What were the best and worst moments shooting the Harry Potter films? bumble1
The worst part was being away from home and the long hours. The best bit was the work and talking to the other actors. I look back with great fondness on that. I remember saying to Alan Rickman that the collective noun for actors is an anecdote.
Michael Gambon was the king of stories. He’d start a joke and you never knew where he was going. But he’d hone them; they were finely crafted – some of his best work was backstage. Richard Griffiths was also a great raconteur. His stories were brilliant, and completely unpublishable.
Maggie [Smith] liked to be Maggie. I remember at one premiere I wore this blazer a friend had made for me and could see her glinting across the room. Then she bowled over and went: “Have you just been at Henley?” She was delighted with herself for that.
With Robbie Coltrane I used to like going through Plant Trader, which was a sales magazine for big stuff: cranes, tractors, earthmoving equipment. We never purchased anything, but we came close.
Where’s the oddest place you’ve been recognised for Harry Potter? nivlek47
I’m gonna flip that question and tell you the oddest person I recognised making the films. We were shooting in the Ministry of Magic: an enormous set with a huge number of extras. This guy walked past me and I thought: that’s my accountant. When we’d stopped shooting I went over and said: “Harry? What are you doing?” He said: “Oh, it’s a group of us. We just come and do supporting artist extra work for a laugh. That guy over there is a high court judge, and he’s a contract law specialist.” I told the assistant directors: never underestimate the extras.
Do you stay in touch with any of the actors who played your children in the Harry Potter films? Are there any Weasley family reunions? avongirl
We don’t really have reunions, but we are sort of in touch. I’ve worked with the twins on one of their documentaries. We went to Singapore: very nice, too. But I keep more in touch with the dark side: death eaters like Nick Moran and Jason Isaacs.
Have you ever been offered an action hero role, James Bond or Superman? Would you fancy a go at one of the classics, say, Doctor Who? teabags12
I’ve been in Doctor Who: I was Brian Williams, who’s the sort of antihero. Never been offered a superhero role, although I suppose Father Brown’s heading towards superhero status.
Who was your favourite collaboration with? Foxile47
Firstly, Hugh Laurie, in 101 Dalmatians and The Borrowers. Secondly, all costume departments. Those have been very fruitful collaborations. I remember going to meet Bunny Christie on Shakespeare in Love, and she looked me up and down like she does and went: “Hmm, a make, I think.” I felt like I’d arrived: I wasn’t getting something off-the-peg. These days, I’m getting into wearing suits. Before, it was ringfenced: if you wore a suit, you became a suit. But now it’s ironic.
What’s the best new feature on the Harry Potter studio tour? bumble1
Fluffy’s paw [Hagrid’s three-headed dog]. I just like the idea of a giant animatronic hand. It makes me think of Ray Harryhausen. You only have that kind of thing in films.
Loved the Industrial Revelations series. Would you be up for wearing the presenter’s hat again? leadballoon
I’d like to do something about the maritime culture of the British Isles. I’m very, very interested in that. I’d like to deal with the nuts and bolts of the technology, the how and why. We contributed so much to that globally. I’d go to Chatham, Hartlepool, the west coast ports, Brixham and stuff. You’ve got docks everywhere, which still have enormous archaeological potential.
Which do you find more challenging, a part in a film or in a TV series? Allanimalsrimportant
I don’t differentiate. I just like working.
Do you find yourself saying things like “Suits you sir” or “Nice”? AmongstTheWaves
Not really, but my mum did without ever acknowledging it. She used to go: “Which was nice.” I’d look at her and think: do you know that was me, mum?
Are you utterly tired of hearing your catchphrases being quoted or yelled at you? CaptainLib
If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime. I was once near the front end of the platform at Clapham Junction in London and a train pulled up. The driver was level with me and he looked at me once. The train waited for a while. Then, just before the whistle blew, the driver leant sideways and went: “You ain’t seen me, right.” Which I thought was majestic timing and I’d like to congratulate him.
Which catchphrase do you hear and think: damn, wish that was mine? catchytitled
I thought long and hard about this. I wondered about “I’m free!” and “Ooh, matron!”, but I was talking to my wife and the one I actually use more is “How very dare you?”, which is a work of genius from Catherine Tate. I just love it. You’ve just got so much politics in there. It’s wonderful.
As Father Brown you sang The Spaniard That Blighted My Life. You have an excellent voice, and can perform an uncanny George Formby impression too. Have you considered a singing career? Janchan
No. I have done [Doctor] Dolittle on tour, though, and I’m a big fan of the music hall. I love the Britishness: that sense of humour, the lunacy, the madness of it.
Had you watched Alec Guinness as Father Brown before taking on the role? Another fine actor with a gift for comedy who found himself part of a major franchise. WordsFailMe
I have and much as I love Alec Guinness, I think he’s terrible at Father Brown. He does the same voice as he does for the bishop in Kind Hearts and Coronets. He sort of acts clerical – and that’s not the point of Father Brown. Maybe he thought it was unassuming. But it is a bit weird, the voice.
Do you enjoy watching anything else on telly or just the football? Stevelittlefingers
I don’t really watch any football any more. I’m terrible at watching the telly. I mostly watch old films on my phone in bed.
Would you consider yourself the most famous living Bromsgrovian? SnowyJohn
Rufus Norris, the former head of the National Theatre, is from Bromsgrove. I think he can have it. Though he’s not gonna get a lot of traction in Japan. Whereas with me, you are. Even in China – I think Father Brown is shown there. I’d like to go to China because I want to ride the maglev train. Why aren’t we using them here? We’re so unjoined-up with our concerns and angers. We need to stop protesting and start working together, and putting maglevs in airports, and the post office tunnels under London.
Years ago you did an advert for cherry bakewells. Do you like cherry bakewells, and did you get any freebies? onechrishill
I like cherry bakewells, but best of all is battenberg: a great cake. Big fan of marzipan. I love that sugar sheath. But I don’t unwrap it separately. I just eat it.
• First Year at Hogwarts runs now until 7 September at The Warner Bros Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter
