Cancel your plans for the weekend, because all eight Harry Potter films are now on Netflix.
We feel a little bit of spring hibernation could be on the cards because today the wonderful world of wizardry will be included in your UK and Ireland Netflix subscription.
Before this point, muggle fans could only watch the eight-part franchise if they rented or bought the films.
But now at the flick of a wand – I mean remote – Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley’s (Rupert Grint) on-screen adventures from The Philosopher’s Stone all the way through to The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2, will be available to watch whenever you like.
Obviously Potterheads are spinning at the news, and Netflix UK & Ireland are certainly milking this bit of business as they’ve even changed their Twitter bio to a quote from the film: ‘I solemnly swear I am up to no good.’
The streaming giant took to Twitter with the news, with many fans saying they were going to get on their HP marathons ASAP.
‘I might watch all the Harry Potter films within the next week,’ wrote one, while another said: ‘Know what I’m binge watching tonight.’
This comes after it was announced there is going to be a Harry Potter TV series at Max – previously HBO Max – coming to our screens.
Up Next
In a statement, Max explained: ‘The stories from each of Rowling’s Harry Potter books will become a decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love and care this global franchise is known for.
‘The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years.’
It continued: ‘Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.’
Rowling will executive produce the series with Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts.
And so as the hunt for the next Harry, Ron, and Hermione continues, why not get out some popcorn and have a marathon with the old faithfuls…
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Emma Watson has left her 72million Instagram followers in a tizzy with her latest post.
The Harry Potter star, 33, took to social media on Monday to plug her and her brother’s gin range, but all eyes were on Emma’s dress – which quite literally appeared to defy gravity.
The blue frock, which Emma revealed was by fashion house Loewe, appeared to float upwards towards the actor’s face, prompting many of her fans to wonder what on earth was going on.
‘This dress is defying physics,’ exclaimed one Instagrammer.
Another said: ‘The dress looks like it’s floating. I’m trying to understand,’ while someone else penned, ‘Can someone explain how this dress works?’
‘The way no one’s understanding that dress… guess we all are just muggles,’ another person chimed in.
The best comment of all, though, was: ‘The dress said wingardium leviosa.’
Back in March, actor Indya Moore wore the same dress in a different colour to one of the fashion house’s shows and photos from that day suggest it’s carefully placed wires that make the frock appear to jut upwards.
She explained at the time that she’s ‘stepped away from life’ before going into great detail about what she’s been up to these past couple of years.
From learning to surf to adopting a dog and even ripping off a fingernail, the A-lister gave fans a no holds barred peek into her life to mark her 33rd birthday.
Alongside a striking black and white image of herself, Emma wrote: ‘This is 33. Holy moly. Before 29 I hadn’t even heard of a Saturn Return as a concept.’
The Little Women star went on: ‘Let’s just say that now I am well acquainted. I stepped away from my life – I learned to surf (badly), I rode some horses (that went better), I did a lot of therapy (YESS therapy!).
‘I felt really sad and really pissed off about a lot of things. I learned more about love and being a woman.’
She concluded: ‘It took me three years but I have finally figured out a daily practice and can actually keep it for more than a few days in a row. I burned some things down. I eat green things now!
‘These pictures were actually taken on my birthday last year, but I wasn’t ready to come out of my Covid Cocoon. Today I feel [butterfly emoji].’
Glad to have you back, Emma!
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Milan Fashion Week is. in full swing with celebs flocking to the Italian city to support their favourite designers including Prada darling Emma Watson.
Scarlett, 38, twinned with Emma as she also chose a flattering and elegant little black dress, this time with a cross neck design giving a peak at her ribcage tattoo.
Again her accessories consisted of dainty bracelets, some black kitten heels and a Prada handbag, keeping things monochromatic.
Benedict, 47, put his own spin on the sleek black trend, wearing black trousers – we’re sure he would have looked great in a minidress though.
The Dr Strange star mixed things up with a cream shirt that had a large art print on one side, which appeared to include flowers and a bird.
He wore a long trench coat over the look, which was again a neutral stone colour, and popped on some sunnies too.
Rounding out the Marvel crowd was Letitia, 29, who was leaning into her androgynous vibes with a brown suit.
She styled the plaid suit, buttoned up with no shirt underneath and black loafers and black sunglasses, looking effortlessly cool.
‘People love to put labels on things and I think that’s dope but I’m just really myself,’ she said earlier this month.
Media personalities Sofia Ritchie and Charli D’Amelio also were spotted at the event with Sofia flying in the face of the neutrals trend in a bright red top.
She covered this with a long wrap around coat which matched her grey suit trousers.
Dixie opted for a grey jumper over a floor length white tulle skirt with floral details – somewhat reminiscent of a wedding dress.
Ayo Edebiri, who stars in cult smash hit Bottoms, looked glam in a sleek lavender top and silky pencil skirt.
She grinned at the camera as she strolled into the show, wearing 90s sling back kitten heels and black sunglasses.
Also in attendance was Hunter Schafer, who rocked a busy peachy toned shirt and black skirt, with chunky loafers completing her business casual vibes.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Twenty years ago, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released and fans were absolutely blown away by the third film in the hit franchise.
Much like the book, the film marked a notable change within the Wizarding World, filling a darker and more adult space.
Fans lapped it up and it has since become revered as one of the best of the series, coming only in second place to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Azkaban has a very respectable 90% on the aggregator site, and is praised for its ‘delicate balance between technical wizardry and complex storytelling.’
Once again starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint as our magical adolescent heroes Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, it sees them facing a harsher world while going into their third year at Hogwarts.
Unfortunately for Harry, now aged 13, his world is turned upside down once again as he goes on a journey to uncover his mysterious past, and his links to escaped Azkaban prisoner Sirius Black, played by Gary Oldman.
And of course, the film, directed by Alfonso Cuarón, is known for featuring the incredibly ominous Dementors, the ghost-like prison guards chasing down Black, who cause a real headache for Harry throughout.
It also starred the likes of Alan Rickman as Professor Severus Snape, Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid, Michael Gambon in his first outing as Professor Dumbledore and Emma Thompson as Sybill Trelawney, the Divination teacher at Hogwarts.
Shedding light on how such dark eerieness was cast over the film, Gary Tomkins, the Senior Art Director of all the Harry Potters, told Metro.co.uk about clever tricks he used to make it look so much darker than the first two – and it was all about the set design.
‘There were lots of really cool new sets and action sequences, the Knight Bus, for example, is a very memorable thing,’ he said. ‘And it just felt like a little bit of more of a grown-up film. That was reflected in the sets and how we built them.’
As well as it being a more adult venture, it was how Hogwarts transformed for this film that really helped audiences get stuck into this deeper, edgier world.
‘The dark tone of the story and the darker tone of the film was reflected in the Hogwarts Castle miniature that we built,’ he explained.
‘We repainted it in a slightly darker tone, just to, you know, make the whole thing slightly more moody.’
Tomkins added that for this film – his favourite of the franchise – the layout of Hogwarts had to be changed to include the wooden bridge, the standing stones, Sirius Black’s prison tower, the courtyard and the grand clock.
‘Stuart Craig, our fantastic production designer, would often come up with some slight tweaks to the design that he thought would be better. And you know, that’s, that’s why it developed.
‘So there are probably no two films where Hogwarts Castle remains the same, always develops and grows.’
He then rebuffed any possible complaints about the continuity of Hogwarts from movie to movie.
‘And if anyone questions it, we say, well, this magic, of course, it changes!’
