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Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
You Probably Had No Idea Rita Ora Was An Extra In 'Harry Potter' – Here's What She Had To Say About The Experience
Rita Ora is a woman of many talents, but you probably didn't know that appearing in one of Britain's biggest film franchises was on her long list of achievements. Sitting down on CelebriTea, Rita Ora revealed that, while she wasn't credited for her appearance in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban back in 2003, she has some great memories of her time on the set. So, how did she even end up there? "I had a choice. Be an extra in Harry Potter, or go to school... What would you do? What would you do? Obviously I'm going to do this," she revealed. But if you've watched the film and never spotted her, you're not alone, and that's the point, "I'm not even in the movie, really. My ponytail is," Rita joked. In case you were wondering, she's in the Divination class scene where Professor Trewlawny (Emma Thompson) tells Harry he's got the Grim. Though her role was small, Rita has nothing but warm memories from the set: 'We were treated really well, it was a bunch of kids. So we were all on buses. It was a really great experience as a kid.' The Harry Potter films utilised hundreds of child extras for the Hogwarts scenes; they were shuttled on set with chaperones, and while Rita chose to participate to skip school, she did have to do a couple of hours of school work between scenes. So next time you're watching Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, keep an eye out. That ponytail walking through Hogwarts? It might just belong to global pop sensation Rita Ora. Check out Rita's full CelebriTea interview below:
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Re-reading Harry Potter as an adult: What the magic feels like in your 30s
I was eight when I first stepped into the world of Harry Potter. My father read The Philosopher's Stone to me at bedtime, and I was spellbound. The magical creatures (dragons and three-headed Cerberus) and talking portraits were part of it, but mostly it was the idea that someone considered different might secretly be special. I fell headfirst into this magical rabbit hole. At one point, my parents even had to explain to my teacher why I sometimes confused the spelling of 'which' with 'witch.' I was that obsessed. When I finally got my hands on The Chamber of Secrets and The Prisoner of Azkaban, I read both in one sitting. I forsook hunger and sleep, despite my mother's reprimands, till I finished both the books. I devoured pages, almost inhaling the plot, eager to know what happened next, and then circled back and reread them slowly, savouring the details I missed the first time. These books became my companions. I remember reading The Order of the Phoenix at a hospital while my grandfather recovered from a heart attack. In its pages, I found escape and comfort. For the next few years, during long winter holidays, which I spent in Shimla, I would re-read the entire series. It became a ritual, a sort of literary blanket I wrapped myself in each winter. The magic starts to fade And then, as it does, life happened. I grew older. The books stayed behind on a shelf at my parents' home, gathering dust. By the time The Cursed Child came out, I was in university. I didn't have my beloved collection with me, so I couldn't fall back on my customary reread of all the books before starting a new instalment. I picked up the new book with excitement, but, determined as I was to love everything Harry Potter, I found myself disappointed. The plot felt shallow, and the characters forgettable. It read like fanfiction, a hollow echo of the original magic. It was my first real disenchantment with the wizarding world. The re-read in my 30s It wasn't until my 30s, in a moment of rebellion against adulthood, that I reached for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on my Kindle. I was looking for the comfort of familiarity, the promised escape — a world where problems could be solved with a spell, a draught of Felix Felicis, or a well-timed phoenix. But something had changed. Maybe it was me. Maybe it was the years I had spent as a journalist, exposed to stories of neglect, injustice, and institutional failure. Because when I revisited the story, it didn't feel like comfort anymore. It felt… disturbing. The cupboard under the stairs wasn't a quirky detail — it was child abuse. Harry was being starved and mistreated, and worse, this was being ignored by neighbours and teachers alike. Was it then an allegory for societal indifference? As a journalist, I had seen too many real-world Harry Potters: abused, homeless kids, and children thrust into adult battles. I had read stories of youngsters single-handedly fighting against climate change (Greta Thunberg) or for human rights (Malala Yousafzai), while adults either fetishised their courage or mocked their 'naivety.' The novels' darker themes loomed larger. Harry, a woefully unprepared child soldier, was declared the Chosen One and raised like livestock for slaughter. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, the holder of three top positions in the wizarding world, was terrifying and not the wise and benign mentor I remembered. He left Harry with abusive relatives and let Sirius Black (an Order member, not a known Death Eater like Severus Snape) rot in Azkaban without a trial. He allowed a Basilisk to petrify children for months while 11-year-olds solved the mystery. And don't get me started on Snape's 'redemption.' Sorry, but a teacher bullying students (and an orphan to boot!) doesn't get erased by a Patronus. The Wizarding World was dystopian, just like ours. 