Wannabees lose out over Harry Potter role

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Thousands of girls who auditioned for the part of Lavender Brown in the new Harry Potter film have been left disappointed after producers named their choice.

Jessie Cave, a 20-year-old actress, landed the role in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, according to the BBC.

She is about to appear on TV in new CBBC drama Summerhill, and on the big screen in forthcoming film Inkheart opposite Dame Helen Mirren.

Cave is two years older than the age stipulated at the audition in July.

Then, producers held an open casting call for girls aged 15-18 at Earls Court in London and said "no acting experience necessary".

Around 7,000 hopefuls queued for hours in a bid to win the role of their dreams.

Announcing the auditions, director David Yates said: "These auditions are open to everybody and we can't wait to see who comes in the door.

"Normally I have all these casting agents sending me kids who have been to stage school and who come in tap-dancing and singing.

"What we are looking for is someone natural and absolutely credible in their own right."

Cave lists tap-dancing among her skills in a CV published on her agent's website, along with ballet, jazz, hip hop and modern dance.

Lavender is Ron Weasley's girlfriend and a fellow pupil at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

She kisses him constantly and calls him "Won Won" - much to his dismay - while he secretly pines for Hermione Granger.

Producers described her as "a pretty and lively girl who loves to be the centre of attention".

"She is determined to make Ron her boyfriend and when she gets him, she is then deeply possessive of him. She reacts in an extreme way to everything. She tends to be either laughing or crying hysterically."

Open auditions were also held for the character of Tom Riddle, who goes on to become the evil Voldemort. The winner of that role has yet to be announced.

The last Harry Potter film did feature an unknown found through a casting call.

Evanna Lunch, 14, a schoolgirl from Termonfeckin in Co Louth, Ireland, beat 15,000 hopefuls to the role of eccentric Hogwarts pupil Luna Lovegood.

As an 11-year-old, Evanna wrote to Rowling saying she would love to appear in a Harry Potter film but doubted it would happen to a girl from "this sleepy little place called Termonfeckin, where nothing ever happened".

To her surprise, Rowling replied and told her: "Don't be too hard on Termonfeckin; it does have a brilliant name. And I come from a very sleepy place."

Cave's agent declined to comment.

 

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