Facts About Harry Potter

1. The actress who played Moaning Myrtle was 37 years old at the time “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” was filmed. She is the oldest actress to ever portray a Hogwarts student.

2. Ron Weasley’s character originally swore a lot, but Rowling’s publisher wouldn’t let her use that sort of language because it would’ve been inappropriate for young readers.

3. Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double through the first six films, David Holmes, was paralyzed from the waist down during the sixth film while practicing a flying scene that included an explosion.

4. So many people had trouble pronouncing Hermione’s name that Rowling had her sound it out for Viktor Krum in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

5. J.K Rowling is the first person to become a billionaire by writing a book.

6. Harry’s birthday is July 31, 1980. Rowling’s birthday is also July 31.

7. Only Alan Rickman, the actor who played Professor Snape, knew his character’s fate before the release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” because Rowling told him.

8. Tom Felton auditioned for the roles of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, but was chosen to play Draco Malfoy instead.

9. Dementors, the deadly phantoms that guard Azkaban Prison, represent depression and were based on Rowling’s struggle with the disease.

10. Over 400 million Harry Potter books in 67 languages have been sold worldwide as of 2008.

11. In order to become acquainted with the films’ three main stars, director Alfonso Cuaron had each of them write an essay about their characters. True to their characters, Emma Watson wrote a 16-page essay; Daniel Radcliffe wrote a simple, one-page paper; and Rupert Grint never even turned his in.

12. In 2008, J. K. Rowling made £5 every second.

13. The name "Harry Potter" is mentioned 18,956 times throughout the entire Harry Potter book series.