'The Daily Prophet' was an embodiment of our post-truth world, albeit with moving pictures. Pureblood supremacy mirrored casteism. House-elves were enslaved. Werewolves were shunned. And the Ministry was a bureaucratic nightmare where the rich (Malfoys) thrived while the poor (Weasleys) scraped by. Even more unsettling was the way ordinary people — wizards and Muggles alike — blindly followed questionable leaders. I had wanted a world to escape into — instead, it held a mirror to the problems I wanted to run from. Then there is author JK Rowling's public stance on transgender issues. For years, I resisted believing it—how could the creator of a universe where literal closet-dwelling 'freaks' became heroes, where magic could transform bodies (Metamorphmagi, Polyjuice Potions), harbour such rigid biases? The wizarding world had always been a refuge for the marginalised, a voice for the disenfranchised, yet its creator seemed to reject the ideal. And for all its merits, the series never adequately explains why purebloods, who were already entrenched in positions of power within the Wizengamot, Ministry, and elite social circles, would risk everything to follow Voldemort. It demonises all Slytherins, redeeming just Snape. What made Voldemort so charismatic remains unexplored. A bittersweet legacy Re-reading Harry Potter in my 30s was like catching up with an old friend, and realising you see them differently now. They haven't changed. But you have. The books remain masterfully crafted, but the magic no longer offers escape. It is yet another reminder of how power corrupts, how systems fail the vulnerable, and how even our idols are only human. Perhaps that's the most plot-centric lesson of all: growing up means realising your heroes (read: Dumbledore) are complicated, and the spells that once dazzled you can't fix everything. Maybe the point of growing up isn't to lose that magic, but to question it. After all, even Harry Potter, unlike Peter Pan, grew up. Aishwarya Khosla is a journalist currently serving as Deputy Copy Editor at The Indian Express. Her writings examine the interplay of culture, identity, and politics. She began her career at the Hindustan Times, where she covered books, theatre, culture, and the Punjabi diaspora. Her editorial expertise spans the Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Online desks. She was the recipient of the The Nehru Fellowship in Politics and Elections, where she studied political campaigns, policy research, political strategy and communications for a year. She pens The Indian Express newsletter, Meanwhile, Back Home. Write to her at or You can follow her on Instagram: @ink_and_ideology, and X: @KhoslaAishwarya. ... Read More
Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I went to Britain's 'poshest' village where dog walkers have to sign NDAs'
You won't find a spot of graffiti here and the streets are paved with gold - not quite but they may as well be because to live here you'll need some very special permissions and a big bank balance The UK's 'poshest' towns have been revealed, and topping the list is a town where the average property will set you back over £1.4million. The rankings, crafted by The Telegraph in collaboration with estate agent Savills, tapped into the freshest Census data to unearth places ticking all the boxes for factors such as the proportion of managerial-level residents, education credentials, health status, and housing prices. Placing 11th on the coveted top 50 is Virginia Water, famous not just for its premium property but also as a backdrop in two Harry Potter films. Nestled in the Borough of Runnymeade, northern Surrey, it is conveniently close to London and is officially one of Britain's 'most desirable' villages. A 46-year-old dog walker, who lives nearby but admitted they're "not posh enough to live in Virginia Water', visits daily but has barely met any of the locals. "You have to stand outside for starters — and sign an NDA," they told the Metro. "It's just the way it's done around that area. I go through the gate, I pick up the dog, and often it's the housekeeper that brings the dog out to me, not the person." Neighbouring towns include Woking to the south and Bracknell to the west, with Heathrow Airport just a short journey away. Along Windsor Great Park's southern fringe, Virginia Water boasts its attraction, a two-mile lake that draws families, strollers, and nature enthusiasts alike, according to the park officials, reports the Express. High-street shopping and swift train services to London are among the perks of residing in Virginia Water. Adding to the location's glamour is the Wentworth Golf Club, along with sites like Virginia Water Lake and Savill Garden attracting visitors. Visit Surrey highlights Cabrera Avenue as a preserved area, offering a riverside walk where an array of species thrives. Even those who've never set foot in Virginia Water might recognise it; many have glimpsed the town on the silver screen as Hogwarts' lake where the lead character soars above water astride the Hippogriff Buckbeak in The Prisoner of Azkaban. The memorable scene in Goblet of Fire where Hermione is caught sending messages between the feuding Harry and Ron was shot right here. Discussing the dizzying prices of homes, The Telegraph noted: "While the average price is more reflective of the 1920s and 1930s houses near the station, those around the Wentworth golf club hidden behind electric gates are considerably higher." When it comes to the property market in 2024, Rightmove's report on Virginia Water says, " House prices in Virginia Water have an overall average of £1,551,999 over the last year." Elaborating on the types of properties sold, they shared, "The majority of properties sold in Virginia Water during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £2,295,854. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £724,000, with flats fetching £467,242." In a look back, Rightmove concluded: "Overall, the historical sold prices in Virginia Water over the last year were 4% up on the previous year and 25% down on the 2022 peak of £2,062,059." As well as high-value properties, it also boasts low crime rates, a Waitrose and M&S food hall without a Greggs sausage roll in sight, and is frequently a celebrity hangout. Rory McIlroy is often spotted practising his swing at the Wentworth Club, with Zara Tindall also known to pop into the 1920 clubhouse. Elton John, Cliff Richard and Gary Lineker have all owned properties here at some point, too. There are a number of private schools in the surrounding area including Eton just 20 minutes away, boutique shops and independent brunch stops and Michelin-starred restaurants.
