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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets press conference in Beijing
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Kid Planet interview
Kid Planet interviewed Daniel about Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Back then this site didn't excist. I decided to add 'archive news' like this as much as possible. I thought it might be interesting to read for you all.
KD : Hi Daniel!
DR: Hi!
KD : Are you at all like the character of Harry Potter?
DR: In some ways, I think everybody is, because Harry has so many different sides to him. I think, me personally, we're both very curious and I think sometimes our curiosity gets us into trouble. Also, like Harry, I'm not afraid to stand up for myself and do what I believe in and I think that's one of Harry's most important traits.
KD : What does your family think about you being Harry?
DR: They're really excited. Especially my mom and my dad, since they're really involved with me. Some people think that I never see them, which is completely untrue because my dad chaperones me every day. They're really excited about it.
KD : What do you like best about playing Harry?
DR: I think one of my favorite parts is just basically knowing Chris because he has been a complete inspiration to me over the past few years and has given me a love for film, so I have a lot of respect for him and I think he's one of the coolest guys I've ever met.
KD : Is there are hard part to being Harry?
DR: The more you hear about it and build up the film, you really do start to realize the pressure on you and you really start to feel it a bit more. So I think the pressure is a huge responsibility. Chris Columbus has really helped me in that way because he's really taken the weight off my shoulders.
KD : Do you have a favorite scene from the two movies so far?
DR: I love the scenes with loads of people in them. Those are the greatest scenes to me. It was really fun.
KD : If you could play any role in the Harry Potter movies besides Harry, which would you choose?
DR: well, in the second film, if I could play any character I think it would be Gilderoy Lockhart. He has two sides to him. At first, you only see the side that is very brave, hero-like, but he's a bit of a show-off and he thinks far too highly of himself. Then he starts taking a very nasty turn towards the end of the film, so I think he'd be the best character to play and Kenneth Branagh does an absolutely wonderful job of portraying him.
KD : Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was an instant success! What was the most exciting thing about that for you?
DR: I was completely amazed at the premiere. To me, that was probably one of the most exciting...it was completely overwhelming, but it was so exciting. And I met Ben Stiller!
KD : Wow! So what were you thinking when you were walking down the red carpet and there were reporters and photographers everywhere?
DR: I was completely overwhelmed. I didn't know what to think. I was very surprised that I actually made it without fainting, first of all because all the flashing lights had me blind until about half an hour after! But mostly I thought, "Is this really for me?" They were taking photos of me and for a second I forgot I was playing Harry. I thought, "Why are they taking pictures of me?" I have a memory of that and it was pretty unbelieveable.
KD : That's definitely a major moment! Have you changed since you filmed the first movie?
DR: As a person, I don't feel I've changed that much. I feel I've kind of matured, but I think everybody does when they're about my age. As an actor, I think I've developed a lot, very much thanks to Chris, because we've developed so much as actors that now he can do much more complicated shots with us and much more dialogue and much less static, so I think we've all developed a lot as actors.
KD : How about Harry? Has he changed since the first movie?
DR: Harry has changed a lot since the first movie. I think there's a lot more emotional depth to his character. The last line in the first film is, "I'm not going home. Not really" and I think that kind of returns a lot more in the second film, because Harry has discovered that something is wrong with his home at Hogwarts and so he has to protect it. So basically, to sum it up, I think in the first one Harry is a lot more reactive and in the second one he's a lot more proactive.
KD : Do you believe in magic?
DR: Yes, yes, definitely. I don't know what I think about it, but I do believe it's out there.
KD : If you could be a real life transfiguration, what animal would you want to change into?
DR: I'd change into a wolf. It's a magnificent animal and they're really kind of beautiful but kind of dangerous at the same time. I don't know what that says about me, but ....
KD : I'm sure it says only good things! So what magic spell would you use in real life if you could?
DR: Probably be invisible, because then you could get into concerts and things.
KD : Or play some tricks? I heard that you like to play pranks on people. What kind of tricks did you pull on the set?
DR: well, I don't know if you've heard the story of the first film, when I changed Robbie Coltrane's cell phone language to Turkish. That was probably the most famous one. Unfortunately, I really didn't do any on this second film, because I haven't really thought of any. I think they might get me back for everything I've done now.
KD : Until they get you back, what's the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
DR: Once in a school play -- I've only been in one school play, I think it was Danny the Elephant -- I was dressed up as a monkey. It was on videotape and somebody has it, and I know that it will show up on TV sometime and I will just be hiding my eyes in shame.
KD : We'll be on the lookout for that! Now that you are a celebrity, are there any other celebrities who you'd like to meet or who you have a crush on?
