fan, no, it’s not really part of my generation. But I had read the first one and seen the films. I caught up with the sixth one, which I’m in. But I have to admit I haven’t read them all.”
“It’s going great. I play Horace Slughorn. He’s a retired teacher brought out of retirement and drawn back into Hogwarts to tell his tale. He’s got a secret that they want to get out of him.”
“I like to mix it up, the big films and the little ones. A big range of different parts.”

Thanks SnitchSeeker!

I was just looking at the IMDB page for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and noticed that a few Harry Potter stars are in the movie!

John Hurt who played Mr. Ollivander in Sorcerer’s Stone will be playing “Abner Ravenwood”.

Jim Broadbent who is going to be playing Professor Slughorn in Half-Blood Prince will be playing “Yale Professor”

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull comes out on May 22, 2008 in the US! I am soooo excited! (I love the IJ movies if you couldn’t tell)

A number of Harry Potter cast members have stepped up to help the Bush Theatre from a grants cut. Daniel Radcliffe, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, Alan Rickman, Frances de la Tour, Gemma Jones, and Miriam Margoyles have all stepped up to help.

They are among more than 150 actors and directors publicly backing the tiny west London venue’s fight against Arts Council England’s proposal to reduce its funding by £180,000.

If the cut is implemented it would “seriously diminish” the Bush’s capacity to do its work and serve audiences, the supporters say.

Thanks DanRadcliffe.com!

As you remember, I posted that some Harry Potter stars were nominated for Golden Globes. And some won!

• Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama –> Julie Christie – Away From Her
• Best Motion Picture – Musical  or Comedy —> Sweeney Todd (Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter and Timothy Spall)
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television –> Jim Broadbent � Longford

The London Critics Circle have nominated various Harry Potter stars for awards! They will take place on February 8th in London.

• Imelda Staunton (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) – British Actress in a Supporting Role.
• Jim Broadbent (And When Did You Last See Your Father) – British Actor of the Year
• Julie Christie (Away From Her) – British Actress of the Year
• Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd) – British Actress of the Year
• Tobby Jones (The Painted Veil) – British Actor in a Supporting Role  (he voiced Dobby in CoS)

Congratulations all!