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Aussie Harry Potter star undergoes heart surgery

In a world where magic wands and spell-casting reign supreme, it seems like Miriam Margolyes, the famous Harry Potter actress, decided to make her own foray into the world of enchantment. Move over, Hermione, because Miriam's latest adventure involved a heart procedure that could only be described as "udderly" extraordinary. The actress recently revealed on the Table Manners podcast that she had a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and here's the twist – it involved a cow's valve! Margolyes, at the young age of 82, stunned us all by the recent disclosure of her "bovine" transformation. "I've got a cow's heart now," she declared to the curious hosts, Jessie and Lennie Ware. "Well, not the whole heart. I've had an aortic valve replaced by a cow's aortic valve," she reassured everyone. Our beloved Little Shop of Horrors star then proceeded to spill the beans on this refined procedure, which, as it turns out, is nothing short of remarkable. It's an operation that prevents you from having to undergo open heart surgery, something she was quite grateful for, saying, "I don't know how common it is. I'd never heard of that operation." But the question that remained on everyone's lips was, "Was it a keyhole operation?" Miriam, never one to shy away from details, explained that the procedure required doctors to place "two little holes in your groin." If you're wincing at the thought, she didn't stop there. "One in each groin and then they shoved this thing through," she continued. "And I don't know how they pull it up, but they sort of pull it up with stereos." The idea of having bovine body parts might raise a few eyebrows, but in Margolyes' world, it's just another tale to add to her eclectic life experiences. Images: Instagram

Caring

World mourns the passing of one of the true greats of cinema

Renowned British-Irish actor, Sir Michael Gambon, celebrated worldwide for his iconic portrayal of Albus Dumbledore in the beloved Harry Potter film series, has passed away at the age of 82. In an official statement relayed by his publicist, it was confirmed that he succumbed to pneumonia, leaving his family and fans heartbroken. The statement issued by his family reads, "We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in the hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus by his side." Michael Gambon's acting journey spanned more than half a century, with one of his most significant milestones being his assumption of the role of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, succeeding the late Richard Harris in 2004. In characteristic humility, Gambon downplayed his performance, often remarking that he merely portrayed himself "with a stuck-on beard and a long robe". The Harry Potter franchise expressed its grief, stating, "He brought immeasurable joy to Harry Potter fans from all over the world with his humour, kindness, and grace. We will forever hold his memory in our hearts." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> We are incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Michael Gambon. He brought immeasurable joy to Harry Potter fans from all over the world with his humour, kindness and grace. We will forever hold his memory in our hearts. <a href="https://t.co/1CoTF3zeTo">pic.twitter.com/1CoTF3zeTo</a> — Harry Potter (@harrypotter) <a href="https://twitter.com/harrypotter/status/1707371391866028071?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2023</a></blockquote> James Phelps, known for his portrayal of Fred Weasley in the series, shared a touching anecdote on Instagram, recounting how Gambon generously helped him rehearse a script during the filming of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". Phelps hailed Gambon as both a legend on and off the camera, describing him as funny and always willing to share his knowledge. Gambon embarked on his acting career in the early 1960s, initially treading the boards of the stage before transitioning to television and film. His filmography boasted remarkable performances, such as his portrayal of a psychotic mob leader in Peter Greenaway's The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover in 1989 and his portrayal of the elderly King George V in Tom Hooper's The King's Speech in 2010. Despite an early start in engineering apprenticeship, Gambon's passion for acting remained unwavering. He recounted to The Herald newspaper in 2004 that he always knew he would become an actor. His breakthrough came in 1962 when he auditioned for the legendary Laurence Olivier, who subsequently appointed him as one of the founding members of the National Theatre at the Old Vic, alongside emerging talents like Derek Jacobi and Maggie Smith. Gambon's reputation soared on the stage, with his portrayal of Galileo in John Dexter's Life of Galileo in 1980 being a standout moment. In the 1980s, his lead role in the TV series The Singing Detective garnered widespread acclaim, earning him one of his four BAFTA Awards. Additionally, he clinched three Olivier Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for ensemble cast performances in Gosford Park (2001) and The King's Speech. Acknowledged for his contributions to drama, Gambon was honoured as a Commander of the British Empire in 1992 and subsequently knighted in 1998. Despite these prestigious titles, he often displayed a mischievous side, weaving tales such as showing fellow actors a forged signed photograph of Robert De Niro, among other playful antics. In 2015, Gambon retired from the stage due to long-term memory issues, yet he continued to grace the screen with his talent until 2019. In a 2002 interview, he expressed that his work made him feel "the luckiest man in the world". Images: Getty / Instagram

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Harry Potter star's delightful baby name has fans enthralled