Tomkins added that predicting what the Wizarding School might have looked like when they began production would have been impossible as the books weren’t completed at that point.
‘Of course, when we started on the first film, the last few books hadn’t even been written. So we couldn’t include all the things, even if we were trying to second guess what might come up in terms of other architectural elements of Hogwarts, there was no way we could actually know what was in store for us, but it was great.
‘It kept us busy for 10 years.’
The production began on the first film in September 2000, at which point the fourth book, The Goblet of Fire, had just been released in July.
Tomkins also happily shared his fond memories about the cast members, including the late great Rickman, who lives on in the Harry Potter world as Snape.
‘I think I’m pretty sure it was on Azkaban when very often we’d be in a coffee bar at Leavesden,’ he said, referring to the Warner Brothers Studio where primary filming took place.
‘Alan Rickman would come in wearing the full sort of Snape costume makeup and almost still in character and order his coffee.’
He joked that the actor, who died in 2016, was still rather intimidating in his costume, and cast members would insist he took their space in the queue: ‘We would be all like “OK, You first, you first! I can wait!”’
He laughed, adding that there wasn’t a division between cast and crew: ‘Often you work on a film and there’s a great separation between us. And the actors are all squirrelled away in their caravans. But because we were the only film in Leavesden, all the actors knew that anyone they would bump into around the studio were people working on that film.
‘So they were quite relaxed. It’s not like they would bump into someone that would, you know, embarrassingly ask them for their autograph or something,’ he said.
Tomkins recalled that he would often find Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint borrowing supplies from the art department because, of course, they were still children during filming.
‘They had an education department within the studios. So when they were filming, they were educated a certain number of hours per day. Very often for their art homework, they’d come up to the art department we’d lend them paper and pencils and that kind of thing. ‘
He added: ‘If we could we could lend Emma Watson some colouring pencils to do her homework then that’s what we did.’
‘To see them grow from pretty young 11 or 12-year-olds, and then all the way up through to proper adults was quite amusing.’
Tomkins explained that it was like a ‘big family’ on set, adding: ‘Leavesden studios when we were filming was a kind of bubble within which it was a safe space. Everybody knew everybody else. And going back to that cliche, it was like a big family.’
The Art Director revealed that his favourite set from the third film was the Divination classroom, divulging that it was built from the same set pieces used to create the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.
‘One of my favourites is actually one of the new sets that we have, at the Warner Brothers set Leavesden for the Return to Azkaban feature, is the divination classroom. It was just an absolute delight. The amount of beautiful fabrics that Stephanie McMillan our set decorator included on it.
‘It was actually a revamp of defence against the dark arts classroom. So it’s something that we often did to save money really is revamped on set into something else and they were both in the attic space of Hogwarts.
‘So there was lots of new tiered seating put in and as I say, all of the fabrics, luscious silks and velvets that were put in it was such a colourful set, it was really quite atmospheric.’
In celebration of the Prisoner of Azkaban’s 20th birthday, the Warner Brothers Studio in Leavesden has introduced a new feature, Return to Azkaban.
Fans will now be able to see the Divination classroom set, a full cross-section of the Knight Bus’s interior and even the original antique four-poster bed used by Harry at the Leaky Cauldron.
Return to Azkaban is a special feature running fromMay 1 – September 4 at Warner Brothers Studio in Leavesden.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Cancel your plans for the weekend, because all eight Harry Potter films are now on Netflix.
We feel a little bit of spring hibernation could be on the cards because today the wonderful world of wizardry will be included in your UK and Ireland Netflix subscription.
Before this point, muggle fans could only watch the eight-part franchise if they rented or bought the films.
But now at the flick of a wand – I mean remote – Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley’s (Rupert Grint) on-screen adventures from The Philosopher’s Stone all the way through to The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2, will be available to watch whenever you like.
Obviously Potterheads are spinning at the news, and Netflix UK & Ireland are certainly milking this bit of business as they’ve even changed their Twitter bio to a quote from the film: ‘I solemnly swear I am up to no good.’
The streaming giant took to Twitter with the news, with many fans saying they were going to get on their HP marathons ASAP.
‘I might watch all the Harry Potter films within the next week,’ wrote one, while another said: ‘Know what I’m binge watching tonight.’
This comes after it was announced there is going to be a Harry Potter TV series at Max – previously HBO Max – coming to our screens.
Up Next
In a statement, Max explained: ‘The stories from each of Rowling’s Harry Potter books will become a decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love and care this global franchise is known for.
‘The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years.’
It continued: ‘Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.’
Rowling will executive produce the series with Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts.
And so as the hunt for the next Harry, Ron, and Hermione continues, why not get out some popcorn and have a marathon with the old faithfuls…
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Emma Watson was left searching in vain for a lift home on the Hogwarts Express after her car was impounded by police.
The Harry Potter star, 33, saw her £30,000 Audi A3 towed away after she left it ‘illegally’ parked in Stratford-Upon-Avon on Monday night.
It appeared the actress, who is currently studying for a part-time MA in creative writing at Oxford, had failed to clock a no parking sign and accidentally left it blocking one of the entrances to a small car parking bay.
Watson was photographed talking with officers in an attempt to free her car as it was loaded onto the back of a tow truck, in pictures obtained by MailOnline.
The Beauty and the Beast actress, who has stayed out of the spotlight more in recent years, was reportedly enjoying a night out in the nearby Rose and Crown pub before she came ‘flying out’ according to eyewitnesses as the drama unfolded.
The publication reported that Watson seemed to fail to realise she had trapped any fellow drivers in with her vehicle.
A local pizza restaurant manager – coming off a 12-hour shift – is said to have spent over three hours trying to locate the car’s driver before giving up and calling police to come and sort the matter.
Watson was seen dressed in a black overcoat and matching French beret, standing next to a male companion, as she spoke with an officer in an attempt to free her car.
However, the on-call tow-truck driver, dressed in high-visibility overalls, successfully confiscated her dark blue Audi.
She will now have to pay a fine of £192 to retrieve her car, as well as a further charge for ‘retention’ of every 24-hour period it remains in police custody. This is equal to £26 per day.
The frustrated restaurant boss, who asked not to be identified, told MailOnline that their vehicle had been trapped for nearly four hours due to the actress’s car blocking the exit.
‘Three and a half hours of searching for the driver was the last thing I needed after working a 12-hour shift,’ they added.
‘The car had parked in front of our gate which is a no-parking zone. I went into every single restaurant in the area asking if anyone owned the car.’
Having claimed that no would admit it was their car, the disgruntled employee said they were ‘forced to call the police so they would move the car and I could get out’.
‘But when the police started to tow her car away, she came flying out of the pub shouting, “That’s my car, that’s my car!”,’ they relayed to the publication.
Another onlooker said it was around 11pm that the actress rushed out to the street to try and save her car.
‘A man had come into the pub earlier to say that a blue Audi A3 had blocked the entrance to a car park.’
‘The police came first and then they called a recovery vehicle and towed it away,’ they added.
Warwickshire Police confirmed to Metro.co.uk that a blue Audi was ‘impounded and taken away’ following a report that it was ‘parked across a driveway and blocking in two cars’ on Stratford-Upon-Avon’s High Street near the junction with Sheep Street.
Watson first rose to fame as an 11-year-old with the release of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2001, in which she starred as Hermione Granger alongside Daniel Radcliffe as Harry and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley.
