Michael Gambon talks Dumbledore's death, working with Cuaron in Prisoner of Azkaban
 

With the London production of Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape currently in progress, the star of the one-man play, Michael Gambon, opened up about his life, getting into the acting game, and work on stage and screen. In the middle of the rather long and in-depth interview with The Arts Desk, Michael gleaned over his work in the Harry Potter films, in which he plays Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Michael spoke about his reaction to when he found out Dumbledore died at the end of Half-Blood Prince, and some tips Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuaron gave him the first time he portrayed the role on screen.

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Photos of Michael and Harry Potter costar Maggie Smith at the press night for Krapp's Last Tape from earlier this month can be found in our galleries.

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Michael reprises his role as Dumbledore in the final installments, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which will be out November 19, 2010 and July 15, 2011.

I can't wait to see all of the older HP actors to reprise their roles in DH. It's going to be great of what there going to do. :D

Aw I can't wait! Michael Gambon is my favorite Dumbledore. I thought he played Dumbledore better than Richard Harris because he played the part in a lighter way.

Except GOF, of course ;)

Seriously, though, I really do sincerely love Michael Gambon's performances apart from that film. He really makes me laugh in that dry, strange, Dumbledore-ish way, but he also gives off a very strong, powerful aura. I don't get it when people say he doesn't have the *twinkle* in his eyes, because I think he had it even more than Richard Harris, EXCEPT for like three or four scenes that some people can never ever seem to let go. And I choose to chalk that up to Mike Newell's poor adapting skills, considering Dumbledore isn't the only thing wrong with that film, as far as how it relates to the book. Ugh. I so wish someone else had made it :/

Aww. I can't wait! I miss Richard Harris though, he was closer to Dumbly from the books I think, like appearance wise. Costumes and the white beard and all of that. But Michael Gambon is an AMAAAAAZING actor!

Dame Maggie Smith looks so good! (considering how ill she was)

I totally agree!!! Michael Gambon is my favorite Dumbledore, too. I liked him much better than Richard Harris.:D

He is awesome but Richard Harris was just as ethereal! They are both excellent!

RIP Sir Richard Harris!!

~ Nice interview.

Or the fans get cross over what goes missing in the character. <_< It's okay not to read the books when you are sucessfully able to pull off the character, like Alan Rickman, but it doesn't work when you become an angry, screaming banshee like in GoF and even OotP.

I don't mean any disrespect to him as an actor, which I know he is brilliant at, but he is honestly terrible as Dumbledore. I know Alfonso Cuarón was okay with his accent, but it is up to Sir Michael Gambon to fix his technique and do research on his role. However, he did do a lot better in HBP so I do have to give him credit for that.

Nice interview :xd:

Yeah, I've never thought that he really sounded Irish.

It's not missing if it's not the book character. This is the movie character. I'm glad they are not the same thing because they should not be. I don't want the book on screen. It would have been too repetitive and boring.

He is great but I really like Harris.... Job well done Mr. Gambon! :)

nice pics...:)

Er... yep, well, thanks Mr. Gambon for those precious words. The actor is really good for Dumbledore's role anyways.. not better than Harris mind you :whistle:

I think I like both Gambon and Harris as Dumbledore; they played him in their own special way. Of course, I didn't like Gambon's acting until the 6th movie, but yeah...they're just awesome. :)

While Harris will always be Dumbledore to me, Gambon brings something to the character that is magical.

Richard Harris's Dumbledore was like a magical fairytale old wizard...
Michael Gambon's Dumbledore have a much better behavior and look to the books Dumbledore . I love that all actors ( RIP sir R. Harris ) have their role for H.P. movies done :) It's like growing up with them :) Love them all . BTW Love maily Alan Rickman like Severus Snape ! He is much more sympathic Snape than his books version :) Didn't he ?

No, of course I'd never want a character word for word from the books. I agree; it would be boring. However, the thing is whatever else you bring into the movie character, you have to still retain something personality wise from the original character in order for you to recognize who the character is.

Take for example, Helena Bonham Carter. With just reading the books, you don't see Bellatrix as insane as she is in the films. However, with Helena acting as an extremely immature sadistic lunatic, you see just how much more interesting the character can get. She was able to translate the character from the pages into something much greater yet still stay true to the character's origins and even more. Sir Michael Gambon did the exact opposite. Mind you, I'd never want him to play Dumbledore exactly the way Richard Harris did it either but he could have at least tried a different approach, which he did in the 6th film. It isn't about reading and not reading the book, but rather how well you are able to bring what is on paper on to the screen.

Nice interview..

Michael Gambon's interviews always make me smile :xd:

I really liked his performance in HBP, it was much more the Dumbledore of my imagination. I wasn't keen on him in GOF as well, though remember that he doesn't actually write the script! I'm sure that's where a lot of the strange aggression in GOF originally came from.

nice photos I love this man
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hey we could go together and see the 7th movie

He made a great Dumbeldore ! I am waiting for the next movie !