"If we turn our heads and look away and hope that it will all disappear then they will - all of them, an entire generation of people. And we will have only history left to judge us."
Goblet of Fire Article:
Julie Walters will not be in film
SHE IS unquestionably one of the nation's best-loved actresses but the effervescent Julie Walters has been snubbed by the makers of the fourth Harry Potter film. The Educating Rita star played Molly Weasley - the congenial mother of Harry's best friend Ron - in the first three wizard flicks, based on JK Rowling's best-selling novels.
But Walters, whose acclaimed films include Billy Elliot and Calendar Girls, will not, we can reveal, be featuring in the eagerly-awaited next instalment - Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire - as film execs have completely cut her part.
"To be honest, I was a bit hurt not to be in it," the affable 54-year-old tells us. "The kids love the Harry Potter films so much and I get lots of mail about it. "I can understand why they've had to pare down the film as the book is so long but I am really hoping I'll be in again for the next one."
The twice Oscar nominated actress, who received an OBE in 1999 and is a multi BAFTAw inner, is not the only casualty of some fierce character pruning. As we revealed last year, Richard Griffiths and Fiona Shaw, who play Harry's reprehensible Uncle and Aunt Dursley, have already found themselves surplus to requirements.
Actors reprising their roles in the new film include Michael Gambon as headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall, Alan Rickman as Professor Snape, Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid and Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry. New stars who have come on board include Ralph Fiennes, who will play Lord Voldemort, and warbler Jarvis Cocker.
"With such a sizeable book it's not possible to include all scenes and all characters", says a spokesman for the film. "That is not to say that we won't see characters returning in future films."
Walters, who has a 17-year-old daughter Maisie with her husband Grant, is gearing up to reprise her role as the traywielding Boadicea Overall in the musical version of Acorn Antiques opening at London's Theatre Royal on Thursday and will be seen in ITV drama Ahead Of The Class.
Asked whether she favours a campaign to re-instate her in the next Potter flick, she smiles sweetly: "Oh yes - do start one."
Disclaimer: Veritaserum is run by fans and is for the fans. We are in no way official and are not affiliated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., EA Games, Scholastic, or Bloomsbury. We do not own any of the characters in the books, movies, or games.
