Harry's First Kiss!

Get the scoop from Cho Chang

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Scholastic News Online got the chance to talk to Katie Leung, the actress who brings Ravenclaw’s Quidditch champ Cho Chang to life. Read on to find out what it was like to give Harry Potter his first kiss!

Q: How has your character changed from the previous installments of Harry Potter?
Katie Leung: She’s changed dramatically. In the first film, she was a very normal teenager. You never thought anything was up with her. She had a boyfriend and Harry liked her. And then, suddenly, her boyfriend died in the fifth film. Her character has become pretty complex because she’s still suffering from the death of her boyfriend. She can’t get over it. But now there’s that spark between her and Harry. She’s very confused and she becomes very lonely. So there’s a big difference.

Q: Who would you say is your favorite character in Harry Potter?
Katie: There’s so many, but I love Ron. I think he’s hilarious. When people are depressed, he says something stupid and funny and it always brightens up the mood.

Q: How did you first get into acting?
Katie: Harry Potter! I went to the audition after my father said there was a casting call in London. So I just went on a whim. After I got the part, I caught the acting bug and got myself an agent.

Q: What would you say is your favorite part about being on the set?
Katie: The set itself is amazing. It’s amazing to be there . . . I enjoy being in front of the camera, acting, and being a different person.

Q: What was your favorite scene to film and why?
Katie: Most of my scenes were based in the Room of Requirement. I had so much fun. Everyone was involved. All the kids were in there training and doing spells. I had a wand and people were in harnesses and were flying about the room. Even the kissing scene was in there. And I enjoyed that a lot! It’s not very often that you kiss somebody and there are tons of people watching you. So that was a bit nerve-wracking. But after I did it, I felt like I could conquer the world.

Q: What do you think has been your biggest challenge, on-screen or off-screen, being in Harry Potter?
Katie: Well, I was really shy in school. I wasn’t one to talk to people. I prefer being alone. But after being in Harry Potter, it’s very hard to be on your own and you make so many friends. I really came out of my shell. My confidence has grown immensely.

Q: What advice would you give to kids who look up to you?
Katie: I wasn’t really up to acting before because I didn’t think I could do it. I always thought you had to be really confident to act. But you just have to know what you’re doing. It wasn’t until I went to auditions that I discovered I could really get into it. Now, I think that instead of putting yourself down and not believing in yourself, if you really want something, you should go ahead and do it.

Q: Do you think you would be friends with your character in real life?
Katie: I think I would be. She seems like a very friendly girl. She plays Quidditch, so she must be pretty cool.

Q: How many times have you read the books?
Katie: I’ve actually read all of the books, but I haven’t read them more than once or twice. I have to read them all again!

Q: What do you want to happen at the end of book seven?
Katie: I just hope Harry’s alive at the end. The prophecy says that neither can live if the other survives. But I would hate to see him die! It would be very, very upsetting if that happened.

Q: Do you have any career interests outside of acting and, if you do, how do you plan to pursue those careers?
Katie: I’m still undecided at the moment. I love acting and I would love to continue with that, but I’m also interested in art. Graphic design, drawing, painting—I love all of that. I’ve applied to university to start in September, so I have that option too. But I haven’t decided whether or not I want to go yet.

Q: What would you say is your favorite school subject?
Katie: Art, without a doubt. A lot of people say that because it’s easy to get a good grade in art, but I really do love it. My art teacher always had faith in me and said I should go to art school. I’m not very good at expressing myself in words, but I love doing it on paper with paintbrushes and pastels and colored pencils.

Q: What would you say is your least favorite subject and why?
Katie: Although I didn’t enjoy science as much, I was pretty good at it. But I’m not very good with blood and animals being cut up for experiments. I’m not very good with labs, test tubes, equations, and formulas. I was good at them, but I never took a great interest in them.

—Interview by Marie Morreale

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