Bonnie Wright, renowned for her role as Ginny Weasley in the 'Harry Potter' film series, has welcomed a baby boy with husband Andrew Lococo. The 32-year-old British actress joyfully shared the wonderful news with her fans via Instagram, expressing the overwhelming love she and Andrew feel for their newborn son. Elio Ocean Wright Lococo, the couple's pride and joy, made his entrance into the world at home on Tuesday, September 19th. Bonnie marked the occasion by posting an endearing picture of their newborn, along with the heartwarming caption: "Say hello to Elio Ocean Wright Lococo," wrote the proud new mum. "Born at home on Tuesday 19th September. We’re all healthy and happy. Andrew and I are so in love with our sun 🌞! "So grateful for our birth team that have held our hands throughout and made the journey so joyous and expanding. Birth is the wildest experience! Our perfect and loving midwives Tiffany and Taylor @dosmidwifery our wise and wonderful doula Patti @umamother our doctor Phabby if we had needed to transfer @phabulouscare 🕊️ "During these healing postpartum days we’ve been visited by some angels thank you @meaghan_snider_ @motherbees and @themilkywaymamas 🕊️ and thank you @ccmeyer for your incredibly informative course I took in the early weeks of pregnancy. Birth workers are amazing 🕊️ ! "Lastly thanks to Andrew my rock throughout birth quite literally as I squeezed onto you so tight and you never wavered. Elio has the most tender loving papa. Ok hormonal emotional extra long caption over!" Prior to welcoming their bundle of joy, Bonnie and Andrew took some time to relax and enjoy a babymoon in Laguna Beach, California. Bonnie cherished these moments, captioning one of her posts, "Our last quiet holiday as just two". Throughout her pregnancy, Bonnie proudly displayed her growing baby bump in various photos, captioning one of them, "A summer of growth". Bonnie Wright and Andrew Lococo exchanged vows in a heartwarming ceremony in March of the previous year. Reflecting on their special day, Bonnie shared her happiness with a caption beneath a picture of their wedding rings, writing, "Yesterday was the best day of my life 💙, Thanks to my husband!!" Many well-wishes poured in, including a heartfelt message from Tom Felton, known for his portrayal of Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter's rival at Hogwarts. The 34-year-old actor wrote, "Congratulations B x." Bonnie Wright's journey in the world of entertainment began at the age of 11 when she made her on-screen debut in the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, released in 2001. In recent years, Bonnie has garnered recognition for her passionate environmental activism – a definite nod to the "Ocean" element of her newborn's name. She now resides in San Diego, having moved there in February 2020 to be with her now-husband, Andrew Lococo. Images: Instagram

Family & Pets

Harry Potter publisher killed in boating accident

A tragic boating incident off the Amalfi Coast in Italy has claimed the life of prominent publishing executive Adrienne Vaughan. Aged 45, Vaughan held the position of President at Bloomsbury Publishing's US division. The distressing accident occurred when she was thrown overboard from a motorboat and suffered fatal injuries from contact with the vessel's propeller. The ill-fated incident took place as Vaughan, accompanied by her spouse and two children, was en route to Positano on a motorboat. Regrettably, the motorboat collided with a sailboat, resulting in the tragic accident. The motorboat had been under the guidance of a hired skipper at the time of the collision. Tragically, the sailboat that was struck was carrying over 80 tourists from the United States and Germany, who were joyously celebrating a wedding onboard. An attendee recording the wedding festivities inadvertently captured the harrowing moment when a woman struggled in the water. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Incidente sulla costa amalfitana in cui ha perso la vita una turista americana. Il motoscafo della turista si è scontrato con un veliero dove si stava festeggiando un matrimonio. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amalfi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#amalfi</a> <a href="https://t.co/dn6TfT3I9s">pic.twitter.com/dn6TfT3I9s</a> — Colonnello Kurtz (@danilomik1) <a href="https://twitter.com/danilomik1/status/1687448152108916736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2023</a></blockquote> Despite efforts to rescue her, Vaughan was retrieved from the water and transported to a dock. Unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries before a helicopter ambulance could arrive, as reported by state television. Italian authorities, specifically the Amalfi coast guard office, have initiated an investigation into the incident. However, at the time of reporting, the coast guard office had not provided further information in response to inquiries. Vaughan's husband, Mike White, sustained a shoulder injury and was subsequently hospitalised. Thankfully, their two young children emerged from the incident unscathed. Remarkably, no individuals aboard the sailboat suffered injuries. In a disheartening turn of events, a blood test conducted on the motorboat's skipper indicated the presence of substances in their system. The specifics of the substance were not explicitly mentioned by the Italian news agency ANSA, which reported the incident. The skipper, approximately 30 years old and of Italian nationality, sustained fractures to their pelvis and ribs. The investigation into this tragic incident is being overseen by prosecutors in the southern port city of Salerno. As of now, the courthouse has not provided any additional insights into the matter. Adrienne Vaughan was a distinguished figure in the publishing industry. Holding a master's degree in business from New York University, she had previously held roles at prestigious organizations such as Disney Book Group and Oxford University Press. In 2020, she joined Bloomsbury as an executive editor and COO, later being promoted to President. She was also an active member of the Association of American Publishers, a prominent industry trade group. In the wake of this devastating loss, the Association of American Publishers' board chair, Julia Reidhead, and President/CEO, Maria A. Pallante, released a joint statement: "Adrienne Vaughan was a leader of dazzling talent and infectious passion and had a deep commitment to authors and readers. Most of all she was an extraordinary human being, and those of us who had the opportunity to work with her will be forever fortunate." Images: Bloomsbury / Twitter

News

Harry Potter star bares all for Vogue at 82

Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes has graced the cover of British Vogue and bared all for a shoot with the publication, stripping down to share her thoughts on life, love, career, and everything in between. It was an important step for Miriam - best known for her role as Professor Pomona Sprout in the Harry Potter and her BAFTA-winning performance in The Age of Innocence - who confessed during her interview for the magazine’s Pride issue that “I like my face. I think my face is kind and warm and open and smiley. “But I hate my body. I hate [having] big tits, a drooping belly, and little twisted legs. “I’m not thrilled with that. But you can just make the best of it. You have to. You do the best you can.” Miriam’s beaming smile was front and centre in the ‘nude’ shot, which saw the 82-year-old star sitting at a table and dressed only in a pearl necklace, an array of carefully arranged desserts in the foreground to cover her. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctb2pb0NruE/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #F4F4F4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctb2pb0NruE/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by British Vogue (@britishvogue)</a> </div> </blockquote> A self-confessed “bit of a child” who “can’t resist naughtiness”, Miriam came armed with her wit and humour as she opened up about her life - from her feelings about her own body, to her experience as a Jewish lesbian since coming out as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community in 1966. “I never had any shame about being gay or anything really,” she told Vogue’s Chris Godfrey. “I knew it wasn’t criminal because it was me. I couldn’t be criminal.” As Miriam confessed, however, her parents hadn’t quite seen it from the same perspective. Her mother, she explained, had made her swear on the Torah that she wouldn’t have sex with a woman again, and that she has regrets about revealing that part of herself to them. Both of her parents have since passed away - her mother of a stroke just months after Miriam came out - and while Miriam doesn’t think they ever came to accept her sexuality, she never stopped loving either of them. She went on to share that she and her partner of 54 years, Heather, have a civil partnership but don’t live together - and never have. “We were able to lead our lives without diminishing them,” she said. “I didn’t want her to have to give up anything. And I didn’t want to give up anything. “I wanted my cake and I wanted to eat it too. And so far, it’s worked.” “Gay people have the luck to be able to fashion the relationship they want,” she added. “It’s much more flexible for us.” And as for why Miriam is so open when it comes to topics others might shy away from, she had a simple answer in store, explaining that “it’s a strong position if you’re not afraid to be who you are. “We’re all so insecure. People are frightened such a lot of the time and what I’ve always tried to do is to make people feel more relaxed, make people feel good about themselves, and just try and lessen the torture for people a bit.” Images: Instagram

