James, your character Fred dies in the books – how was it filming that? In the book it was relatively ‘off-camera’ and it was only at the end of the battle that it hit the readers and characters. Is it similar in the film?
JP: We’re not sure yet. They’re working on a way that brings it in without making it the end of the battle. When we shot it, I was just lying there and I could hear what was going on. That’s when you see how good the actors we work with are – Oliver was bloody good.

OP: With Julie Waters and Rupert Grint there too, it really made me realise how great actors they are. The second time we did it, we just let rip, and on camera it looks great. It was pretty strange to be doing that. I know I never want a Eucalyptus torch [a prop they blow into your eye to make you cry] again – I could barely see afterwards.

How would you say The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2 differ?
JP: I think it starts off with Harry Potter trying to avoid getting captured by Voldemort. They’re trying to work out how to get away. My character gets pretty battered in the process, and that’s the first time you see that Voldemort’s not a normal bad guy. He’s just ruthless. Then it really starts to get dark, the more desperate he becomes to get Harry. And then in Part 2 it all kicks off at the school.

OP: Part 1 picks up exactly where Half-Blood Prince left off and it kind of builds from that. Part 1 is kind of like a typical Potter movie in that it’s about exploring things, while Part 2 is full-on action. It’s a war pretty much.

JP: When we filmed the Battle of Hogwarts sequence, it was like a scene from Saving Private Ryan. All these gothic buildings had been totally obliterated. The first time we saw the decimated Great Hall, it was sobering. I think it’ll look fantastic on screen.