Katie Leung Harry Potter Interview
Source: Scotland Today
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The next installment of the boy wizard's saga hits the big screen in just over two months time, and in it Harry gets his first ever girlfriend. She is played by 18-year-old newcomer Katie Leung, from Motherwell, and already there have been tabloid tales of hate mail campaigns by envious Potter fans

She spoke exclusively to Scotland Today’s Grant Lauchlan about her new part.

In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry not only face his arch nemesis the evil Lord Voldemort, but he also falls in love for the first time. The girl who wins the affections of his wizard heart is Cho Chang, played by Katie Leung. She beat 5000 other hopefuls for the coveted part but if reports are to be believed it nearly did not happen.

Asked if it was really true that she almost did not go to the audition as she wanted to go shopping instead, she said: "Well at the beginning when I went down, I saw the length of the queue and I was like, no way! But it was just you know, let's go shopping. But I knew I was going to stay there in the end otherwise I wouldn't have been down in London in the first place....but yes, it's not a myth."

In her wildest dreams did she ever think she was going to get the part? She replied: "No way, acting has never been a possibility in my career, because I never realised I could act until I got the part...I've danced on a school stage but I wouldn't consider that as acting or anything."

As fame beckons Katie has already received tabloid attention after news broke of an apparent hate mail campaign by envious Harry Potter fans. Asked about this she commented: "I don't know where people are getting it from because it's not true at all. I've been on the internet but there's nothing there...I mean I don't receive hate mail or anything like that, I get a lot of fan mail, and they're so encouraging and supportive. I don't know where it comes from."

So is she ready for the onslaught when the film comes out?

She replied: "It sounds great but I haven't really been recognised yet....I got recognised at the post office and that was kind of weird."

So can she believe that she is playing Harry Potter's girlfriend?

"I don't think I'll be able to take it in until I actually see my face on the big screen."

You can see Katie on the big screen for yourself when Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is released here in November.

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