Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: interview with Cho Chang, aka Katie Leung
(July 4, 2007)
Source:This is Basing Stoke

KATIE LEUNG is back starring in her second Harry Potter film as Cho Chang, a Ravenclaw student at Hogwarts and the object of Harry Potter's affections.

Playing the role of Cho in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was Katie's first foray into the professional acting world.

Katie responded to an open casting call back in February 2004 where she beat 5,000 girls for the role of Cho Chang.

Q. How does it feel second time around being in Harry Potter?

Katie: I feel more relaxed in this one and comfortable. It almost feels like a second home and I get to see my friends again. I'm also more confident in front of the camera this time.

Q. There's also a lot more to do, including the big kiss with Harry. How was it?

Katie: It was kind of strange seeing the pictures of yourself in papers kissing Harry Potter. You can't really avoid it, though. My friends are always asking me about it. Before I did the scene everyone kept coming up to me and asking if I was looking forward to it. It got me really, really nervous and I was having sleepless nights over it. But when I actually did the scene it went very well and Dan was great. He said he was nervous as well. But the director David Yates was really cool about it too.

Q. How has the Harry Potter experience changed your life?

Katie: It hasn't really changed my life in a great way. I'm more confident in general. I used to be really, really shy which is never a good thing because you never speak up for yourself. Now I don't stop talking! But in terms of being recognised, it doesn't really happen that often. I get the odd person coming up and saying they love the films...

Q. Do you ever feel that there's now a part of your life that's not your own - that you're 'that girl from Harry Potter'?

Katie: It's a bit strange to look at it that way. I do see a completely different person when I look at myself in the paper or on screen. My friends and my family say that as well.

Q. Have you had any further experiences with fans? Last year you mentioned some girls on the inernet who were really jealous...

Katie: I think it was something really small on the internet that got completely over exaggerated. But like I said before it's kind of inevitable because Dan's a great guy, he's got a lot of female fans and I think any girl would want to play Cho. I just have to think that I'm very lucky to be where I am.

Q. Have you had any more auditions for anything else? Is acting something you wish to pursue?

Katie: I'd love to continue with acting. I'm not entirely sure what I want to do yet. I think I'll probably end up making my mind up at the last minute, like I always do. But I'd like to go university as well and study graphic design, perhaps. I've just moved to London, so I'm settling in.

Q. Was that for professional reasons?

Katie: I think it was the right time to move out because I am 19 now. I can't stay home all my life. I want more independence and I am closer to my agent in London. I also love the busy life down here. I do go back home very often though.

Q. How does David Yates compare to Mike Newell? Katie: He was great, amazing. Not that Mike Newell wasn't. But David is just so gentle. His voice is just really soft. Whenever he speaks to me I kind of go weak at the knees. He's really amazing to work with. For example, during some of the emotional scenes he would say: "Cho's really upset and she's on her own." It was just so heartbreaking the way he said it that he really put me into the mood of the character.

Q. How do you feel about being "replaced" in the next film by your love rival, Ginny Weasley?

Katie: I think we discover that the relationship wouldn't really work out by the end of the fifth book The Order Of The Phoenix. I mean it just ends in disaster really because obviously her friend betrays Dumbledore's army. And also she's still really upset over Cedric and she's not completely over him yet. Every time she sees her, she sees Cedric and every time Harry sees Cho, he sees Cedric. So that's the main reason why the relationship starts to falter.

Q. Have you had any feedback from fans since playing Cho? Have you had any letters from them or feedback from JK Rowling?

Katie: Oh God, I haven't met her yet. I'm hoping to meet her at the premiere. But the fans have been amazing. I get fan mail and they're really supportive. They tell me how great I was and how much they love the movies. It's very encouraging.

Q. How involved are you in the special effects and CGI work?

Katie: I was involved when I was shooting the scene with the training but you don't get to see any of that. Yeah, it's challenging but it does really test your acting skills, so it's good in that sense. I did find it quite difficult to sort of think spells and find nothing happens - and look as though it has!

Q. Was there any difference in the atmosphere on this one because this has a very serious death?

Katie: I think it's generally a lot darker. We always say this whenever the next film comes out but it is darker than the rest. We are all growing up now. When I was portraying my character, she was always upset and depressed and that's a big change from when I was filming the fourth one. Then, she was just a normal teenager, happy go lucky and had a crush on Harry. In this one, I tried to prepare for it beforehand.

Q. How easy is it to switch off from feeling depressed?

Katie: It's much easier to switch off than on. You can be with friends having a laugh and then suddenly have to switch on emotionally. But I try to barricade myself in the dressing room for a few hours before we shot scenes and listen to Coldplay or whatever... or a tearjerk movie. I watched Crash. It's a really good film but it did make me cry.

Q. Your first two films have been Harry Potter films... Has that spoiled you? Or are you looking forward to working on something with a lower budget?

Katie: I have really started at the top so it's kind of hard to say I'll go on to do bigger and better things! But I would love to do a lower budget movie where there's a lot of drama and intensity and a challenging character. But we'll have to wait and see.

Q. Who do you think will die in the last book?

Katie: I don't want anyone to die. I really don't know. If anyone, probably Harry. But I don't want him to die.

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