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Harry Potter

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Speaking of shouting, it's something I bet David Yates never, ever does. He seems incredibly soft-spoken.
Oh, no. That's all cover. [Laughs] He knows what he wants. Actors often think they can massage the director into doing them their way, and often directors really are massaging you into giving them what they want.

How did you come up with Bellatrix's slinky look, especially the big bustier and the cleavage?
I have chicken fillets. I'm not blessed. And so I thought, Well this is my chance to have the boobs I've always wanted. But then my friend, my assistant, said, ''You look like a porn star!'' That was not the image I was going for. [The film's costume designer], Jany [Temime], was originally just going to put me in a sack. I said, ''There's no way. I want to have a sexy silhouette.'' Because I'm short, and I could easily look terrible. So I had the idea of the corset. She looks like a warrior. I mean, Bellatrix does mean warrior. And she's also a bit of a fatale. She's the right hand of Voldemort, and the only woman death eater.

Why does Bellatrix so enjoy attacking her cousin Sirius Black?
He deserves it. [Laughs raucously] He betrayed the whole family, went all goody-goody. He had this coming for a long time.

There were bits of footage of you in the coming attractions and in TV previews that showed you dueling with Gary Oldman's Sirius, and also taunting Harry. But those seem to be missing in the final cut of the movie. What happened?
I had a duel with Sirius, during which he makes a strategic mistake. I learned for three weeks how to wand-fight. And I was really good with all my spells! It was really complicated stuff. And then they cut the fight! They just cut it. I can't believe they cut the fight. All that wand training for nothing. And a wand blister. I told the [producers and director], ''You've got to put that in the DVD extras.'' I did learn to do my spells. And it's a good fight, too. I stuck my tongue out at the end.

Actually, I asked director David Yates about that. He says the DVD will have about six cut scenes. But your fight bits won't be one of them, because they were woven into a longer scene that is in the final movie. I think you're out of luck unless they reissue the whole movie expanded down the line.
Did they leave in the thing with me holding my nose when I apparated?

Don't recall seeing that.
Ah. You give 'em everything, and they keep the bland one.... Well, if you want a big part, don't let yourself be in the shooting script for only the last three pages. [Laughs] I've been employed [already] for the last [movie]. So I guess I figure in the seventh book. J.K. Rowling said Bellatrix's role was going to be significant in the last one, when I showed some reluctance in playing a tiny bit part. [Cackles] Up front, they said, ''You're very significant in the last one.'' But significant could mean a lot of things. That could just mean a significant plot point. Doesn't necessarily equal big part.

We'll be rooting for you.


Posted Jul 12, 2007 | Order Article Reprints
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