Body

8 fictional places you can visit in real life

Step into the world of your favourite book, movie or TV show with a visit to these fictional locations that represented the original. Hogwarts, Harry Potter You won’t see anyone playing Quidditch on the lawns, but Alnwick Castle in Northumberland in the UK played Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films (with a little digital trickery thrown in). The castle has been the home of the Dukes of Northumberland for more than 700 years and is in high demand with film and TV crews – it also stars in the Downton Abbey Christmas specials. Jurassic Park The lush jungle foliage and towering waterfalls of the island of Kauai in Hawaii served as the backdrop for Stephen Spielberg’s rampaging dinosaurs in all three Jurassic Park movies. You can rent a four-wheel drive and travel through the national park where the movie was filmed though, sadly, none of the dinosaurs remained behind after shooting wrapped. West Egg, The Great Gatsby F Scott Fitzgerald modelled West Egg on Great Neck in Long Island, New York. This area on the north coast of Long Island was known as the Gold Coast because of the huge mansions, polo fields, golf courses and country clubs built there by America’s super wealthy (think Vanderbilt, Astor or Guggenheim). The very grand Oheka Castle in nearby Huntington partly inspired Gatsby’s house. Amity Island, Jaws Don’t go in the water! The beach on Amity Island was the setting for the first scene in the classic 1970s horror movie, Jaws. As well as looking the part of the perfect American seaside resort, the shallow water of the bay made it easier for the crew to operate the mechanical sharks. Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie the Pooh Just over an hour from London you can walk in the footsteps of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin through Ashdown Forest. There’s only about 25 square kilometres of wooded area left from what was once a mighty forest, but it is still quintessentially English and one could almost expect Pooh, Tigger and Piglet to come bounding around a shady corner. Greenbow, Forrest Gump Life is like a box of chocolates in Varnville, South Carolina, which served as the fictional town of Greenbow in the Oscar winning movie Forrest Gump. The old Southern mansion that Forrest and his mamma lived in was a fake however, built just for production (and torn down right after), and even some of the Vietnam War scenes were shot around Varnville. Thank goodness for special effects. King’s Landing, Game of Thrones The historic Maltese capital of Mdina played the part of Kings Landing in the first series of Game of Thrones. The medieval walled city is in the centre of the island and has a population of just 300 – many of whom weren’t happy about the series. Maltese officials complained about the damage done and filming moved to Croatia for the following series. Hobbiton, The Lord of the Rings The three Lord of the Rings movies were such a smash hit that the village of Hobbiton was completely rebuilt in the original film location near Matamata in the North Island of New Zealand. You can step inside the tiny hobbit holes, visit the Green Dragon Inn and (of course) buy a souvenir at the gift shop. Images: Getty

International Travel

Harry Potter star reveals huge family update

Daniel Radcliffe, star of the Harry Potter movies, has confirmed he and long-term partner and fellow actor Erin Darke are expecting their first child together. The couple - who have been together for 10 years - confirmed the news to People through a representative after they were spotted out and about in New York City, with Darke sporting her baby bump. And as a source told news.com.au, “they have kept it pretty quiet until now but she can’t hide her bump anymore.” The same source revealed that Radcliffe is thrilled about becoming a father, telling them that “[he] is so excited to be a dad. His relationship with Erin is really special and everyone thinks they will be amazing parents.” In October, Radcliffe actually spoke to Newsweek about what he wanted for his children, “if and when they exist”, and how he hoped to see him on film sets - something that he may now have every opportunity to experience. “A dream would be for them to come onto a film set and be like, 'God, you know, I'd love to be in the art department. I'd love to be something in the crew;,” Radcliffe explained. "Film sets are wonderful places. I think a lot of the time it can be wonderful for kids. “But it's really the fame side of it that should be avoided at all costs." Something that Radcliffe and Darke know all too well, with their years working in film and TV. Something the two have experienced together on more than one occasion - as well as starring in Don’t Think Twice, the two also worked together on the third season of Radcliffe's Miracle Workers. Radcliffe described the latter as something that “was incredibly special and felt lovely”, but wasn’t likely to become something they would do regularly, adding that “we definitely like [working together], but it's not something we want to do all the time.” The couple met in 2012 while filming Kill Your Darlings, and although they primarily keep their relationship private, Radcliffe has discussed what it was like to first get to know each other, once confessing in an interview that it would be “a hell of a story to tell our kids one day because of what our characters do with each other. "Our characters are meeting and flirting with each other, so there is this kind of sweet record of us just meeting for the first time and flirting." The 33-year-old admitted in another interview that he felt an immediate attraction to Darke, and that “there’s a moment when she makes me laugh, and I’m laughing as me and not as my character. “She was incredibly funny and smart. I knew I was in trouble.” Despite the length of their partnership, and multiple rumours that they have gotten engaged - or in more extreme stories, married - Radcliffe’s focus remains on maintaining the strong friendship they’ve forged, especially as they look ahead to their thrilling new chapter. “I think that’s the kind of relationship I always aspire to have with someone I’m in a relationship with,” Radcliffe explained. “You want that person to be your best friend. In the case of Erin, we definitely are.” Images: Getty

