The Magic Returns!  
An Interview with Daniel Radcliffe

Source: Weekly Reader, Apr 2004.  

Harry's back! And he's returning for his third year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The third installment in the series by J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, hits the big screen June 4. Edition 4 spoke with Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who plays Harry. Here's what he had to say about the latest movie.

This is the third Harry Potter movie. How has Harry changed since the previous two movies? 

I was 11 years old when the first movie was made, and now I'm 14. Harry is going through a lot more teenage angst now and is a lot angrier—that is the main difference.

How do you try to live up to readers' expectations of Harry Potter?

I try not to think about that. You aim to please everybody, but you know that is impossible to do. I give my interpretation of Harry.

How would you describe Harry?

He's a lot more confident because he takes a stand against the Dursleys and confronts Professor Snape as well.

What do you hope people will take away from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban?

The importance of friendship in your life.

Edition 4 recently interviewed Gary Gero, the animal trainer for the movie (issue 24, April 23, 2004). What was it like to work with animals on the set?

The owls were great fun. They were beautiful and cool. The dogs were huge, and they slobbered a lot, but they're very cool.

In what ways are you similar to Harry?

We both value friendship. We are both probably too curious for our own good. We're also both interested in the world around us.

If you could have a magical power, what would it be?

It would be Floo powder because I could go anywhere—and even avoid traffic.