DR: Do you want the whole list? I am in love with mainly two people -- Kirsten Dunst and Cameron Diaz. I would love to meet Tobey Maguire.
KD : That's interesting! Is there anything else that people would be surprised to know about you?
DR: I don't know if this would surprise you, it surprises most people. I'm really into kind of bold punk rock music, like Lou Reed and Iggy Pop and stuff like that and that seems to surprise people. But that's not the only kind of music I like. That's one of the things that really surprises people about me.
KD : Nice choices! What Cds are in your CD players right now?
DR: The Dandy Warhols, I love them, and I think Iggy Pop is in there as well.
KD : Besides listening to music, what do you do in your spare time?
DR: Films. I love films. I like music and I like reading. Those are my three things, I think. I want to take in the new Austin Powers film. I love the cinema and the Simpsons. I can quote scenes from The Simpsons. When it comes to the Simpsons, I'm probably a bit sad.
KD : What three movies would you recommend?
DR: The Royal Tennenbaums. I just saw that one, it was unbelievable! One of my favorite films is What's Eating Gilbert Grape?. I love that movie. And Spider-Man. When it comes out, rent it! It was wonderful.
KD : We'll check those out! Since you like reading, you must have read the Harry Potter books. Which one is your favorite?
DR: It used to be the second one, but I just reread the third book, so now the third book is my favorite because I think the second one has lots of action, but the third one I think is better written, actually. It's very, very emotional for Harry. I think it's where Harry really learns a lot about his father. It has time travel in it and just so much stuff which is pretty amazing to me.
KD : You have a lot of interests! If you weren't an actor, what do you think you'd be?
DR: Well, I think maybe a director. I'm really interested in directing as it is. Writing as well.
KD : What do you plan to do when the Harry Potter movie is finished?
DR: I am going to wait for them to finish and then I'm going to see what's happening.....
KD : Sounds good! Thank you so much, Daniel, and good luck!
DR: Thank you!
Back then this site didn't excist. I decided to add 'archive news' like this as much as possible. I thought it might be interesting to read for you all.
KD : Hi Daniel!
DR: Hi!
KD : Are you at all like the character of Harry Potter?
DR: In some ways, I think everybody is, because Harry has so many different sides to him. I think, me personally, we're both very curious and I think sometimes our curiosity gets us into trouble. Also, like Harry, I'm not afraid to stand up for myself and do what I believe in and I think that's one of Harry's most important traits.
KD : What does your family think about you being Harry?
DR: They're really excited. Especially my mom and my dad, since they're really involved with me. Some people think that I never see them, which is completely untrue because my dad chaperones me every day. They're really excited about it.
KD : What do you like best about playing Harry?
DR: I think one of my favorite parts is just basically knowing Chris because he has been a complete inspiration to me over the past few years and has given me a love for film, so I have a lot of respect for him and I think he's one of the coolest guys I've ever met.
KD : Is there are hard part to being Harry?
DR: The more you hear about it and build up the film, you really do start to realize the pressure on you and you really start to feel it a bit more. So I think the pressure is a huge responsibility. Chris Columbus has really helped me in that way because he's really taken the weight off my shoulders.
KD : Do you have a favorite scene from the two movies so far?
DR: I love the scenes with loads of people in them. Those are the greatest scenes to me. It was really fun.
KD : If you could play any role in the Harry Potter movies besides Harry, which would you choose?
DR: well, in the second film, if I could play any character I think it would be Gilderoy Lockhart. He has two sides to him. At first, you only see the side that is very brave, hero-like, but he's a bit of a show-off and he thinks far too highly of himself. Then he starts taking a very nasty turn towards the end of the film, so I think he'd be the best character to play and Kenneth Branagh does an absolutely wonderful job of portraying him.
KD : Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was an instant success! What was the most exciting thing about that for you?
DR: I was completely amazed at the premiere. To me, that was probably one of the most exciting...it was completely overwhelming, but it was so exciting. And I met Ben Stiller!
KD : Wow! So what were you thinking when you were walking down the red carpet and there were reporters and photographers everywhere?
DR: I was completely overwhelmed. I didn't know what to think. I was very surprised that I actually made it without fainting, first of all because all the flashing lights had me blind until about half an hour after! But mostly I thought, "Is this really for me?" They were taking photos of me and for a second I forgot I was playing Harry. I thought, "Why are they taking pictures of me?" I have a memory of that and it was pretty unbelieveable.
KD : That's definitely a major moment! Have you changed since you filmed the first movie?