Family & Pets

J.K Rowling hits back at haters

Harry Potter author J.K Rowling has addressed her controversial comments about transgender people in her new podcast, calling out those who claimed she “ruined” her legacy. In the first two episodes of her podcast, The Witch Trials of J.K Rowling, the author claims she “never set out to upset anyone” by sharing her opinions on gender ideology numerous times, with some people branding her as “transphobic”. Rowling said what has “interested" her in the past year, particularly on social media, is the people saying, “you’ve ruined your legacy” and “you could have been beloved forever but you chose to say this”. The author hit back, saying, “I think you could not have misunderstood me more profoundly. “I do not walk around my house, thinking about my legacy. You know, what a pompous way to live your life – walking around thinking, ‘What will my legacy be?’ "Whatever. I’ll be dead. I care about it now. I care about the living.” Rowling made waves in June 2020 when she mocked an article that used the phrase “People who menstruate”. The author responded on Twitter, “I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” She also wrote a 3,600-word essay in response to the backlash, explaining why she was so “worried about the new trans activism” and the effort “to erode the legal definition of sex and replace it with gender”. Rowling has strongly denied the accusations of transphobia and described transgender women having access to female bathrooms as throwing “open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman”. Her 2020 novel, Troubled Blood, which was published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, featured a cisgender male serial killer who dresses like a woman to lure his victims. LGBTQIA+ charity community labelled this a “longstanding and somewhat tired trope, responsible for the demonisation of a small group of people”. In the past, users on Twitter discovered Rowling had also liked a tweet that referred to transgender women as “men in dresses”. The cast members of Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, have all spoken out in support of the trans community in the wake of Rowling’s comments. The Witch Trials of J.K Rowling podcast, produced by the Free Press, is hosted by American political activist Megan Phelps-Roper. It appears that Phelps-Roger tries to draw similarities between the threats from rightwing religious groups who wanted to ban Harry Potter and the backlash the author has received from trans activists in recent years. In 2000, Rowling and her team were forced to leave a bookstore during a signing due to a bomb threat by an alleged far-right religious fundamentalist. Rowling shared that she had “direct threats of violence” made against her. “I have had people coming to my house where my kids live, and I’ve had my address posted online. I’ve had what the police, anyway, would regard as credible threats,” she said in her podcast. Rowling warned against the idea of “black and white thinking”, saying it is often the “easiest” and “safest” place to be for many people. She added, “Many people mistake that rush of adrenaline for the voice of conscience. In my worldview, conscience speaks in a very small and inconvenient voice, and it’s normally saying to you: ‘Think again, look more deeply, consider this.’” Image credit: Getty

Books

Iconic Harry Potter actor passes away

Comedy actor Leslie Phillips, known for his roles in the Carry On films and as the voice of the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter series, has died aged 98. Phillips passed away on Monday after a long illness. "I've lost a wonderful husband and the public has lost a truly great showman,” his wife Zara told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/20359203/leslie-phillips-dead-harry-potter-carry-on/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a>. "He was quite simply a national treasure. People loved him. He was mobbed everywhere he went. “When we married he cheekily introduced me to the press as royalty, insisting I was the new Zara Phillips and that I was related to the Queen.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> We are incredibly sad to hear of the passing of the wonderful Leslie Phillips who voiced the Sorting Hat with such inimitable wit and style in the Harry Potter films. <a href="https://t.co/gcqsIT2T3j">pic.twitter.com/gcqsIT2T3j</a> — Harry Potter Film (@HarryPotterFilm) <a href="https://twitter.com/HarryPotterFilm/status/1589982353274929152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2022</a></blockquote> With more than 200 roles in film, TV and radio series over a career spanning eight decades, the British actor was known for catch phrases including “Ding dong” - referencing his character Jack Bell in 1959’s Carry On Nurse - “I say” and “Well, hello”, delivering the last phrase with a suggestive intonation. Despite only starring in four of the 31 Carry On movies, Phillips said his famous catch phrases followed him for the rest of his career. Since the news of his death, tributes from fans and fellow actors have flowed in for Phillips. "RIP Leslie Phillips. Working with him was a joy. And yes he did say DING DONG (because I asked him to),” Coronation Street actor Tony Maudsley, who worked with Phillips, <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyMaudsley1/status/1589961247872909312" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>, along with a photo of the pair on a project they starred in. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 'Well, he-llo!' - alas, no more. He was such fun. He had a wicked sense of humour, such skill as a performer & a unique style that made every performance memorable, watchable & joyous. Honoured to have known him & to salute a long & special life. RIP Leslie Phillips. Ding-dong! <a href="https://t.co/tM9kiIxM83">https://t.co/tM9kiIxM83</a> — Gyles Brandreth (@GylesB1) <a href="https://twitter.com/GylesB1/status/1589981308822114306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2022</a></blockquote> “Sorry to hear Leslie Phillips has passed. Always liked his pater and had a few nice exchanges with him on Twitter back in the days when you could do that sort of thing on here,” Trainspotting writer Irvine Welsh <a href="https://twitter.com/IrvineWelsh/status/1589970373957021697">wrote</a>. Even controversial TV show host Piers Morgan paid tribute, describing Phillips as a “wonderful character” and “superb” actor. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The wonderful actor, everyone's favourite cad, a master of innuendo and dearest of friends, Leslie Phillips has died aged 98. Spent so many happy times together. He came to my wedding. I shall miss him greatly. Ding Dong Leslie. Hello and now a final goodbye dear chum. <a href="https://t.co/uzhgwIiqcW">pic.twitter.com/uzhgwIiqcW</a> — Morris Bright MBE (@MorrisBrightMBE) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorrisBrightMBE/status/1589956691251953664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2022</a></blockquote> “R.I.P. Leslie Phillips. You didn’t quite Carry On until 100, but Ding Dong! you had a spiffing good try,” author Martin Knight <a href="https://twitter.com/MartinKnight_/status/1589951574176305153" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a>. Coronation Street actor Stuart Anthony <a href="https://twitter.com/STU_ACTOR/status/1589950232778792960" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>: “The wonderful Leslie Phillips CBE has left us. Aged 98. A true gentleman, fantastic actor and the nicest man I’ve ever met. His stories were the best.. RIP Leslie Phillips.” While he was known for his portrayals of upper class Brits, Phillips grew up in north London and revealed in a recent interview with <a href="https://www.theoldie.co.uk/blog/rip-leslie-phillips-at-98" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oldie</a> magazine that he took elocution lessons to change his Cockney accent. “All my friends and family were Londoners, real Cockneys, my brother is still a Cockney. They found it hard to recognise the new me, though my voice has without doubt played an enormous part in my success,” he told the outlet. After attending Italia Conti Stage School, Phillips served as a lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry during World War II, but was declared unfit for service just before D-Day. He first appeared in film in the 1930s but wouldn’t go on to star in the Carry On series in 1959 and 1960. In 1998, the actor was made an OBE on the Birthday Honours list before being promoted to CBE in the 2008 New Honours. At the age of 90, he suffered two strokes six months apart. Image: Getty Images

