Casting Their Spells

CEBU, Philippines - The beginning of the 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry proves that promising young actors, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have successfully become thriving stars right before our very eyes. Nearly a decade into the Harry Potter movie phenomenon, have we any clue on how these stars were discovered individually?

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), age 19 – he turns 20 tomorrow, the 23rd of July.

Producer David Heyman and screenwriter Steve Kloves spotted young Daniel in the theatre as part of the audience while watching a play entitled Stones in his Pockets in London. One thing led to another leading Daniel to try out for an audition. One night while in the bath, Daniel overheard his father speaking on the phone and was told of the exciting news that he had won the role of Harry Potter. So just like that, a star was born!

Emma Watson (Hermoine Granger), age 19

Emma was enrolled at The Dragon School (Lynam’s Preparatory School), a performing arts school based in Oxford. It was there where Emma had discovered her love for both poetry and performing arts. At the age of nine, Emma, who had been determined to win the role of Hermoine Granger had been chosen to audition together with several other students. Many auditions later, Emma had been called to go to the Leavesden Studios where she later met her co-stars, Daniel Radcliffe then aged 11 and Rupert Grint then aged 12.