‘Harry Potter’ Auditions Cast an Enticing Spell for Young U.K. Performers, but Is Child Stardom Worth It?
variety.comK.J. Yossman At primary school gates across the U.K., there’s one topic of conversation that’s surpassed even the 11+ — the notoriously difficult exam for selective secondary schools many 10-year-olds sit for — and that’s “Harry Potter” auditions.
News that HBO’s upcoming reboot has begun casting the lead trio – Ron, Hermione and, of course, the Boy Who Lived – has resulted in a frenzy across the country.
In local Facebook groups, parents are already weighing up their offspring’s chances. “My daughter has been put forward for this by her agency,” trills one mother in Bedfordshire, while comments on a Manchester newspaper story about the auditions are full of people tagging each other suggesting their kids apply.
Even though the guidelines specify applicants must be U.K. residents aged between 9 and 11 years old in April 2025, many are already planning to lie about their kids’ ages if they just breach the cut-off.
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