Caring

Slytherin and secure your very own castle

Die-hard fans of Harry Potter will be flocking to Chicago, after a magical home listed on Zillow resembles a Hogwarts Castle. Going for a cool $US669,999 ($AUD974,878), the five-bedroom, three bathroom property is hard to miss. Featuring steel turret roofs, wrought iron gate and bold orange brick facade the home has been on the market for a while now. Known as a “Bridgeport Castle”, the very unique property is larger than it looks, occupying three levels, over 167-square-metres. Built in 1890, the home contains a living room with a fireplace on the main level, a formal dining room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. On the lower level is another family room, laundry room, two bedrooms, gym and bar. Public records show the quirky abode was last sold for $US285,000 ($414,687) in 2004. Take a look at this unique property below. Images: Domain

Real Estate

Teen makes prom dress out of Harry Potter series

A high school student has used pages from the Harry Potter book series to make a very different prom dress. Hailey Skoch created the gown from the popular books, saying the idea came to her after seeing a similar concept online. The 18-year-old spent a total of four days carefully crafting her beautiful dress which, instead of turning pages, will certainly turn heads. “I really wanted to do something more unconventional, and I’ve been obsessed with Harry Potter forever,” she told ArkTimes. “I love to read. So I threw some stuff together and decided to make it a ballgown.” She said it really helped to have the series playing in the background while she worked. Hailey explained the reasoning behind using the Harry Potter books, which she said were the “books of my childhood” and brought her peace during her parent’s divorce. Come the day of the prom, Hailey’s dress certainly had heads turning to take a peek at the book dress. “It was completely insane because I just kind of entered and everyone was kind of doing their own thing. One person saw me, and then another. “It was almost creepy in sync, everyone’s heads just turned. It was the craziest feeling I’ve ever had.” After sharing photos of her dress online, Hailey was headhunted by several designers and photographers who wanted to get their hands on it. “I was this shy, nerdy, geeky kid that was looking for some magic in my life,' she said. '[These books were] just such an inspiration at a time when I was so vulnerable and needed it most... I have such a great love for these books.” Images: Instagram

Books

See the shrines to Harry Potter, the Avengers and Disney in a single home

Fans of Harry Potter, Marvel’s Avengers, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast might not find much to agree on usually, but <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/this-florida-home-has-a-shrine-to-harry-potter-in-its-basement-1118276/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one house</a> in Florida is sure to make them all happy - if they have $7.65 million to spend.Though it might appear to be a standard albeit large home with modern stylings at first glance, the two-storey home in Reunion, Florida contains homages to all three film franchises.The lower level boasts an impressive dedication to the magical Harry Potter films - accessed by a rotating brick wall that reads “Platform 9¾” of course - with a full-size replica of the Hogwarts Express steam train that also contains a sleep carriage with two single beds.Not only is there a full-size train, but the space also contains full-size recreations of Harry Potter, Dobby the House Elf and the Whomping Willow tree.To finish it off, the area is completed by a train-themed bathroom with two frosted showers with quotes from the fictional character Albus Dumbledore.As for Avengers fans, the home’s first-floor games room is the place to be. Arcade games lining one wall, a giant superhero mural covering another, and the fictitious group’s “A” logo on a third wall, while Avengers office chairs, a foosball table and an Avengers air hockey table fill the centre.Elsewhere in the spacious home, there is a children’s bedroom styled to look like Belle’s room from Beauty and the Beast, complete with an appropriately-themed bathroom.The rest of the eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom home features a sleek and modern design and a colour scheme of varying shades of whites, greys, and blues.Other luxe features include the huge home theatre, swimming pool and spa, home gym, wet bar, rooftop terrace and an alfresco area with views of the private golf course.Despite the sky-high price, as of publication an offer appears to have been made on the home, with the <a href="https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7844-Palmilla-Ct-Reunion-FL-34747/130960969_zpid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zillow listing</a> showing the property’s status as pending.Images: Zillow

