JK Rowling could have had a major role in the Harry Potter films.
The author of the record-breaking Hogwarts books was reportedly offered the part of Harry’s heroic mum Lily Potter in the iconic Potter films, which have grossed over $7bn dollars [£5.45bn]. But it’s believed she turned it down as she didn’t think she’d be a good enough actress.
As fans know, Lily is an incredibly important character in the wizarding franchise and crucial to Harry’s story. She sacrificed her life to save baby Harry from Lord Voldermort when he murdered Harry’s parents at Godric’s Hollow.
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Voldermort murdered Lily and Harry’s dad James, but Lily’s loving sacrifice was so powerful that it almost destroyed Voldermort. It might have seemed fitting for JK Rowling, who turned 59 on Wednesday (July 31), to play Harry’s mum.
(Image: Warner Bros.)
It’s believed she was asked to play Lily ahead of the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which came out in 2001. But Rowling did not feel she was “cut out to be an actress” and feared she’d “mess up somehow”.
The role ended up going to Geraldine Somerville. Despite her tragic death, Lily appears more than once in the movies, including an emotional scene in the first film.
(Image: Getty Images)
Harry sees Lily and James in the Mirror of Erised – which is “desire” spelled backwards – where Lily waves at Harry. The mirror, according to Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore, shows viewers the “deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts”.
She also appears in ghostly form alongside James and Harry’s uncle Sirius when Harry uses the Resurrection Stone in Deathly Hallows Part 2, the final film. Lily tells Harry how “proud” her and James are of him before he sacrifices his life to Voldermort.
(Image: Warner Bros.)
JK Rowling, who had insisted that all the cast were British, was not the only big name to miss out on a part in Potter. It’s said the late Robin Williams was keen on a part but was rejected as he was American.
Potter casting director Janet Hirshenson revealed Robin had reached out to director Chris Columbus “because he really wanted to be in the movie.”
(Image: PA)
She told Huffington Post in 2016: “But it was a British-only edict. And once he said no to Robin, he wasn’t going to say yes to anybody else, that’s for sure. It couldn’t be.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