In recent years, following her most recent film appearance in Greta Gerwig’s 2019 version of Little Women, Watson has directed an advert for Prada, started a feminist book club and continued with her activism.
Metro.co.uk has contacted a rep for Emma Watson for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Day 13 of the championships in London saw Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova and Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur go head to head for the final of the women’s singles.
Keen to get a slice of the action, Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis, 26, was his typical charming self as he larked around with the pink tennis balls in the Evian display ahead of the match.
Wearing black trousers, grey trainers, and a padded pale blue jacket, the Bruises hitmaker was as playful as ever as he flashed a thumbs up for cameras.
His outing to Wimbledon comes after Lewis made the ‘difficult decision’ to postpone his tour shows and take a step back from performing to protect his mental and physical health.
Following an emotional Glastonbury set last month, the chart-topper decided he needed to rest as he comes to terms with the impact of his Tourette’s.
Lewis had good company at Wimbledon, though, as he was joined by Harry Potter actress Emma, 33, who looked typically chic in a white lace dress with black fabric detailing.
She added to her elegant ensemble with strappy heels and dainty jewellery.
Emma was photographed sitting next to Lewis by the court, in the ultimate crossover we never saw coming but the friendship we needed.
The pair shook hands upon first meeting, but it wasn’t long until Lewis had Emma in fits of laughter.
They also pulled some hilarious, sassy facial expressions as they took in all the tennis action.
Looking as glam as ever, the Bollywood actress, 40, sported a blue and green patterned frock and shielded her eyes with a very snazzy pair of shades.
She swept her brunette locks up into a sleek high ponytail and added a pop of colour with a vibrant pink lip.
Priyanka and her dapper Jo Bros hubby, 30, were fully engrossed in the action as they watched the drama unfold on the court.
Meanwhile, day 13 proved itself to be packed with A-listers, as Andrew Garfield was also seen.
The Spider-Man actor, 39, looked in high spirits as he laughed and joked with new pals Lin-Manuel Miranda and Vito Schnabel.
Of course, the Tick, Tick… Boom! lead looked extremely smart in a crisp beige suit paired with a cream shirt, brown tie, and some classic movie star sunnies.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Milan Fashion Week is. in full swing with celebs flocking to the Italian city to support their favourite designers including Prada darling Emma Watson.
Scarlett, 38, twinned with Emma as she also chose a flattering and elegant little black dress, this time with a cross neck design giving a peak at her ribcage tattoo.
Again her accessories consisted of dainty bracelets, some black kitten heels and a Prada handbag, keeping things monochromatic.
Benedict, 47, put his own spin on the sleek black trend, wearing black trousers – we’re sure he would have looked great in a minidress though.
The Dr Strange star mixed things up with a cream shirt that had a large art print on one side, which appeared to include flowers and a bird.
He wore a long trench coat over the look, which was again a neutral stone colour, and popped on some sunnies too.
Rounding out the Marvel crowd was Letitia, 29, who was leaning into her androgynous vibes with a brown suit.
She styled the plaid suit, buttoned up with no shirt underneath and black loafers and black sunglasses, looking effortlessly cool.
‘People love to put labels on things and I think that’s dope but I’m just really myself,’ she said earlier this month.
Media personalities Sofia Ritchie and Charli D’Amelio also were spotted at the event with Sofia flying in the face of the neutrals trend in a bright red top.
She covered this with a long wrap around coat which matched her grey suit trousers.
Dixie opted for a grey jumper over a floor length white tulle skirt with floral details – somewhat reminiscent of a wedding dress.
Ayo Edebiri, who stars in cult smash hit Bottoms, looked glam in a sleek lavender top and silky pencil skirt.
She grinned at the camera as she strolled into the show, wearing 90s sling back kitten heels and black sunglasses.
Also in attendance was Hunter Schafer, who rocked a busy peachy toned shirt and black skirt, with chunky loafers completing her business casual vibes.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Day 13 of the championships in London saw Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova and Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur go head to head for the final of the women’s singles.
Keen to get a slice of the action, Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis, 26, was his typical charming self as he larked around with the pink tennis balls in the Evian display ahead of the match.
Wearing black trousers, grey trainers, and a padded pale blue jacket, the Bruises hitmaker was as playful as ever as he flashed a thumbs up for cameras.
His outing to Wimbledon comes after Lewis made the ‘difficult decision’ to postpone his tour shows and take a step back from performing to protect his mental and physical health.
Following an emotional Glastonbury set last month, the chart-topper decided he needed to rest as he comes to terms with the impact of his Tourette’s.
Lewis had good company at Wimbledon, though, as he was joined by Harry Potter actress Emma, 33, who looked typically chic in a white lace dress with black fabric detailing.
She added to her elegant ensemble with strappy heels and dainty jewellery.
Emma was photographed sitting next to Lewis by the court, in the ultimate crossover we never saw coming but the friendship we needed.
The pair shook hands upon first meeting, but it wasn’t long until Lewis had Emma in fits of laughter.
They also pulled some hilarious, sassy facial expressions as they took in all the tennis action.
Looking as glam as ever, the Bollywood actress, 40, sported a blue and green patterned frock and shielded her eyes with a very snazzy pair of shades.
She swept her brunette locks up into a sleek high ponytail and added a pop of colour with a vibrant pink lip.
Priyanka and her dapper Jo Bros hubby, 30, were fully engrossed in the action as they watched the drama unfold on the court.
Meanwhile, day 13 proved itself to be packed with A-listers, as Andrew Garfield was also seen.
The Spider-Man actor, 39, looked in high spirits as he laughed and joked with new pals Lin-Manuel Miranda and Vito Schnabel.
Of course, the Tick, Tick… Boom! lead looked extremely smart in a crisp beige suit paired with a cream shirt, brown tie, and some classic movie star sunnies.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Stars including Jeremy Clarkson, Piers Morgan and Harry Potter actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have paid tribute to Sir Michael Gambon following the news of his death aged 82.
On Thursday it was revealed that distinguished actor Sir Michael, best known for playing the role of Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter films from 2004 to 2011, had died peacefully in hospital with his cause of death being pneumonia.
He is also known for playing French detective Jules Maigret in ITV series Maigret, and for his 1986 role as Philip Marlow in Dennis Potter’s The Singing Detective.
The news of his death was met with an outpouring of grief from fans and fellow celebrities.
Daniel Radcliffe hailed him as ‘one of the most brilliant, effortless actors’ he ever worked with as he paid tribute.
‘With the loss of Michael Gambon the world just became considerably less fun,’ 34-year-old Radcliffe said in a statement.
‘Michael Gambon was one of the most brilliant, effortless actors I’ve ever had the privilege of working with, but despite his immense talent, the thing I will remember most about him is how much fun he had doing his job.’
He described Sir Michael as ‘silly, irreverent and hilarious’, as well as ‘an incredible story and joke teller’.
‘His habit of blurring the lines of fact and fiction when talking to journalists meant that he was also one of the most entertaining people with whom you could ever wish to do a press junket,’ Radcliffe added.
‘The sixth film was where I got to spend the most time working with Michael and he made the hours spent in front of a green screen together more memorable and joyous than they had any right to be. I’m so sad to hear he has passed, but I am so grateful for the fact that I am one of the lucky people who got to work with him.’
Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, expressed his sorrow over losing a ‘personal role model’ in Sir Michael.
‘So sad to hear about Michael.’ he began. ‘He brought so much warmth and mischief to every day on set. He captivated me as a kid and became a personal role model of mine for finding the fun and eccentricities in life. Sending all my love to his family, Rupert.’