DR: As a person, I don't feel I've changed that much. I feel I've kind of matured, but I think everybody does when they're about my age. As an actor, I think I've developed a lot, very much thanks to Chris, because we've developed so much as actors that now he can do much more complicated shots with us and much more dialogue and much less static, so I think we've all developed a lot as actors.
KD : How about Harry? Has he changed since the first movie?
DR: Harry has changed a lot since the first movie. I think there's a lot more emotional depth to his character. The last line in the first film is, "I'm not going home. Not really" and I think that kind of returns a lot more in the second film, because Harry has discovered that something is wrong with his home at Hogwarts and so he has to protect it. So basically, to sum it up, I think in the first one Harry is a lot more reactive and in the second one he's a lot more proactive.
KD : Do you believe in magic?
DR: Yes, yes, definitely. I don't know what I think about it, but I do believe it's out there.
KD : If you could be a real life transfiguration, what animal would you want to change into?
DR: I'd change into a wolf. It's a magnificent animal and they're really kind of beautiful but kind of dangerous at the same time. I don't know what that says about me, but ....
KD : I'm sure it says only good things! So what magic spell would you use in real life if you could?
DR: Probably be invisible, because then you could get into concerts and things.
KD : Or play some tricks? I heard that you like to play pranks on people. What kind of tricks did you pull on the set?
DR: well, I don't know if you've heard the story of the first film, when I changed Robbie Coltrane's cell phone language to Turkish. That was probably the most famous one. Unfortunately, I really didn't do any on this second film, because I haven't really thought of any. I think they might get me back for everything I've done now.
KD : Until they get you back, what's the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
DR: Once in a school play -- I've only been in one school play, I think it was Danny the Elephant -- I was dressed up as a monkey. It was on videotape and somebody has it, and I know that it will show up on TV sometime and I will just be hiding my eyes in shame.
KD : We'll be on the lookout for that! Now that you are a celebrity, are there any other celebrities who you'd like to meet or who you have a crush on?
DR: Do you want the whole list? I am in love with mainly two people -- Kirsten Dunst and Cameron Diaz. I would love to meet Tobey Maguire.
KD : That's interesting! Is there anything else that people would be surprised to know about you?
DR: I don't know if this would surprise you, it surprises most people. I'm really into kind of bold punk rock music, like Lou Reed and Iggy Pop and stuff like that and that seems to surprise people. But that's not the only kind of music I like. That's one of the things that really surprises people about me.
KD : Nice choices! What Cds are in your CD players right now?
DR: The Dandy Warhols, I love them, and I think Iggy Pop is in there as well.
KD : Besides listening to music, what do you do in your spare time?
DR: Films. I love films. I like music and I like reading. Those are my three things, I think. I want to take in the new Austin Powers film. I love the cinema and the Simpsons. I can quote scenes from The Simpsons. When it comes to the Simpsons, I'm probably a bit sad.
KD : What three movies would you recommend?
DR: The Royal Tennenbaums. I just saw that one, it was unbelievable! One of my favorite films is What's Eating Gilbert Grape?. I love that movie. And Spider-Man. When it comes out, rent it! It was wonderful.
KD : We'll check those out! Since you like reading, you must have read the Harry Potter books. Which one is your favorite?
DR: It used to be the second one, but I just reread the third book, so now the third book is my favorite because I think the second one has lots of action, but the third one I think is better written, actually. It's very, very emotional for Harry. I think it's where Harry really learns a lot about his father. It has time travel in it and just so much stuff which is pretty amazing to me.
KD : You have a lot of interests! If you weren't an actor, what do you think you'd be?
DR: Well, I think maybe a director. I'm really interested in directing as it is. Writing as well.
KD : What do you plan to do when the Harry Potter movie is finished?
DR: I am going to wait for them to finish and then I'm going to see what's happening.....
KD : Sounds good! Thank you so much, Daniel, and good luck!
DR: Thank you!
Premiere Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Japan
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets press conference in Hong Kong
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picture source: ImagineChina
Updated: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets press conference in Tokyo
Back then this site didn't excist. I decided to add 'archive news' like this as much as possible. I thought it might be interesting to read for you all.
Update: 9th September 2021. I uploaded the video. It was broadcasted on Warner Bros Japan's website back in 2002.
Dan greeted the audience and introduced himself in Japanese ("I've been practising that for quite a long time!", he told the cheering crowd) and said
It's absolutely fantastic to be here in Japan while at the same time promoting a film that we're all very proud of. There's not really much more to say than that I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it.
Reception at Tokyo's Narita airport, Japan
Arrival at Tokyo's Narita airport, Japan
