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Interviews
Newbury Today - 6 september 2006
Greenham actor
tells Newburytoday about his role in the latest Harry Potter film
A NEWBURY student has spent a magical summer in front of the cameras on the set
of the latest Harry Potter film.
Twenty-year-old actor Alec Hopkins was cast in May to play the role of young
Severus Snape – portrayed in the movie series by Alan Rickman.
Alec revealed his resemblance to the famous actor had helped him land the part,
which sees him play Snape in a flashback to the Hogwarts teacher’s youth.
A former Kennet School and Newbury College pupil, Alec was put forward for the
role by the director of the local Shining Lights theatre group, Peter Watt.
After sending in some pictures, Alec was called in for an interview, but faced a
nerve-wracking four-month wait for news that he’d secured the part.
He said: “I obviously wasn’t expecting it. As soon as I heard, I had this really
big smile, and was phoning up my mum and my friends saying I’d got it.
“Some people didn’t believe me, and some still don’t!”
After being fitted for prosthetics to make him look more like the sinister Snape,
Alec has been able to rub shoulders with the stars on the set of The Order of
the Phoenix – the fifth film from JK Rowling’s smash hit series of books.
Alec said: “Alan Rickman spent a couple of hours having a chat with me about the
part and obviously that was nerve wracking; there was me as a nobody and then
this famous actor.
“He’s very serious about acting but he likes to joke around. It was really nice
and it surprised me. I thought a big star would be different but he was so nive
Alec spent time studying previous Harry Potter films, so he could mimic Alan
Rickman’s movements and gestures.
He said: “The part is pretty easy as it’s such a small scene, but because the
character has been portrayed by someone before, it’s about taking someone’s
characteristics and trying to copy them.
“I watched how he moved, spoke and the emotions he goes through. He also gave me
some pointers about the character – how he would walk and hold himself, like
keeping a straight back.”
Alec hasn’t been allowed to leave the country while the movie is being shot, as
he could be called up to London at any moment for more filming.
He said: “It’s a lot harder than people think it is. So many people are relying
on you to get it right.
“Everyone is really nice but it’s very daunting. You don’t realise how many
people there are and if you messed up you’d be so embarrassed.”
The film is scheduled to wrap-up in October, but Alec is headed to Stafford in
two weeks to begin a university course in film production.
He said: “It’s been a great privilege just to be part of it. It’s not just a
film, but it’s a Harry Potter film.”
He added: “In the next book, number six, there’s nothing about the young Snape.
But the seventh book is about to be released next year and no one knows about
that one yet, so maybe there’ll be a small part in it for me!”
Alec said "Everyone is really nice but it’s very daunting. You don’t realise how
many people there are and if you messed up you’d be so embarrassed"
- Alec Hopkins Interviews -
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