Harry Potter open casting

Chance for fans to join the magic and the cast of The Half Blood Prince.

by Amber Wilkinson

The makers of the sixth instalment of the Harry Potter franchise are to hold two open casting days for key roles in the next film.

The auditions for Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince will be held at Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Warwick Road, in London on Sunday July 1 and July 8, 2007.

July 1 will see the film-makers cast the role of Lavender Brown. A spokesman said: "Lavender is in the same year as Harry, Ron and Hermione at Hogwarts. We are looking for someone between 15-18yrs to play her.

"Lavender is a pretty and lively girl who loves to be the centre of attention. She is determined to make Ron her boyfriend and when she gets him, she is then deeply possessive of him. She reacts in an extreme way to everything. She tends to be either laughing or crying hysterically."

Budding boy wizards, meanwhile, will have to wait until July 8 to try out for the role of Tom Riddle.

The spokesman added: "We meet Tom when he is 16 and at Hogwarts. We are looking for someone between 15-18yrs to play him.

"He is a boy that other kids want to be friends with. He is a leader and other children want to be around him. He is not a warm boy but he is very charismatic. Both staff and children are probably all a little scared of him."

No experience is necessary for either role and the producers advise you to "come as yourself - strictly no make up, no costumes, no high heels". And don't forget to take your passport since you will have to prove you are between 15 and 18 years old and resident in the UK or Ireland.

Applications are from 10am on both days. The Queue will close at 1pm.

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