Meanwhile, Hermione star Watson wrote on her Instagram stories: ‘Kind kind kind Michael Gambon.
‘You never took it too seriously but somehow delivered the most serious moments with all the gravitas.
‘Thank you for showing us what it looks like to wear greatness lightly. We will miss you.’
Former Top Gear host Clarkson also paid tribute to the legendary actor on X, formerly known as Twitter.
‘I’m so sad to hear that Michael Gambon has died. He was hugely amusing, and such a tremendous guest, we even named a corner after him,’ he said, referencingan iconic episode of Top Gear where the actor was the ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’.
The episode saw Sir Michael nearly flip over a Suzuki Liana at the final corner, and it has been named Gambon Corner ever since.
Morgan also recalled a hilarious exchange he once had with the late star.
His tweet read: ‘RIP Michael Gambon, 82. A true acting great. He once told me: “All I’ve ever wanted to do was act – but these modern celebrities want a quick buck with no talent or hard work required. It’s awful.”
‘”What would you call this type of person?” I asked. “I’d call them a cretin”.’
Fred Weasley actor James Phelps emotionally recalled a time Sir Michael helped him recite lines for a project.
Afshan Azad, who played Padma Patil in Harry Potter, called Sir Michael an ‘icon’ and ‘legend’ writing: ‘What an absolute honour to say I shared the same room and screen as you for many years.’
Percy Weasley actor Chris Rankin added: ‘Sad to hear we’ve lost the great Michael Gambon.’
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling also took to X to pay tribute, writing: ‘I’ve just heard the awful news about Michael Gambon.
‘The first time I ever laid eyes on him was in King Lear, in 1982, and if you’d told me then that brilliant actor would appear in anything I’d written, I’d have thought you were insane.
‘Michael was a wonderful man in additional to being an outstanding actor, and I absolutely loved working with him, not only on Potter but also The Casual Vacancy.
‘My deepest condolences go to Michael’s family and everyone who loved him.’
Jason Isaacs, who played villain Lucius Malfoy in the wizarding franchise also paid his respects.
‘Magnificent Michael Gambon has died,’ he wrote on X.
‘I learned what acting could be from Michael in The Singing Detective – complex, vulnerable and utterly human. The greatest thrill of being in the Potter films was that he knew my name and shared his fearless, filthy sense of fun with me.’
Sir Michael took over the role of Dumbledore from Richard Harris, who died after the second film. Now, Harris’ son Jared Harris, who is also an actor, has also paid tribute.
‘A brilliant actor,’ he wrote. ‘I saw him on stage several times, and he lives unforgettably in my memory. He took over Dumbledore from my father, which was fitting as he over took Brando as my father’s favourite actor.’
Fiona Shaw, who played Harry Potter’s aunt Petunia Dursley in the films, told Radio 4: ‘I will remember him because he was also a gun maker – he could make guns, he always said he could fool the V&A (Museum) into believing that they were 18th century guns.
‘So I will think of him as a trickster, just brilliant, magnificent trickster, but with text, there was nothing like him – he could do anything.’
‘He took over from Richard Harris (as Albus Dumbledore) and of course, he began to mimic Richard Harris, who had recently died, and he would do his accent, the slight Irish accent.
‘Which of course he always loved having an excuse to do because his family had come from Ireland, and gone to live in Camden.
‘He just loved the precariousness of reality and unreality and, of course, that made him a very great actor.
‘He did once say to me in a car, “I know I go on a lot about this and that, but actually in the end, there is only acting.”
‘I think he was always pretending that he didn’t take it seriously, but he took it profoundly seriously, I think.’
Comedian David Baddiel tweeted: ‘First time I ever went to see any Theatre with a capital T it was Michael Gambon in Brecht’s Life Of Galileo at The National in 1980. It’s still the best stage acting I’ve ever seen. RIP.’
A message shared on Doctor Who’s official Twitter page read: ‘We’re sad to report the passing of Sir Michael Gambon, who appeared in A Christmas Carol in 2010.’
Singer Katherine Jenkins – who starred alongside Sir Michael in A Christmas Carol –also remembered the legendary actor, as she posted a picture of them together.
‘My dear Kazran! My first acting role was opposite Sir Michael Gambon in the Doctor Who Christmas Special,’ she wrote.
‘He couldn’t have been kinder, calmer and more supportive. Today we have lost the loveliest of legends.’
Withnail and I actor Richard E Grant also took to social media to share what looked to be a personal photo he took of the late actor, and wrote: ‘Sir Michael Gambon – THE GREAT GAMBON.’
Born in Dublin before moving to London as a child with his family, Sir Michael first qualified as an engineering technician before switching his focus to a career on the stage.
Starting his acting career with Laurence Olivier as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre, over his six-decade-long career Sir Michael received three Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four Bafta Awards.
In 1999, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to drama.
A statement issued on behalf of his widow Lady Gambon and son Fergus Gambon confirmed the news of his death earlier today.
‘We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon,’ it read. ‘Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia.’
Sir Michael leaves behind partner Phillipa Hart, as well as three children.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
I don’t know what’s worse: a young actress revealing the extent of sexualisation she’s become an increasingly larger victim of, or that I’m no longer surprised by such revelations.
Am I a monster, or am I exhausted?
The public, and the media – no two ways about it – has been pretty creepy towards young female stars for eons now and while I don’t have the answers as to how we make it stop (even as someone who’s a member of aforementioned media), I can at least use this platform to try to call out how insidious this kind of attitude towards young women is and how it threatens all of us – not just the famous.
And yes, before you ‘what about’ me on the subject, people are also dodgy towards young men in the public eye. We only need to see previous treatment of Millie Bobby Brown’s Stranger Things co-star Finn Woldhard to know that is definitely a thing.
But there is a systemic issue in the treatment of young women – with women in minority communities, as well as those in the LGBT community subjected to this on top of bigoted discrimination and prejudice – and that is why I’ve gathered you here today.
After being sexualised as a young teen rising to fame in the evidently seedy world of showbusiness, and previously opening up about it when she turned 16, Millie this week spoke about how much worse the interest got when she recently turned 18.
‘[It’s] really overwhelming. I have definitely been dealing with that more in the last couple weeks of turning 18,’ she said on the Guilty Feminist podcast.
‘[I’m] definitely seeing a difference between the way people act and the way the press and social media react to me coming of age. It’s gross.’
Long before she turned 18, the star – who was cast as Eleven in Stranger Things in 2016 at the age of 12 – was being sexualised online, with comments lobbed her way, such as those from armchair critics who suggested she was dressing ‘too grown up’.
Then, the forums began to pop up.
One such included an 18+ Reddit chat that counted down to the star’s birthday, was teased as ‘NSFW’ and was to ‘unlock’ only when she reached the milestone age. I s**t you not.
Disgustingly, a description of the page, shared in another forum, read: ‘[It’s] to post sexual pictures of her the day she turns 18. It’s a sub solely dedicated to sexual pictures of Millie, who is currently a minor, until next week but they have a sub prepared already with thousands of subscribers.’
Yes, there were people actually waiting until it was ‘legal’ for them to post sexual pictures of her. This is apparently a thing that happens to female stars when they turn 18, with similar websites popping up ahead of the Olsen twins’ birthday back in the day.
Millie’s not the first to speak about this level of crude sexualisation, with former child star Mara Wilson revealing before she was out of middle school, she was ‘featured on foot fetish websites, photoshopped into child porn, and received all kinds of letters and messages online from grown men’.