Real Estate

Fans call JK Rowling out for ‘cartoonishly stereotypical’ character names

With the Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts reunion special sparking renewed interest in the series, some fans have voiced concerns about the names of several minor characters. Character names such as Seamus Finnegan, Cho Chang, and Fleur Delacour have been highlighted as being “cartoonishly stereotypical”, with people pointing out that ‘Cho’ and ‘Chang’ are both surnames. Twitter user Ben Mahtin <a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/BenMahtin/status/1477707150004826120" target="_blank">wrote</a>, “Every single non-white non-British character has a cartoonishly stereotypical name - Cho Chang, Seamus Finnigan, Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour”. In addition, users found a 2014 tweet from Rowling where she responded to a fan enquiry about whether there were any Jewish wizards at Hogwarts by naming a character not seen in either the books or the movies, Anthony Goldstein. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Anthony Goldstein. Ravenclaw. Jewish wizard. <a href="https://t.co/2oClCydHW3">pic.twitter.com/2oClCydHW3</a> — isi baehr-breen (its pronounced ‘izzy’) (@isaiah_bb) <a href="https://twitter.com/isaiah_bb/status/1477700531812454411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2022</a></blockquote> Others pointed out other stereotypical names, including <a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/failure2nd/status/1477713562114179073" target="_blank">Kingsley Shacklebolt</a>, as well as the fact that Finnegan, one of the few Irish characters in the series, has a habit of blowing things up. Of Cho Chang’s name, YouTuber Freddie Wong tweeted, “Two popular last names from two DIFFERENT KINDS of Asians!? Frankly, this was the first red flag we should’ve SEEN IT”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> yo EVERY TIME I forget about how insane the name CHO CHANG is the internet REMINDS ME. Two popular last names from two DIFFERENT KINDS of Asians!? Frankly this was the first red flag we should've SEEN IT <a href="https://t.co/1NnoAwbB31">https://t.co/1NnoAwbB31</a> — Freddie Wong (@fwong) <a href="https://twitter.com/fwong/status/1477894030864228352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2022</a></blockquote> Actress Katie Leung, who played Chang in the movies, spoke to the Chinese Chippy Girl podcast about her experience as Cho. Not only did she experience racist abuse from fans, but she was told by publicists not to talk about it. “I remember them saying to me, ‘Oh, look, Katie, we haven’t seen these, these websites that people are talking about. “And, you know, if you get asked that, just say it’s not true, say it’s not happening.’ And I just nodded my head. I was like, ‘OK, OK,’ even though I had seen it myself with my own eyes. I was like, ‘OK, yeah, I’ll just say everything’s great. “I was like, Googling myself at one point and I was on this website, which was kind of dedicated to the Harry Potter fandom, and I remember reading all the comments. It was a lot of racist s***,” Image: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Movies

First look at the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary reunion

As 2021 marks 20 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone hit the big screen, the cast of the iconic franchise are set to reunite in a special anniversary reunion. Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts will see the star-studded cast reminisce about the years they brought the wizarding world to life, and the everlasting impact the franchise has had on fans around the world. The special will bring cast such as Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Imelda Staunton and many more back to Hogwarts for the first time since 2011, when the final film in the franchise was released. Notably missing from the line-up is Harry Potter writer J.K Rowling, who was not invited to the reunion due to recent transphobic comments. In June 2020, Rowling tweeted an article with the title, "Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate". Finding issue with the opinion piece, Rowling added, "'People who menstruate.' I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?" The transphobic comments prompted the star cast of the Harry Potter movies to come out against her stance, with Emma Watson writing, "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are." "I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are." Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is set to air in Australia on New Year's Day, January 1, 2022, on the Binge streaming service. Check out the teaser trailer below. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X2RzASP6cbA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Image credits: Getty Images / Warner Bros - HBO Max

Harry Potter star speaks about "scary" collapse

Harry Potter star Tom Felton has taken to social media to update fans on his condition after suffering a “scary” health related incident. The 34-year-old actor assured his followers that he was “on the mend” after collapsing during a celebrity golf match at the Ryder Cup in Wisconsin last week. “Hello everyone, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the lovely well wishes as of recent,” Felton said in the video. “Bit of a scary episode, really – but on the mend, people have been taking really good care of me. So thank you very much to anyone who has sent messages of get well soon because I am on the mend, officially.” Switching into a singing voice he added: “Don’t you worry ‘cause Tom will be doing fine…So don’t you worry, Tom will be doing fine.” Tom was loaded onto a stretcher on the golf course on Thursday after reportedly collapsing at the 18th hole, and driven off for medical attention. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844428/new-project-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d35583503cf7435bbf3d5fe3d6735134" /> Image: Getty The PGA of America confirmed the incident in a statement to CNN shortly afterwards. “In today’s Ryder Cup Celebrity Match, actor and Musician Tom Felton experienced a medical incident on the course while participating for Europe,” A spokesperson said. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No further details were available. Felton is best known for playing Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise – a role he landed at 14 years old. He went on to appear in all eight Harry Potter movies.

Body

Helen Mirren set to test your Harry Potter knowledge

In the first event of its kind, Dame Helen Mirren will be hosting a four-part television quiz event called Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses later this year, to celebrate the 20th anniversary since the release of the first film in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The four-part quiz, which will air later this year, will see fans of the Harry Potter franchise put their knowledge to the test and compete for the title of House Cup champion, much like the students at Hogwarts do each year. The quiz will feature hundreds of trivia questions, as well as special guest surprises and a play-along component for those watching at home. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Award-winning actor Dame Helen Mirren is joining the Wizarding World family to host an exciting four-part quiz competition, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses. Discover more: <a href="https://t.co/uemnzU9zoT">https://t.co/uemnzU9zoT</a> <a href="https://t.co/WW8ozPzU6y">pic.twitter.com/WW8ozPzU6y</a> — Wizarding World (@wizardingworld) <a href="https://twitter.com/wizardingworld/status/1438173666949443585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2021</a></blockquote> While Mirren never starred in any of the Potter films, she will “add some British grandeur” to the proceedings, according to Tom Ascheim, Warner Bros. president of global kids, young adults, and classics. Mirren herself said, “I knew someday I’d get a Harry Potter role, and I’m so pleased to take part in the 20-year film celebration. The films inspired such enchantment and wonder for so many of us, and it will be such a treat to reignite that magic for the countless fans who continue to revel in this spellbinding world.” Mirren, an Academy Award winner for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in 2013’s The Queen, was appointed a Dame for services to drama as part of the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours. She also played the Queen in the 2013 play The Audience, a role for which she won both a Tony Award and a Laurence Olivier Award. The event will tape later this month and be broadcast later this year. Better start studying now if you want to try and beat Ravenclaw! <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTMvaG-KvPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTMvaG-KvPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Helen Mirren (@helenmirren)</a> </div> </blockquote> Image: Jacopo Raule/Getty Images