Irish Daily Star
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Harry Potter star reveals how much they were paid for role in iconic film franchise
A star from the Harry Potter series has revealed her earnings for her role in the films. As anticipation builds around the upcoming TV adaptation of the beloved book and film series, fans have been eager to learn more about the cast. Several familiar faces have hinted at a return to Hogwarts, keeping fans on edge. With HBO set to commence filming in the next few months for the show, which will be available on HBO Max, some former stars have shared their thoughts on the revival of the story. The majority of the TV cast has been confirmed, but auditions are still ongoing to determine who will portray the iconic trio: Harry, Ron, and Hermione . Read More Related Articles Netflix series described as 'way better than Yellowstone' stars Irish actor Eoin Macken Read More Related Articles Today Show fans thank NBC as Jenna Bush Hager announces 'incredible' Hoda Kotb replacement Samantha Clinch, a star from the film series, has been sharing insights about the news. Samantha had a minor role in the movies, playing student Eloise Midgen. She took to TikTok to share her experience (Image: @samanthaclinch/TikTok) She appeared in The Prisoner of Azkaban and The Goblet of Fire, both of which were box office hits, earning billions, reports the Daily Star . As Eloise, Samantha only made a few appearances on screen; initially, her character wasn't even named in her first Harry Potter appearance. However, she gained prominence in The Goblet of Fire when Eloise developed severe acne. Samantha has taken to social media to share her experiences filming part of one of the most successful film franchises ever. In a TikTok video that has amassed nearly 8 million views, she divulged behind-the-scenes secrets and disclosed how much she was paid for her role. "Right, let's talk about how much we got paid as extras for the Harry Potter films and how much I got paid when I became Eloise Midgeon," she said in the video. "There was a big jump, a big jump in cash. "For context, in The Goblet of Fire, Daniel Radcliffe got paid $11 million-that's nine and a half million pounds," she added. As she delved into the details, she revealed that for many scenes like banquets and school dinners, additional actors were required, which is where she came in. Her typical day would start at the crack of dawn, around 5:30 am, especially during shoots for The Prisoner of Azkaban, clocking in close to 12 hours of work. Then she disclosed her earnings from those days: "Are you ready for how much we got paid? £35 [about $46] a day, £35 - that's £2.91 [about $3.86] an hour." However, with her role expansion in The Goblet of Fire, where she played Eloise Midgen, her paycheck saw a significant bump. "So, when I became the part of Eloise Midgen, honestly, little did I know that day, when I was going to set, how the day would change for me and my bank account," she recounted. "When I got this part, I then got paid £70 [about $93] a day," she revealed. "They doubled it, they just doubled it." Reflecting on her time and earnings, Samantha laughed that the pay wasn't too bad "in the grand scheme of things" and she had high praise for the production crew, not least for the "constant stream of food." Samantha spilled the beans on her splurge with her earnings, sharing that she treated herself to a bottle of Jean-Paul Gaultier's iconic Classique perfume, which she fondly calls "nostalgia in a bottle." She wrapped up by sharing that her time on set was nothing short of fantastic, and yes, all the kids did indeed enjoy the feast served up in the banquet hall. For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
Express Tribune
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Harry Potter extra reveals how much she was paid for minor role, as new HBO series begins casting
As anticipation builds for HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series, a former child extra from the original film franchise has gone viral for sharing how much she earned during her time on set. Samantha Clinch, known for her role as Eloise Midgen in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, opened up on TikTok about her experience working on the films, including what she was paid. Clinch, who also appeared uncredited in The Prisoner of Azkaban, revealed that as an extra, she earned £35 per day, which breaks down to just £2.91 an hour during 12-hour filming days. Speaking under her TikTok handle @samanthaclinch, she said, 'We would be called for breakfast to be in the holding area outside the set for 5am in the morning and then be leaving at rush hour, on the bus in heavy, heavy traffic.' When she was given a named role in the fourth film, her pay increased to £70 per day. 'Honestly, little did I know that day when I was going to set how the day would change for me and my bank account,' she said in the video, which has since garnered over 7.7 million views. Despite the modest pay, Clinch described the experience as incredibly rewarding. 'It was genuinely the most incredible time of my life,' she said, recalling that child actors ate meals in the Hogwarts banquet hall and were treated to a steady stream of snacks. 'Seriously, the amount of Squares bars and iced buns we got through, minimum £15 a day, minimum.' Clinch even remembered spending some of her earnings on a bottle of Jean Paul Gaultier's Classique perfume, calling it 'nostalgia in a bottle.' Her reflections offer a glimpse into life as a background actor as the new generation of Hogwarts students prepares to take the screen in HBO's reboot.