Emma Watson was also a victim of this, after upskirting shots of her were published in mainstream media the day she turned 18, which would have been illegal only 24 hours prior.
It’s a sad reflection on society when these sorts of revelations, which *should* raise all sorts of alarm bells that lead to meaningful change, just don’t shock me anymore.
Is it because, as a young female myself, I’ve been exposed to this sort of thing, be it directly to me, or in my general sphere, for nearly two decades now? As a woman, am I both horrified but also, wildly desensitised? Has society got me so down I’ve simply given up?
God, I hope not.
We’ve probably all subconsciously shared sentiments about stars like Millie such as ‘wow, she’s so grown up now’, which, at the time, might not intend to come from a predatory place, but when you think about the fact we’re still commenting on a teenage girl’s body, or what she’s wearing, it’s pretty bloody creepy, isn’t it? So while you may think I’m bleating on about something that you don’t see as a problem, it really is.
Even under a story of the star’s remarks about being sexualised, I saw a comment remarking how Millie’s ‘kid-teen’ looks were ‘long gone’. We just can’t help ourselves, can we?
Again for the cheap seats at the back, whether it’s positive, or from a place of support, just because these women are famous does not make their bodies public domain. If they’re not yet 18, it *really* bloody doesn’t make their bodies public domain. Keep comments to self, people.
Heard of the Lolita Effect? It’s a term coined in a 2008 book by Meenakshi Gigi Durham, derived from Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Lolita, which is all about a middle-aged professor becoming obsessed with a 12-year-old girl, and refers to the media sexualisation of girls, as well as the blame that can be put on them for their part in abuse or harassment that girls face.
Lolita was published in 1955, remember. So we’ve clearly not learned any lessons here, and the internet, a haven of gross, is just giving this Lolita energy a place to expand.
Plus, to rub salt into the wounds, even when their bodies are not treated as theirs – when they’re objectified, when older men in boardrooms make decisions about the ‘image’ they’re going to publicly portray, when they’re hacked and nude photos of them are leaked online, it’s still seen as their fault. How many female stars have been forced to apologise for the sexualisation of their own bodies that they did not consent to. Isn’t that wild?
Perhaps it’s because we’ve seen what happens when these young stars don’t bend to the whim of the powers that be – they’re cast aside. The ol’ adage of sex sells has never rung more true, it matters not to the executives whether the starlet is of age, and that mentality is clearly passed own to the consumers and baying fans.
But if we continue to allow this sort of behaviour and conversation fester in the comments of Instagram posts and remain unchecked in Reddit forums, we’re only allowing that weed to grow when discussing non-famous women.
By shrugging off Millie’s comments as ‘what you get for being famous’ it’s merely justifying that rhetoric to be weaponised against ourselves. And huns, we’re not about that life.
Well look at that, I’m not feeling so exhausted any more: let’s rage.
Emma Watson shared a heartfelt message to an inspirational autistic fan, who is a huge fan of Harry Potter.
The Hermione Granger actor appeared on Friday’s The Late Late Toy Show, the annual special of the long-running chat show, which showcases the popular toys of the year, on RTE via a video link to speak to Caitriona Kalogeraki, 10.
Caitriona, who raises awareness of autism, was completely taken aback when the Little Women star popped up while testing out Hogwarts-themed games.
Sat in front of some jazzy curtains in the clip, Emma, 32, said: ‘I wanted to send you a message to thank you for all you do to spread awareness around Autism and for speaking about it so eloquently and in a way that empowers and educates other young people.’
‘Thank you for picking me as your favourite Harry Potter character.
‘You seem like such an amazing and special young woman. I’ve heard that you can solve a Rubik’s cube in a crazy amount of time. I am sending all the best and a warm hello from London.’
Caitriona, whose jaw dropped, looked absolutely thrilled to be receiving the message from The Perks of Being a Wallflower performer.
After the message, Caitriona shared: ‘So I have this thing called autism, I don’t think of it as superpower.
‘I think of it as an ability. It’s actually classified as a disability but I think it’s more of an ability.
‘I get emotional, I cry a lot at school but it’s also really cool because I get really happy and I love being Autistic.
‘I just want to say a message for kids out there, if you are neurodivergent and just feel different, I just want to say that you are so so special and you are amazing.’
‘Acting is an escapism for me. I feel free and understood when playing characters when, most of the time, I felt misunderstood as Bradley. I am so happy that I can show autistic people that they aren’t alone and that they aren’t invisible – they are beautiful and magical,’ Bradley said.
His character James isn’t autistic – or at least, it hasn’t been publicly revealed yet – but as Bradley says, there’s certainly scope for it to happen.
The Late Late Show airs Fridays at 9.35pm on RTE One.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Emma Watson fuelled speculation she was back with her ex-boyfriend Brendan Wallace after the former couple were spotted in the crowd at Taylor Swift’s Las Vegas concert.
The 32-year-old Harry Potter actress was previously linked to the entrepreneur in 2018 when they were snapped locking lips during a Mexican getaway.
Pictures of the potential couple circulated social media and showed Emma and Brendan smiling away as they bopped to the pop princess’s famous hits.
Brendan is a co-founder and managing partner of a venture capital fund called Fifth Wall Ventures according to his LinkedIn page and focuses ‘on technologies for the global real estate industry, including those which decarbonize the sector’.
In images shared on Twitter, the British star was seen wearing an oversized beige shearling jacket over the top of a black round neck sweater.
She donned minimal makeup and let her short tresses hang loose around her shoulders.
Her suspected lover kept it casual in a blue dress shirt which he wore unbuttoned over the top of a turquoise t-shirt and black jeans.
Emma has previously been linked to co-star and fellow actor Tom Felton, 35.
The star regularly praised the new author of Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard and admitted he was ‘one of the purest loves’.
She wrote in the introduction to Tom’s book release: ‘When we first met, I was a moody and probably rather annoying nine-year-old girl who followed him round like a puppy, desperate for his attention.
‘But, as he has written so eloquently, beautifully, and generously in this book, our friendship didn’t end there. Thank goodness it blossomed and endured.
‘Like Tom, I always struggle to explain to people the nature of our connection and relationship. For more than twenty years now, we’ve loved each other in a special way.
‘It’s one of the purest loves I can think of. We’re soulmates, and we’ve always had each other’s backs. I know we always will. It makes me emotional to think about it’.
Emma and Tom were both part of the wizard franchise written by JK Rowling and starred in the much-loved films from the very beginning.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Emma Watson and Philip Green’s son Brandon have reportedly called time on their ‘serious’ relationship.
The Harry Potter actress, 33, first sparked rumours she was dating Brandon after they were pictured disembarking from a helicopter in Battersea, London in 2021.
While the Little Women star and the tech investments company founder never confirmed their romance, they have been spotted holding hands on dates, including during a Venice getaway.
Their 18-month relationship was described as ‘serious’ by a source with both of them meeting each other’s parents.
However, the insider has now claimed to the Daily Mail Emma and Brandon, 29, decided to part ways around Christmas time.
In March, Emma sparked rumours she had reunited with her ex-boyfriend Brendan Wallace after they were spotted at a Taylor Swift concert in Las Vegas.
She was previously linked to the entrepreneur in 2018 when they were snapped locking lips during a romantic break in Mexico.
The UN ambassador was also formerly in a relationship with Californian businessman Leo Robinton, who she dated from 2019 until 2021.
