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The end of Harry Potter feels like someone dying, says Emma Watson as final scenes are shot
Alistair Foster, Evening StandardUpdated 14:41pm on 27 May 2010
The stars of the Harry Potter franchise have spoken of their sadness as they face life after Hogwarts.
With the final scenes of the last movie being shot in London this week, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson admit they are dreading leaving the series that launched their careers 10 years ago.
The movies, based on the books by J K Rowling, are the highest-grossing film franchise of all time, having already taken more than £3.7 billion.
Radcliffe, 20, who plays the title role, said he would be “devastated” when filming ends. Watson, who plays Hermione Granger, likened it to a friend dying.
Gallery: National Movie Awards 2010
Gallery: The life and times of Emma Watson
The pair were speaking at the National Movie Awards, voted for by fans, where they collected the Special Recognition prize for the series and the Family award for Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince.
Radcliffe said: “It's going to be bizarre. I'm going to be devastated. It's going to be very, very sad because it's been such an important part of my life.
“There will never be one scene in any of the Harry Potters that, when I watch it, won't trigger a series of memories about what that day was about and what I was doing. So everything is so linked to my life and growing up. But at the same time, it will be exciting. It puts a pretty nice punctuation mark on my adolescence. I feel grown-up now.”
Watson added: “None of us could say that we predicted this kind of love and recognition. It's just incredible. I'm just so unbelievably proud to have been part of this. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
“I feel like someone's dying, I know that sounds like an exaggeration but I really do. I'm not planning to do anything this summer — I'm going to need time to collect myself and get myself back together a bit. So I'll take a bit of a break.”
Radcliffe joked: “I do hope I can continue to find some kind of employment after this — otherwise it's panto!”
Asked which item he would like to keep from the film set, he replied: “I would steal the glasses. If they're not given to me properly I'll steal them.” Tom Cruise was named Screen Icon at the ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall. The Action/Thriller category was won by Sherlock Holmes, while The Twilight Saga: New Moon won the Fantasy award and Performance of the Year for Robert Pattinson.
Gallery: National Movie Awards 2010
Gallery: The life and times of Emma Watson