"Astonishing": First edition Harry Potter fetches record price

A rare copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has been sold for $109,000 at auction. The book is one of only 500 hardback first editions printed and was sold by a retired British ex-pat from Luxembourg. Auctioneer Jim Spencer said as the price climbed, it was "astonishing" to watch. The vendor wants to remain anonymous said that he bought the book for his children around 18 months after it was first published in June 1997. He said he was "absolutely delighted" with the sale. "The Harry Potter books are truly iconic - in the very top tier of literature for children - and this first edition can only increase in value in the future," he said. The vendor admitted he planned to use money from the sale to pay off his daughter's student loans. The book was identified as a first edition as it has a duplication of the phrase '1 wand' on page 53 and an issue number of "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1". The final bid for the book came from a private international buyer who was bidding by phone. Mr Spencer said it was the highest price paid at auction for a copy of the book. "I'm absolutely thrilled the book achieved such an outstanding price for our vendor," he said.

Books

JK Rowling reveals history of domestic abuse and sexual assault

JK Rowling has opened up about her experience with domestic abuse and sexual assault for the first time, in a lengthy and highly personal essay written in response to criticism of her public comments on transgender issues. In a 3,600-word statement published on her website on Wednesday, Rowling went into detail about how she became embroiled in an increasingly bitter and polarised debate around the concept of gender identity. The author said she was a “domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor”, citing this alongside her belief in freedom of speech and experience as a teacher as reasons behind her position. “I’m mentioning these things now not in an attempt to garner sympathy, but out of solidarity with the huge numbers of women who have histories like mine, who’ve been slurred as bigots for having concerns around single-sex spaces,” she wrote. The note came after the author took to Twitter to share a series of messages over the weekend about people who identify as trans. One tweet read: “If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives.” Since then, prominent figures have come out against Rowling, including Daniel Radcliffe and Eddie Redmayne, who both worked in the hugely successful Harry Potter franchise. Rowling said she was motivated to share her thoughts after reading about proposed “gender confirmation certificates” in Scotland, which allows trans people to change their sex on their birth certificates based on how they identify and not medical and psychiatric reports. She accused those who disagreed of “groupthink” and “relentless attacks”, saying that even though she believes trans people deserve protection due to the high rates of domestic and sexual violence they face, she did not agree that trans women who have not undergone hormone therapy or surgical transition to have access to single-sex spaces. “When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman – and, as I’ve said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones – then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside. That is the simple truth,” she wrote. She also confirmed that she was in her 20s when she dealt with physical abuse for the first time. “If you could come inside my head and understand what I feel when I read about a trans woman dying at the hands of a violent man, you’d find solidarity and kinship,” she wrote. Citing an unnamed poll, Rowling claimed that those who did not support preserving single-sex spaces were “only those privileged or lucky enough never to have come up against male violence or sexual assault, and who’ve never troubled to educate themselves on how prevalent it is”. She said she had been contacted by “huge numbers” of women who were afraid to speak publicly about trans reforms, and decried institutions and organisations she once admired for “cowering before the tactics of the playground”. She said she believed misogyny and sexism were reasons behind the 4,400% increase in the number of girls being referred for transitioning treatment in the past decade. “I’ve read all the arguments about femaleness not residing in the sexed body, and the assertions that biological women don’t have common experiences, and I find them, too, deeply misogynistic and regressive. It’s also clear that one of the objectives of denying the importance of sex is to erode what some seem to see as the cruelly segregationist idea of women having their own biological realities or – just as threatening – unifying realities that make them a cohesive political class … It isn’t enough for women to be trans allies. Women must accept and admit that there is no material difference between trans women and themselves,” she wrote. The essay sparked a heated debate on Twitter, with Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, tweeting: “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.” In a second tweet, she said: “I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.”