Her other exes include Glee star Chord Overstreet, while she was also linked to Harry Potter co-star Tom Felton.
The star regularly praised the new author of Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard and admitted he was ‘one of the purest loves’.
She wrote in the introduction to Tom’s book release: ‘When we first met, I was a moody and probably rather annoying nine-year-old girl who followed him round like a puppy, desperate for his attention.
‘But, as he has written so eloquently, beautifully, and generously in this book, our friendship didn’t end there. Thank goodness it blossomed and endured.
‘Like Tom, I always struggle to explain to people the nature of our connection and relationship. For more than twenty years now, we’ve loved each other in a special way.
‘It’s one of the purest loves I can think of. We’re soulmates, and we’ve always had each other’s backs. I know we always will. It makes me emotional to think about it’.
When Emma was single around her 30th birthday, she famously coined the phrase ‘self-partnered.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted Emma’s reps for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Rebel Wilson, Kit Connor, Emma Corrin, Yasmin Finney, Joe Lycett and Becky Hill are among the nominees.
Hosted by TV personality Sue Perkins, the awards – sponsored by Macquarie – will bring together some of the biggest names from media and entertainment.
It will also gather some of the country’s biggest businesses for a major night celebrating LGBT+ achievements.
‘The British LGBT Awards just gets bigger every year,’ said founder Sarah Garrett MBE.
‘It really has become a staple event for the LGBT+ community and gives us an opportunity to celebrate the many successes and achievements within our community but most importantly this event shows young people who may be struggling with their sexuality that being lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender is not a barrier to success.
‘The British LGBT Award involves the public on a huge scale, the public decides the nominees and the winners.
‘It is incredible that so many people get involved. Friday’s event is set to be really special – Sue Perkins is returning as host and there are going to be some fantastic moments.
Ahead of the event on Friday, which is being supported by Metro, here are six things to expect:
1. LGBT+ celebrities out in force
Organisers are promising a night packed with celebrity guests.
Not only is Sue Perkins hosting but stars including musician Olly Alexander, comedian Julian Clary, TV presenter Rylan Clark, Britain’s Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli, boxing legend Nicola Adams and music icons Holly Johnson and Andy Bell are all expected to be in attendance.
O’Grady was known for support of a number of charitable campaigns including those which help people living with HIV and AIDS.
The British LGBT Awards is planning a special tribute to the man himself.
3. LGBT+ allies showing support
The British LGBT Awards annually celebrates allies of the community with a special award.
Michelle Visage, Harry Styles, Alison Hammond, Emma Watson and Katherine Ryan are all in the running for the Celebrity Ally of the Year gong.
Celebs such as Lorraine Kelly, Denise Welch, Roman Kemp and Shirley Ballas are also expected to attend and show their support.
4. Brand and businesses will be recognised
Some of the country’s best-loved brands and businesses are also in the running for awards for demonstrating their commitment to inclusivity and the LGBT+ community.
BOOTS, Gymshark, Virgin Atltanic and The AA are amongst those vying for in the Brand or Marketing Campaign category.
The hotly contested prize is decided by the British LGBT Awards expert judging panel which includes distinguished names from business and the media.
5. Big name winners
HRH Prince William, former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, pop queen Kylie Minogue, Caitlyn Jenner and Ru Paul are just some of the big name winners to bag a British LGBT Award in recent years.
Organisers are tight lipped on this year’s recipients but it is expected that there will be some surprise star guests taking home accolades on the night.
6. Show-stopping after party
There have been big name DJ performances and celebrities partying into the small honours at the legendary British LGBT Awards after party over the years and it is set to be no different on Friday.
With the event taking place in the middle of Pride month, expect camp classics and a packed dance floor as nominees and winners celebrate their success ‘at Britain’s own gay Oscars’.
Emma Watson hit the red carpet alongside her brother Alex at this year’s Soho House Awards and the love between them is real.
The Harry Potter star, 33, and her sibling, 30, linked arms as they arrived at the event in a rare public appearance.
They were among guests at the star-studded event at Dumbo House in New York which ‘recognises and spotlights the incredible work of creative talents across our membership: from established icons to future stars, undiscovered changemakers and all of those in between,’ according to the luxury club.
Emma was the epitome of elegance in a plunging silver fringed top with a sheer, pastel maxi skirt and matching purse.
She wore her hair in an updo which highlighted her glittering earrings used to accessorise.
Alex, meanwhile, looked suave in a dark blue suit and black round-neck T-shirt as he beamed for photos alongside his sister.
Earlier this year, the Little Women actor opened up on the close relationship she has with her brother, who also appeared in the Harry Potter films as an unnamed Hufflepuff student.
In an Instagram post reflecting on her life celebrating her 33rd birthday, Emma credited Alex with helping her ‘find the most challenging things, with time, incredibly funny.’
In July, the siblings joined forces to launch their own gin brand, Renais, inspired by family trips to the Chablis vineyard in France during their childhood.
Emma said in a statement: ‘To me, Renais is a family project, not only does the Chablis region evoke very special memories of growing up, I’ve loved having the opportunity to create something with my brother Alex.
‘I’m particularly proud of upcycling grapes from vineyards (including my dad’s) to reduce waste and create something new, being one of the only gins on the market using mushroom packaging, and our carbon-neutral product status.
‘We will continue to challenge ourselves as much as possible here because this is such a passion of mine.’
Rumours began swirling that she was dating Brandon after they were pictured disembarking from a helicopter in Battersea, London in 2021.
However, an insider claimed to the Daily Mail Emma and Brandon, 29, decided to part ways around Christmas time after it was alleged in March she had reunited with her ex-boyfriend Brendan Wallace after they were spotted at a Taylor Swift concert in Las Vegas.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Stars including Jeremy Clarkson, Piers Morgan and Harry Potter actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have paid tribute to Sir Michael Gambon following the news of his death aged 82.
On Thursday it was revealed that distinguished actor Sir Michael, best known for playing the role of Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter films from 2004 to 2011, had died peacefully in hospital with his cause of death being pneumonia.
He is also known for playing French detective Jules Maigret in ITV series Maigret, and for his 1986 role as Philip Marlow in Dennis Potter’s The Singing Detective.
The news of his death was met with an outpouring of grief from fans and fellow celebrities.
Daniel Radcliffe hailed him as ‘one of the most brilliant, effortless actors’ he ever worked with as he paid tribute.
‘With the loss of Michael Gambon the world just became considerably less fun,’ 34-year-old Radcliffe said in a statement.
‘Michael Gambon was one of the most brilliant, effortless actors I’ve ever had the privilege of working with, but despite his immense talent, the thing I will remember most about him is how much fun he had doing his job.’
He described Sir Michael as ‘silly, irreverent and hilarious’, as well as ‘an incredible story and joke teller’.
‘His habit of blurring the lines of fact and fiction when talking to journalists meant that he was also one of the most entertaining people with whom you could ever wish to do a press junket,’ Radcliffe added.
‘The sixth film was where I got to spend the most time working with Michael and he made the hours spent in front of a green screen together more memorable and joyous than they had any right to be. I’m so sad to hear he has passed, but I am so grateful for the fact that I am one of the lucky people who got to work with him.’
Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, expressed his sorrow over losing a ‘personal role model’ in Sir Michael.
‘So sad to hear about Michael.’ he began. ‘He brought so much warmth and mischief to every day on set. He captivated me as a kid and became a personal role model of mine for finding the fun and eccentricities in life. Sending all my love to his family, Rupert.’
