Giving Harry, Hermione and Ron Their Due

[poliphilo]

Mean spirited piece in the Mail this morning by Jan Moir excoriating the three Harry Potter kids for their "tragic empty lives". I can see why a Mail journalist might object to Emma Watson's feminist campaigning- though it seems like a pretty good use of her power and profile to me - but I can't think what the other two have ever done to upset her. She's sparing with the truth too, acknowledging that Watson "isn't exactly washed up" while failing to note she's about to open in Disney's blockbuster Beauty and the Beast- and painting Radcliffe as a sad drunk when that was a phase he went through when he was still making the Potter films.  Personally I've always admired how level-headed all three of them have proved in negotiating their later careers, refining their craft, choosing roles well, not making arses of themselves and gaining respect across the board. Grint has put together a solid CV, Radcliffe an impressive one on both screen and stage while Watson could be on the verge of adult super-stardom.

Comments

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

It's only what you can expect from the Mail. It's so mean spirited and full of hate that I never read it and try to even avoid following links to online articles.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I take the Mail as I find it. It publishes much that is misogynistic, mean-spirited, bigoted and hypocritical but it also publishes writers I respect like Peter Hitchens and Peter Oborne. It's a mish-mash.

[sorenr.livejournal.com]

When I saw "A Young Doctor's Notebook" and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" I knew that at least Radcliffe and Watson could pull their own weight. I'm not sure I remember anything with Grint in it, but that can be merely incidental. After all, I don't really keep up much with contemporary film and TV...

I'm in love with Emma Watson, though... I love that she has become a high-profile voice even though she has mainly starred in smaller films. And I'm kind of curious about how a vocal feminist will play a Disney princess; that will be interesting! I think she can pull it off, though.

[(Anonymous)]

Good piece of writing, opposing the slurs of Jan Moir. I don't think I've read her, but she sounds like the worst kind of hack. They have had to negotiate their paths from child stardom, which is always a difficult place to be, I'm sure.
Jenny

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've followed their careers at a distance- which means reading the reviews rather than seeing the shows. I thought Radcliffe was very good as John Kipling in My Boy Jack and Watson equally impressive in The Bling Ring. I always thought Grint was the least talented of the three and his post Potter career has mainly been as a supporting player- but he keeps going and gets decent reviews and is proving himself a reliable character actor.

They could have stopped work and lived off their huge nest eggs and frittered life away as celebs- and none of them has done. I give them great respect for that.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's very hard to make the transition from child star to adult performer- but all three of the Potter kids have done it gracefully. It's a remarkable achievement.

[howlin-wolf-66.livejournal.com]

It's Jan Moir. After the scurrilous and undeserved trashing she gave Stephen Gately in the wake of his death, no level of bitterness emanating from her will surprise me...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't usually read her but in this case the headline was so preposterous...