Audiences are promised that they will see a more mature Harry Potter in the fifth film of the popular series but it’s an aspect of the movie’s launch that actor Daniel Radcliffe admits worries him the most. ‘I don’t know if fans are ready for the older Harry,’ he said ahead of the première this month in Japan. ‘All I can say that if fans aren’t ready to see a pipe smoking man of mature years who enjoys a bit of naturism on a Sunday, then perhaps they don’t understand what we’re trying to do with this most fascinating of characters.’

Despite Radcliffe’s concerns, it’s probably Rupert Grint who plays Ron Weasley who, out of all the original cast, has changed the most over the years. ‘Yes, I find it strange looking at myself in the early films,’ he admits. ‘But the characters have aged with us. Of course, I get some stick and Daniel keeps making fun of me. He tells people that I’m beginning to look like Bob Hoskins. Personally, I can’t see any resemblance.’

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix goes on general release next month and producers are cautiously optimistic that fans will love what they’ve done to the screen adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s novel. ‘There’s a very funny bit when Ron starts to complain about his rheumatics,’ promises Grint. ‘We added that bit after Daniel complained of aches in his joints. I told him that’s what you get when you go running around naked on a stage five nights a week but you know Daniel… Nothing can stop him getting naked with a pipe full of shag tobacco and a copy of Trout Fisherman’s Monthly.’

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