Meanwhile, Hermione star Watson wrote on her Instagram stories: ‘Kind kind kind Michael Gambon.
‘You never took it too seriously but somehow delivered the most serious moments with all the gravitas.
‘Thank you for showing us what it looks like to wear greatness lightly. We will miss you.’
Former Top Gear host Clarkson also paid tribute to the legendary actor on X, formerly known as Twitter.
‘I’m so sad to hear that Michael Gambon has died. He was hugely amusing, and such a tremendous guest, we even named a corner after him,’ he said, referencingan iconic episode of Top Gear where the actor was the ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’.
The episode saw Sir Michael nearly flip over a Suzuki Liana at the final corner, and it has been named Gambon Corner ever since.
Morgan also recalled a hilarious exchange he once had with the late star.
His tweet read: ‘RIP Michael Gambon, 82. A true acting great. He once told me: “All I’ve ever wanted to do was act – but these modern celebrities want a quick buck with no talent or hard work required. It’s awful.”
‘”What would you call this type of person?” I asked. “I’d call them a cretin”.’
Fred Weasley actor James Phelps emotionally recalled a time Sir Michael helped him recite lines for a project.
Afshan Azad, who played Padma Patil in Harry Potter, called Sir Michael an ‘icon’ and ‘legend’ writing: ‘What an absolute honour to say I shared the same room and screen as you for many years.’
Percy Weasley actor Chris Rankin added: ‘Sad to hear we’ve lost the great Michael Gambon.’
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling also took to X to pay tribute, writing: ‘I’ve just heard the awful news about Michael Gambon.
‘The first time I ever laid eyes on him was in King Lear, in 1982, and if you’d told me then that brilliant actor would appear in anything I’d written, I’d have thought you were insane.
‘Michael was a wonderful man in additional to being an outstanding actor, and I absolutely loved working with him, not only on Potter but also The Casual Vacancy.
‘My deepest condolences go to Michael’s family and everyone who loved him.’
Jason Isaacs, who played villain Lucius Malfoy in the wizarding franchise also paid his respects.
‘Magnificent Michael Gambon has died,’ he wrote on X.
‘I learned what acting could be from Michael in The Singing Detective – complex, vulnerable and utterly human. The greatest thrill of being in the Potter films was that he knew my name and shared his fearless, filthy sense of fun with me.’
Sir Michael took over the role of Dumbledore from Richard Harris, who died after the second film. Now, Harris’ son Jared Harris, who is also an actor, has also paid tribute.
‘A brilliant actor,’ he wrote. ‘I saw him on stage several times, and he lives unforgettably in my memory. He took over Dumbledore from my father, which was fitting as he over took Brando as my father’s favourite actor.’
Fiona Shaw, who played Harry Potter’s aunt Petunia Dursley in the films, told Radio 4: ‘I will remember him because he was also a gun maker – he could make guns, he always said he could fool the V&A (Museum) into believing that they were 18th century guns.
‘So I will think of him as a trickster, just brilliant, magnificent trickster, but with text, there was nothing like him – he could do anything.’
‘He took over from Richard Harris (as Albus Dumbledore) and of course, he began to mimic Richard Harris, who had recently died, and he would do his accent, the slight Irish accent.
‘Which of course he always loved having an excuse to do because his family had come from Ireland, and gone to live in Camden.
‘He just loved the precariousness of reality and unreality and, of course, that made him a very great actor.
‘He did once say to me in a car, “I know I go on a lot about this and that, but actually in the end, there is only acting.”
‘I think he was always pretending that he didn’t take it seriously, but he took it profoundly seriously, I think.’
Comedian David Baddiel tweeted: ‘First time I ever went to see any Theatre with a capital T it was Michael Gambon in Brecht’s Life Of Galileo at The National in 1980. It’s still the best stage acting I’ve ever seen. RIP.’
A message shared on Doctor Who’s official Twitter page read: ‘We’re sad to report the passing of Sir Michael Gambon, who appeared in A Christmas Carol in 2010.’
Singer Katherine Jenkins – who starred alongside Sir Michael in A Christmas Carol –also remembered the legendary actor, as she posted a picture of them together.
‘My dear Kazran! My first acting role was opposite Sir Michael Gambon in the Doctor Who Christmas Special,’ she wrote.
‘He couldn’t have been kinder, calmer and more supportive. Today we have lost the loveliest of legends.’
Withnail and I actor Richard E Grant also took to social media to share what looked to be a personal photo he took of the late actor, and wrote: ‘Sir Michael Gambon – THE GREAT GAMBON.’
Born in Dublin before moving to London as a child with his family, Sir Michael first qualified as an engineering technician before switching his focus to a career on the stage.
Starting his acting career with Laurence Olivier as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre, over his six-decade-long career Sir Michael received three Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four Bafta Awards.
In 1999, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to drama.
A statement issued on behalf of his widow Lady Gambon and son Fergus Gambon confirmed the news of his death earlier today.
‘We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon,’ it read. ‘Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia.’
Sir Michael leaves behind partner Phillipa Hart, as well as three children.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Days after garnering backlash for a long thread misgendering transwomen, she has given her thoughts on the long-awaited Cass Review.
Rowling praised the findings of the report commissioned by NHS England in 2020 and looked at gender identity services for under-18s.
The overarching findings of the 388-page report conducted by Dr Hilary Cass stated that children had been ‘let down’ thus far by a failure to base gender care on evidence-based research.
While tweeting her approval of Cass’ findings, Rowling responded to someone asking her if she could ever ‘forgive’ the former Harry Potter stars who have spoken in support of trans rights.
‘Just waiting for Dan and Emma to give you a very public apology … safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them …’ wrote X user Adam Harris, who describes himself as a ‘Far Right Hooligan’.
‘Not safe, I’m afraid,’ quipped the 58-year-old author in response amid a thread praising the review and calling the trans rights movement a ‘scandal’.
She continued: ‘Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces.’
Harry Potter’s leading man Radcliffe, 34, has worked extensively with the Trevor Project in recent years, supporting trans youths, and in his own words is ‘learning to be a better ally’.
He rarely addresses Rowling’s comments but in 2020, the Miracle Workers star made his feelings incredibly clear as he wrote: ‘Transgender women are women.
‘Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.’
Meanwhile, shortly after Radcliffe’s statement was shared, Hermione Granger actress Watson also tweeted her support for trans rights.
‘Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are,’ she wrote.
The Beauty and the Beast star continued: ‘I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.’
Neither actor has publicly said anything against Rowling herself or criticised her directly. In fact, Radcliffe previously acknowledged that the writer is ‘unquestionably responsible’ for the course of his life.
The Weird Al actor added: ‘If you found anything in [Harry Potter] that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life — then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred.
‘In my opinion nobody can touch that. It means to you what it means to you and I hope that these comments will not taint that too much.’
Many LGBTQ+ fans of the franchise have turned their back on the franchise which shaped much of millennials and Gen Zs’ childhood.
Radcliffe and Watson last starred in Harry Potter in 2011 with final film The Deathly Hallows Part 2 and have distanced from the franchise since.
They both returned for the 20th anniversary documentary along with other stars. However, Rowling was not present.
Metro.co.uk has reached out to Radcliffe and Watson’s reps for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
One of the singer’s new songs, Holding On (stylised as hOLDing On) has been met with criticism from fans who were surprised to hear his vocals and interesting choice of lyrics in this piece.
The song, which was released on April 28, has now gone viral on TikTok as fans have rushed to social media to share their reactions.
