Dan talks Harry and tips from J.K. Rowling

In the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, Dan talks about how his perception of playing Harry changed during the years and the tips he got from J.K. Rowling.

EW: You were 11 when you were cast as Harry Potter, who was already a global phenom. Did you feel pressure?
Dan: If I had been older and slightly more self-aware about the following that Harry had, I would have been slightly more intimidated. Ignorance and confidence of youth- it's enough to transcend that.

EW: How did you go about creating Harry? ANs how has your perception changed over the years?
Dan: In the beginning, creating the character was all about the costume and the look. That's how people thought of him. In terms of what I did to prepare, it was very much: Just learn the lines. I'm aware now that there are so many different ways to play any one line.

EW: What makes Harry interesting for you to play?
Dan: That he is not perfect. He's capable of being quite arrogant, quite stubborn, pigheaded, and a little bit selfish. He can make himself something of a martyr when he really doesn't have to. All those characteristics are wonderful because it separates Harry from the archetypical superheroes hat you so often get in children's literature.

EW: Has J. K. Rowling offered you advice on playing Harry since the first film?
Dan: I did ask her for some advice on the fifth film. I talked to her about Harry's emergence as the leader of Dumbledore's Army. She said that it was very important because it's the first time we see Harry be a leader, and eventually he's going to have to lead large numbers of people.

EW: If you could have spent your adolescence playing any other character, who would it be?
Dan: I was always unbelievably jealous of Tobey Maguire playing Spider-Man. I do think Spidey is the coolest of superheroes.