JK had one rule…do you know what it was?
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Get ready for some behind-the-scenes magic from the world of Harry Potter! It turns out that even in the wizarding world, rules are rules, and J.K. Rowling had some strict ones. But don’t worry, this story is as enchanting as a spell from Professor Flitwick.
Remember the very first Harry Potter movie, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”? Of course, you do! Well, it turns out that Chris Columbus, the director who kicked off the entire magical movie franchise, had a secret up his sleeve. His daughter, Eleanor, had a role in the film. But hold on to your broomsticks because she wasn’t allowed to say a word!
You might be wondering why Eleanor had to keep mum on-screen. It all comes down to J.K. Rowling’s rulebook. You see, when Columbus and Rowling met, they decided that the entire cast should be 100 percent British. And Columbus was dead set on sticking to that rule. So, for the most part, the actors you saw in the Harry Potter films were as British as a cup of tea on a rainy day.
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But Columbus had a soft spot for his daughter, and who wouldn’t want to see their kid in a wizard’s robe, even if they’re not from the UK? So, Eleanor got a special spot in the film as Susan Bones, a Hufflepuff student sorted by the Sorting Hat. However, there was one catch: she had to zip her lips and never utter a word. Why? Well, it was to keep her American accent under wraps. Imagine trying to hide an accent with a wand; it’s not as easy as it sounds!
Eleanor’s magical adventure on set lasted about 80 days, and during that time, she had to keep her vocal cords in check. According to Columbus, “She worked about 80 days. But she never spoke because, you know, the rule was if you’re not British, you can’t speak.” It’s almost like a spell had been cast to keep her hushed!
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Now, here’s the real kicker. The rule about keeping the cast British was so strict that it even turned down a massive star who was itching to be part of the wizarding world. Can you imagine which superstar might have missed out on casting their spell? Well, that’s a magical mystery for another day.
So, there you have it, a delightful peek into the enchanted world of Harry Potter, where even the director’s own daughter had to stay mum to keep the magic alive. It just goes to show that when it comes to Harry Potter, the rules are as mysterious as the Marauder’s Map.
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You can see her in all the clips from the movie below:
