One thing that I really liked about what David Yates did with this, what really struck me when I saw the movie, was that he made a real effort to keep the friendship natural. Previous directors did a great job, of course, but here there’s an extra bit where you really do come off as mates hanging out. Was there a difference in how you were directed by Yates to achieve that?
I dunno, really. Probably sort of subtle little things. I think, just on the whole, ‘cause we’ve been doing it so long, got to know each other more we’re probably more relaxed with each other.

I think, also, that he used contemporary music he used (during filming) of some of the Common Room scenes. Like a band called The Ordinary Boys, he’d play that in the Common Room and that gives it a sort of more casual feel.

It’s a really good atmosphere as well because he’s a really nice guy, really laid back and calm.

So, there wasn’t as much pressure for you…
Definitely. Well, there’s always a little bit of pressure, but it was just a really good atmosphere, yeah.

I noticed that in the film they took a lot of the big Ron Weasley scenes out, so you’re left with being the driving force of Harry’s story…. Was there any difference in how you approached this film?
Not really. I read the book before we do it, just to get it fresh in my head, then the script usually comes out and I got a few light rehearsals with the director. That does sort of help. I don’t know. Because we’ve been doin’ it so long, it’s quite easy to slip back into it, really, because we know the characters pretty well.

Now, when you read the scripts and you find, like in this movie, a lot of the juicier stuff didn’t make it through is there any level of disappointment you feel?
I was a bit disappointed when Quidditch didn’t make it, but I mean… it’s such a big book, there’s so much to fit in I can understand why they pared it down.

But I’m kinda hoping it’ll be in the next one.

… And that is good stuff and I’m sure you’re going to have a lot of fun, but the interesting stuff to me is how your relationship with Hermione develops. That kind of true budding romance versus the more lustful thing with Lavender. I think I like it so much because it’s really kind of been set up for a while now…
Yeah, gradually. And in this one you see him being a bit more protective as well when she gets picked up by Grawp. He wants to sort of be the hero. But, yeah. In these films there’s always been a sort of hint of that and maybe that’ll kind of feature in the 7th book as well. We’ll see.

In ORDER OF THE PHOENIX we get to meet Luna and Umbridge. I met Evanna Lynch on my set visit and she was so Luna Lovegood.
She’s like that in real life. It’s great.

It translated so well into the movie, too. She’s great in it. How was she to work with, being that she’s such a huge geek for the books? I heard she was kind of going around and correcting everybody.
She knew everything! She knew the book inside out. Everyone would go to her and ask her (when they had questions). And she’s got her own theories. She’s really into it.