@eehyunseo defended the musician but couldn’t defend his song, commenting:‘I’m a fan of tom felton, but WTF is this😭😭.’
Another fan, @sophsexton2, added: ‘I LOVE Tom Felton but this is painful.’
In the song, Tom, 36, could be heard calling himself ‘just a boy on a skateboard’ and saying: ‘I’ll still make your heart skip now like you were 17,’ leading some to believe that he could be referencing Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in Harry Potter.
@idnyag speculated: ‘I find that line interesting because Emma Watson describes him like that when she talks about when they were younger and she had a crush on him.’
Fans mocked the actor’s choice of lyrics as he chose to say ‘fudge’ instead of the word ‘f**k’.
La.lxxe commented: ‘I” will fudge this thing up” 😭😭 I had to rewind to see if I was hearing that correctly.’
@walmart_hawkeye also commented: ‘”I will fudge this thing up” HOW DOES IT KEEP GETTING WORSE.’
@tierneyyy commented: ‘Fudge.. is he 12 years old.’
Although the majority of fan reviews weren’t exactly positive, many were loyal and defended the Rise of the Planet of the Apes actor.
‘No actually I wont take tom felton music slander have u HEARD hawaii, blue skies and we belong😭 slaps every time idc,’ commented @starrytarry444.
@Katt.noir chipped in to add: ‘The thing is he knows he isn’t the best but he does it anyway simply because he enjoys it. and that’s what we should be doing in life, even if you aren’t good at something don’t let it discourage you.’
Since Harry Potter concluded in 2011, the actor has notably appeared in Ophelia and The Forgotten Battle.
The star has released several songs over the years, including Hawaii in 2011 and Father of Mine in 2009, which were hits with die-hard fans.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Twenty years ago, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released and fans were absolutely blown away by the third film in the hit franchise.
Much like the book, the film marked a notable change within the Wizarding World, filling a darker and more adult space.
Fans lapped it up and it has since become revered as one of the best of the series, coming only in second place to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Azkaban has a very respectable 90% on the aggregator site, and is praised for its ‘delicate balance between technical wizardry and complex storytelling.’
Once again starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint as our magical adolescent heroes Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, it sees them facing a harsher world while going into their third year at Hogwarts.
Unfortunately for Harry, now aged 13, his world is turned upside down once again as he goes on a journey to uncover his mysterious past, and his links to escaped Azkaban prisoner Sirius Black, played by Gary Oldman.
And of course, the film, directed by Alfonso Cuarón, is known for featuring the incredibly ominous Dementors, the ghost-like prison guards chasing down Black, who cause a real headache for Harry throughout.
It also starred the likes of Alan Rickman as Professor Severus Snape, Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid, Michael Gambon in his first outing as Professor Dumbledore and Emma Thompson as Sybill Trelawney, the Divination teacher at Hogwarts.
Shedding light on how such dark eerieness was cast over the film, Gary Tomkins, the Senior Art Director of all the Harry Potters, told Metro.co.uk about clever tricks he used to make it look so much darker than the first two – and it was all about the set design.
‘There were lots of really cool new sets and action sequences, the Knight Bus, for example, is a very memorable thing,’ he said. ‘And it just felt like a little bit of more of a grown-up film. That was reflected in the sets and how we built them.’
As well as it being a more adult venture, it was how Hogwarts transformed for this film that really helped audiences get stuck into this deeper, edgier world.
‘The dark tone of the story and the darker tone of the film was reflected in the Hogwarts Castle miniature that we built,’ he explained.
‘We repainted it in a slightly darker tone, just to, you know, make the whole thing slightly more moody.’
Tomkins added that for this film – his favourite of the franchise – the layout of Hogwarts had to be changed to include the wooden bridge, the standing stones, Sirius Black’s prison tower, the courtyard and the grand clock.
‘Stuart Craig, our fantastic production designer, would often come up with some slight tweaks to the design that he thought would be better. And you know, that’s, that’s why it developed.
‘So there are probably no two films where Hogwarts Castle remains the same, always develops and grows.’
He then rebuffed any possible complaints about the continuity of Hogwarts from movie to movie.
‘And if anyone questions it, we say, well, this magic, of course, it changes!’
Tomkins added that predicting what the Wizarding School might have looked like when they began production would have been impossible as the books weren’t completed at that point.
‘Of course, when we started on the first film, the last few books hadn’t even been written. So we couldn’t include all the things, even if we were trying to second guess what might come up in terms of other architectural elements of Hogwarts, there was no way we could actually know what was in store for us, but it was great.
‘It kept us busy for 10 years.’
The production began on the first film in September 2000, at which point the fourth book, The Goblet of Fire, had just been released in July.
Tomkins also happily shared his fond memories about the cast members, including the late great Rickman, who lives on in the Harry Potter world as Snape.
‘I think I’m pretty sure it was on Azkaban when very often we’d be in a coffee bar at Leavesden,’ he said, referring to the Warner Brothers Studio where primary filming took place.
‘Alan Rickman would come in wearing the full sort of Snape costume makeup and almost still in character and order his coffee.’
He joked that the actor, who died in 2016, was still rather intimidating in his costume, and cast members would insist he took their space in the queue: ‘We would be all like “OK, You first, you first! I can wait!”’
He laughed, adding that there wasn’t a division between cast and crew: ‘Often you work on a film and there’s a great separation between us. And the actors are all squirrelled away in their caravans. But because we were the only film in Leavesden, all the actors knew that anyone they would bump into around the studio were people working on that film.
‘So they were quite relaxed. It’s not like they would bump into someone that would, you know, embarrassingly ask them for their autograph or something,’ he said.
Tomkins recalled that he would often find Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint borrowing supplies from the art department because, of course, they were still children during filming.
‘They had an education department within the studios. So when they were filming, they were educated a certain number of hours per day. Very often for their art homework, they’d come up to the art department we’d lend them paper and pencils and that kind of thing. ‘
He added: ‘If we could we could lend Emma Watson some colouring pencils to do her homework then that’s what we did.’
‘To see them grow from pretty young 11 or 12-year-olds, and then all the way up through to proper adults was quite amusing.’
Tomkins explained that it was like a ‘big family’ on set, adding: ‘Leavesden studios when we were filming was a kind of bubble within which it was a safe space. Everybody knew everybody else. And going back to that cliche, it was like a big family.’
The Art Director revealed that his favourite set from the third film was the Divination classroom, divulging that it was built from the same set pieces used to create the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.
‘One of my favourites is actually one of the new sets that we have, at the Warner Brothers set Leavesden for the Return to Azkaban feature, is the divination classroom. It was just an absolute delight. The amount of beautiful fabrics that Stephanie McMillan our set decorator included on it.
‘It was actually a revamp of defence against the dark arts classroom. So it’s something that we often did to save money really is revamped on set into something else and they were both in the attic space of Hogwarts.
‘So there was lots of new tiered seating put in and as I say, all of the fabrics, luscious silks and velvets that were put in it was such a colourful set, it was really quite atmospheric.’
In celebration of the Prisoner of Azkaban’s 20th birthday, the Warner Brothers Studio in Leavesden has introduced a new feature, Return to Azkaban.
Fans will now be able to see the Divination classroom set, a full cross-section of the Knight Bus’s interior and even the original antique four-poster bed used by Harry at the Leaky Cauldron.
Return to Azkaban is a special feature running fromMay 1 – September 4 at Warner Brothers Studio in Leavesden.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.