20 facts that every Harry Potter fan should know
It is of course the perfect time for a Harry Potter marathon. Because let's be honest: Harry Potter is really much more fun than any Christmas movie, right? Okay, not more fun than Love Actually, but definitely more fun than, for example, Home Alone. Every year I watch the entire Harry Potter series back to back, in my red Harry Potter sweater. Even sadder is that I know all the spells by heart. I also use those spells quite often, which I find very funny myself. But anyway, I am a big fan of Harry Potter and I can't imagine there are people who haven't seen the entire series. Therefore, for my fellow fans, I have twenty fun facts about Harry Potter. And if you're (still) not a fan? Then it's definitely high time for that marathon. You don't have much else to do anyway, so just go for it.
1. The full name of the main character is ‘Harry James Potter’ and he was born on July 31, 1980. July 31 is also the birthday of J.K. Rowling, only she was born in the year 1966.
2. Voldemort was 71 years old when he died, which was on May 2, 1998.
3. The character of Professor Snape is largely based on J.K. Rowling's chemistry teacher from her past.
4. During the filming of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, a fire broke out on set. This fire occurred because they were working with explosives on set. Six fire crews were called in, but fortunately, no one was injured.
5. The motto of Hogwarts is: ‘Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus’, which means: ‘Never tickle a sleeping dragon.’
6. The character Hermione Granger is based on J.K. Rowling herself. She also gave Hermione her own favorite animal (the otter) as a patronus.
7. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was the least successful film in the series. Still, this part earned a whopping 90 million dollars.
8. During the filming of the second film, a lice epidemic broke out on set. Nurses had to come in to de-louse the young actors.
9. During the kissing scene between Harry and Hermione (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2), Rupert Grint (a.k.a. Ron Weasley) couldn't stop laughing. He even had to leave the set because of his uncontrollable laughter.
10. Michael Jackson once approached J.K. Rowling with the proposal to create a Harry Potter musical. J.K. Rowling kindly declined this request.
11. The stuntman for Harry Potter, named David Holmes, flew into a wall in the studio, breaking his neck. He was seriously injured and has since been unable to move his legs properly.
12. Initially, it was intended for Ron Weasley to swear and curse a lot. Ultimately, the publisher did not agree with this because many readers are young children.
13. During filming, no less than 160 glasses were used for Harry Potter.
14. J.K. Rowling drew inspiration for ‘witch-like’ names from everyday life. For example, the name ‘Hogwarts’ is based on a plant she found in the Kew Gardens in New York, and words like ‘Toadflax’, ‘Goutwort’, and ‘Grommel’ from a 400-year-old herbal book.
15. J.K. Rowling is the only author who has become a billionaire from writing.
16. Tom Felton initially auditioned for the role of Harry or Ron. Ultimately, he became Draco Malfoy, which he might actually be more suited for.
17. ‘Moaning Myrtle’ was played by an actress who was 37 years old. This made her the oldest actress to play the role of a Hogwarts student.
18. Harry's famous scar has been applied nearly 6000 times. To be exact, 5200 times on Daniel Radcliffe and 800 times on his stunt doubles.
19. Draco Malfoy was actually not supposed to go to Hogwarts at all. His father preferred that Draco went to the ‘Durmstrang Institute’, but his mother thought that was too far. Therefore, Hogwarts was ultimately chosen.
20. Initially, Steven Spielberg was approached to direct Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. His idea was to make it an animated film. I am so glad that this did not happen.
Source: vroegert.nl
