PICKING POTTER

Philosopher’s Stone

casting director Janet Hirshenson reveals how they found their Harry

What was the first step to finding your Harry Potter?

We did open calls around the country. In Leeds, actually, we found the twins and Neville. But for Harry we could only see blue or green-eyed children, which eliminated a lot. And it was important we didn’t get an older kid who looked young — growth spurts wreak havoc on movies. I’d also been given several tapes of possible Harrys, but there wasn’t really anyone there. Then Chris showed me the David Copperfield Daniel [Radcliffe] had done.

And that sealed the deal?

Actually, he’d already passed on coming in. He wasn’t interested in acting. Then David [Heyman] ran into Daniel and his parents at a play and he agreed to audition.

Was it immediately obvious he was going to get the role?

Chris always likes to do full screen tests and he just had everything — the innocence and the strength. When the three of them were given the news they’d got the job, Emma asked Daniel, “Have you read the books?” and Daniel replied, “No. I’m not really into them. I’m more into WWE.” And Emma, in a very Hermione way, went, “Oh no!” We all knew — “These are the right kids.”