Tuesday 19 August 2014

Rowling dishes on little-known witch






July 23 marks Daniel Radcliffe's 25th birthday. He and his "Harry Potter" co-stars graduated from the franchise in 2011, but there's a plan for additional films set in the Potter-verse, including a spinoff <a href='http://ift.tt/1bQ1MXO' target='_blank'>based on a fictional Hogwarts textbook</a>. Radcliffe, who has been busy with movies such as "Kill Your Darlings," <a href='http://ift.tt/1f7sJdP' target='_blank'>doesn't plan to make an appearance</a>. But what's the rest of the cast up to these days?July 23 marks Daniel Radcliffe's 25th birthday. He and his "Harry Potter" co-stars graduated from the franchise in 2011, but there's a plan for additional films set in the Potter-verse, including a spinoff based on a fictional Hogwarts textbook. Radcliffe, who has been busy with movies such as "Kill Your Darlings," doesn't plan to make an appearance. But what's the rest of the cast up to these days?

Since portraying sharp witch Hermione in the "Harry Potter" series, Emma Watson has broken away from the supernatural with roles grounded in the (mostly) real world. After "My Week With Marilyn," "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" and "The Bling Ring," the 23-year-old actress also showed her sense of humor in Seth Rogen's outlandish summer comedy, "This Is the End."Since portraying sharp witch Hermione in the "Harry Potter" series, Emma Watson has broken away from the supernatural with roles grounded in the (mostly) real world. After "My Week With Marilyn," "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" and "The Bling Ring," the 23-year-old actress also showed her sense of humor in Seth Rogen's outlandish summer comedy, "This Is the End."

Rupert Grint kept it fairly low-key after he ended his 10-year run as one of Harry Potter's best friends, Ron Weasley. The 25-year-old will took on a risky role with 2013's "CGBG" -- if you <a href='http://ift.tt/1nEdU6G' target='_blank'>need proof that Grint's all grown-up, check out the trailer.</a>Rupert Grint kept it fairly low-key after he ended his 10-year run as one of Harry Potter's best friends, Ron Weasley. The 25-year-old will took on a risky role with 2013's "CGBG" -- if you need proof that Grint's all grown-up, check out the trailer.

Bonnie Wright began playing Ginny Weasley at age 10, and since leaving the franchise has been on a steady diet of dramas. Wright appeared in "The Philosophers," followed by "Before I Sleep" with Tom Sizemore. Bonnie Wright began playing Ginny Weasley at age 10, and since leaving the franchise has been on a steady diet of dramas. Wright appeared in "The Philosophers," followed by "Before I Sleep" with Tom Sizemore.

Just enough time has passed for us to stop cringing at the sight of Tom Felton, who came to be known as the weakling bully Draco Malfoy. Even while working on the "Potter" franchise, Felton dabbled in other films, like "The Disappeared" and "Get Him to the Greek." Felton has been busy since "Potter" wrapped, and appeared in the World War II movie "Ghosts of the Pacific."Just enough time has passed for us to stop cringing at the sight of Tom Felton, who came to be known as the weakling bully Draco Malfoy. Even while working on the "Potter" franchise, Felton dabbled in other films, like "The Disappeared" and "Get Him to the Greek." Felton has been busy since "Potter" wrapped, and appeared in the World War II movie "Ghosts of the Pacific."

By the time the "Potter" movies wrapped, Matthew Lewis -- and his character, Neville Longbottom -- had morphed into <a href='http://ift.tt/1bMnKPR' target='_blank'>quite the charming young man</a>. Now 24, Lewis initially migrated over to TV for a spell with 2012's "The Syndicate." By the time the "Potter" movies wrapped, Matthew Lewis -- and his character, Neville Longbottom -- had morphed into quite the charming young man. Now 24, Lewis initially migrated over to TV for a spell with 2012's "The Syndicate."

The brothers who played the elder Weasleys -- George and Fred -- <a href='http://ift.tt/1fmk1Xg' target='_blank'>don't have the trademark ginger hair anymore</a>, but they're still recognizable as the prankster pair. James (left) and Oliver Phelps are still happy to talk all things "Potter," even as they move on to other endeavors. James has been recently active on stage, and Oliver has been traveling in support of his website, <a href='http://ift.tt/1fmk1Xj' target='_blank'>JopWorld.com.</a>The brothers who played the elder Weasleys -- George and Fred -- don't have the trademark ginger hair anymore, but they're still recognizable as the prankster pair. James (left) and Oliver Phelps are still happy to talk all things "Potter," even as they move on to other endeavors. James has been recently active on stage, and Oliver has been traveling in support of his website, JopWorld.com.