Books

Why rereading Harry Potter might be the next best thing after your friendships

Humans are innately social creatures. But as we stay home to limit the spread of COVID-19, video calls only go so far to satisfy our need for connection. The good news is the relationships we have with fictional characters from books, TV shows, movies, and video games – called parasocial relationships – serve many of the same functions as our friendships with real people, without the infection risks. Time spent in fictional worlds Some of us already spend vast swathes of time with our heads in fictional worlds. Psychologist and novelist <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22yoaiLYb7M&t=122s">Jennifer Lynn Barnes</a> estimated that across the globe, people have collectively spent 235,000 years engaging with Harry Potter books and movies alone. And that was a conservative estimate, based on a reading speed of three hours per book and no rereading of books or rewatching of movies. This human predilection for becoming attached to fictional characters is lifelong, or at least from the time toddlers begin to engage in pretend play. About half of all children create an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Imaginary-Companions-Children-Create-Them-ebook/dp/B000TTVQAU/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?dchild=1&keywords=marjorie+taylor%27s+imaginary+friend&qid=1586910704&sr=8-1-fkmr0">imaginary friend</a> (think comic strip <a href="https://calvinandhobbes.fandom.com/wiki/Hobbes">Calvin’s tiger pal Hobbes</a>). Preschool children often form attachments to media characters and believe these <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-28765-005">parasocial friendships</a> are reciprocal — asserting that the character (even an animated one) can hear what they say and know what they feel. Older children and adults, of course, know that book and TV characters do not actually exist. But our knowledge of that reality doesn’t stop us from feeling these <a href="https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/abs/10.1521/soco.2008.26.2.156">relationships are real</a>, or that they <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333748971_Parasocial_Interactions_and_Relationships_with_Media_Characters_-_An_Inventory_of_60_Years_of_Research">could be reciprocal</a>. When we finish a beloved book or television series and continue to think about what the characters will do next, or what they could have done differently, we are having a parasocial interaction. Often, we entertain these thoughts and feelings to cope with the sadness — even grief — that we feel at the end of a book or series. The still lively <a href="https://twitter.com/reddit/status/1128051192288796672">Game of Thrones discussion threads</a> or social media reaction to the <a href="https://www.popsugar.com.au/celebrity/Offspring-Season-5-Preview-34780442">death of Patrick</a> on Offspring a few years back show many people experience this. Some people sustain these relationships by writing new adventures in the form of <a href="https://www.fanfiction.net/book/Harry-Potter/">fan fiction</a> for their favourite characters after a popular series has ended. Not surprisingly, Harry Potter is one of the most popular fanfic topics. And steamy blockbuster <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/hayleycuccinello/2017/02/10/fifty-shades-of-green-how-fanfiction-went-from-dirty-little-secret-to-money-machine/#58583ef3264c">Fifty Shades of Grey</a> began as fan fiction for the Twilight series. As good as the real thing? So, imaginary friendships are common even among adults. But are they good for us? Or are they a sign we’re losing our grip on reality? The evidence so far shows these imaginary friendships are a sign of well-being, not dysfunction, and that they can be good for us in many of the same ways that real friendships are good for us. Young children with imaginary friends show more <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19630910">creativity</a> in their storytelling, and higher levels of <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1131670?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents">empathy</a> compared to children without imaginary friends. Older children who create whole imaginary worlds (called <a href="https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cdev.13162">paracosms</a>) are more creative in dealing with social situations, and may be better problem-solvers when faced with a stressful event. As adults, we can turn to parasocial relationships with fictional characters to feel less <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022103108002412">lonely</a> and boost our mood when we’re <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2008.00197.x">feeling low</a>. As a bonus, reading <a href="https://science.sciencemag.org/content/342/6156/377">fiction</a>, watching high-quality <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-44293-001">television shows</a>, and playing pro-social <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21171755">video games</a> have all been shown to boost empathy and may decrease <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jasp.12279">prejudice</a>. Get by with a little help We need our fictional friends more than ever right now as we endure weeks in isolation. When we do venture outside for a walk or to go the supermarket and someone avoids us, it feels like <a href="https://www.newswise.com/coronavirus/why-social-distancing-is-so-difficult-how-research-explains-our-behavior/?article_id=728360">social rejection</a>, even though we know physical distancing is recommended. Engaging with familiar TV or book characters is one way to <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1948550612454889">rejuvenate</a> our sense of connection. Plus, parasocial relationships are enjoyable and, as American literature professor Patricia Meyer Spacks noted in <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/are-rereadings-better-readings">On Rereading</a>, revisiting fictional friends might tell us more about ourselves than the book. So cuddle up on the couch in your comfiest clothes and devote some time to your fictional friendships. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/apr/08/rereading-favourite-books-pleasure">Reread an old favourite</a> – even one from your childhood. Revisiting a familiar fictional world creates a sense of <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08824096.2017.1383236">nostalgia</a>, which is another way to feel less <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2006-20034-013">lonely</a> and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23163710">bored</a>. Take turns reading the Harry Potter series aloud with your family or housemates, or watch a TV series together and bond over which characters you love the most. (I recommend <a href="https://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/3189">Gilmore Girls</a> for all mothers marooned with teenage daughters.) Fostering fictional friendships together can strengthen <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsos.160288">real-life</a> relationships. So as we stay home and save lives, we can be cementing the familial and parasocial relationships that will shape us – and our children – for life.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/136236/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/elaine-reese-1027041">Elaine Reese</a>, Professor of Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-otago-1304">University of Otago</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/missing-your-friends-rereading-harry-potter-might-be-the-next-best-thing-136236">original article</a>.

Books

Rare Harry Potter book set to sell for $54,000 at auction

If you have some old Harry Potter books at home, check them out today – you might be sitting on a copy worth tens of thousands of dollars. A 1997 print version of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone bought for less than $2 at a yard sale is expected to sell for up to £30,000 (about AU$53,600) at an auction at the end of July. The book, owned by a 54-year-old English office worker, is one of the only 500 copies in the world of the particular first edition. The owner, whose name is not revealed, told <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/07/02/rare-harry-potter-book-bought-at-yard-sale-could-fetch-thousands-at-auction/">SWNS</a> that he bought the book in 1999 for a pound. “I thought nothing of it at the time. I read the book … and then put it away in a cupboard for years,” he said. “It’s so exciting to think that a holiday read could be worth so much now.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828733/harry-potter-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4af587c5fe9341fcadf09f7f7c266320" /> The rare edition was published by Bloomsbury on June 30, 1997 and came with numerous misspellings and typos. Jim Spencer, rare books expert at Hansons Auctioneers said 300 of the first edition copies went to schools and libraries. “They are extremely rare,” he told the <a href="http://bit.ly/32cy6Gy">Daily Mirror</a>. “This is a landmark in children’s literature, but it appeals to young and old. Everybody knows this book. This is the holy grail for so many collectors.” The book will be auctioned on July 31 at Hansons’ Library Auction at Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, in Staffordshire, England. In April, another book of the same edition was <a href="https://www.gq.com.au/entertainment/film-tv/a-first-edition-harry-potter-book-just-fetched-126k-at-auction/news-story/3c7211062cb7c94c3184e32754b31e0a">sold at a Bonhams auction</a> in London for £68,812 or nearly AU$126,000, above the original estimated worth of £40,000 to £60,000 ($AU73,000 to 110,000).

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