Evanna Lynch's Luna Lovegood showed up halfway through the "Potter" saga, but her character was so wonderfully strange she's easily among the most memorable. And if there's anyone who's eager for the "Harry Potter" spinoff films, it's Lynch: "Maybe 'Fantastic Beasts' will turn into a long ting like HP did &amp; I can play Luna as an old lady?" <a href='http://ift.tt/1fmk1Xl' target='_blank'>she tweeted</a>. "Even if I'm too old to play Luna, can I go through 10 hours prosthetics to play a crumple-horned-snorkack. Please??"Evanna Lynch's Luna Lovegood showed up halfway through the "Potter" saga, but her character was so wonderfully strange she's easily among the most memorable. And if there's anyone who's eager for the "Harry Potter" spinoff films, it's Lynch: "Maybe 'Fantastic Beasts' will turn into a long ting like HP did & I can play Luna as an old lady?" she tweeted. "Even if I'm too old to play Luna, can I go through 10 hours prosthetics to play a crumple-horned-snorkack. Please??"

Jamie Waylett's Vincent Crabbe appeared in the first half of the franchise, and life post-"Potter" hasn't been so easy for the actor. In May 2012, <a href='http://ift.tt/1fmk1Xn' target='_blank'>he was sentenced to two years in jail</a> for his participation in the 2011 London riots. Jamie Waylett's Vincent Crabbe appeared in the first half of the franchise, and life post-"Potter" hasn't been so easy for the actor. In May 2012, he was sentenced to two years in jail for his participation in the 2011 London riots.

Devon Murray's Seamus Finnigan was an easy character to love, and fans have missed seeing Murray (and hearing his accent) on the big screen. The 24-year-old actor <a href='http://ift.tt/1nEdTje' target='_blank'>assured a supporter </a>from his unverified Twitter account in late September 2013 that he's "been offered a lead role in a new movie so could be seeing my mug soon :)"Devon Murray's Seamus Finnigan was an easy character to love, and fans have missed seeing Murray (and hearing his accent) on the big screen. The 24-year-old actor assured a supporter from his unverified Twitter account in late September 2013 that he's "been offered a lead role in a new movie so could be seeing my mug soon :)"









  • "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling offers details on character Celestina Warbeck

  • The "Singing Sorceress" is imagined to resemble Shirley Bassey, Rowling says

  • Warbeck is Molly Weasley's favorite singer

  • Piece on Warbeck is on Pottermore.com




(CNN) -- To the wonderful array of characters and names in the "Harry Potter" universe -- Ron Weasley, Dolores Umbridge, Bellatrix Lestrange, Cornelius Fudge and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named -- add yet another getting a shot at the spotlight: Celestina Warbeck.


Warbeck isn't a completely new character. In a note on Pottermore.com (sign-up required), author J.K. Rowling mentions that the "Singing Sorceress," as she is known, has made occasional off-stage appearances in the Potter books and in a "Daily Prophet" series done for the Potter fan club.


But she gets a full profile, along with a performance of her hit "You Stole My Cauldron but You Can't Have My Heart," on the Potter website.




The character Celestina Warbeck is said to resemble singer Shirley Bassey, here performing at the 2013 Oscars.

The character Celestina Warbeck is said to resemble singer Shirley Bassey, here performing at the 2013 Oscars.



"Celestina is one of my (favorite) 'off-stage' characters in the whole series, and has been part of the Potter world ever since its inception," Rowling wrote. "I always imagined her to resemble Shirley Bassey in both looks and style."


Bassey is best known in America for singing the theme songs to the James Bond films "Goldfinger," "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Moonraker."


Rowling said that the first name came from an old co-worker. " 'Celestina' was simply begging to be scooped up and attached to a glamorous witch," the author wrote.


In the profile, Rowling describes Warbeck as a Welsh prodigy whose mother "bombarded" Hogwarts with letters to promote her daughter with various performing arts groups.




J.K. Rowling is offering fans a profile of a little-known, off-stage character, Celestina Warbeck.

J.K. Rowling is offering fans a profile of a little-known, off-stage character, Celestina Warbeck.



She became a huge star.


"Three devoted fans were involved in a nasty three-broom pile up over Liverpool while trying to reach the last night of her 'Flighty Aphrodite' tour, and her tickets often appear on the black market at vastly inflated prices," Rowling wrote. Warbeck is Molly Weasley's favorite singer.


Warbeck has eight homes, has been married three times and is capable of "drown(ing) out a chorus of banshees." Her music can, of course, be heard at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.



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