Potter' spell hits New York

NEW YORK - Harry Potter, a babe magnet? "I wish," says Daniel Radcliffe, the 12-year-old who plays the boy wizard in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which had its U.S. premiere here Sunday afternoon. But the English lad may soon be an international heartthrob, according to singer Charlotte Church, 15, one of the many stars who came to see the movie. "Harry Potter is the don, and playing Harry Potter will get him all the ladies," predicted the Welsh soprano, an "obsessive" Potter fan.

Radcliffe and his two young co-stars, Rupert Grint, 13, and Emma Watson, 11, came to New York exactly a week after the London premiere, which drew 10,000 fans. But the New York event, like all film premieres since Sept. 11, was distinctly low-key in comparison.
Fans were few, but celebrity wattage was high. Robin Williams, Diana Ross, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, Joan Allen, Kathleen Turner, Sigourney Weaver and JAG's David James Elliott were among those on hand. Many brought their kids.
Sadie Friedman, Joan Allen's 9-year-old, was looking forward "to seeing what Voldemort" - the evil wizard who killed Harry's parents - "looks like."
Amy Irving came with her two sons, Max, 16, and Gabriel, 11. Max, whose dad, Steven Spielberg, decided to make A.I. instead of Harry Potter, admitted that Harry Potter isn't high on his reading list these days. Speculation has been that teenage boys aren't interested in Harry because he appeals to younger kids. But Max said he was eager to see the movie.
Diana Ross' eldest son, Ross Naess, 14, said: "I think Harry Potter's for kids of all ages."
Asked if he liked Harry, Williams, accompanied by wife Marcia and kids, answered, "I'm hairy, but I'm a huge Harry Potter fan.
"But it's my kids who are real fans. We had to be in line one night at midnight to get one of the books first. It was like waiting up all night to get that first edition of Madonna outtakes."

"Potter' spell hits New York"

("USA Today, November 12, 2001)

	"Potter' spell hits New York" ("USA Today, November 12, 2001)
NEW YORK - Harry Potter, a babe magnet? "I wish," says Daniel Radcliffe, the 12-year-old who plays the boy wizard in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which had its U.S. premiere here Sunday afternoon. But the English lad may soon be an international heartthrob, according to singer Charlotte Church, 15, one of the many stars who came to see the movie. "Harry Potter is the don, and playing Harry Potter will get him all the ladies," predicted the Welsh soprano, an "obsessive" Potter fan. Radcliffe and his two young co-stars, Rupert Grint, 13, and Emma Watson, 11, came to New York exactly a week after the London premiere, which drew 10,000 fans. But the New York event, like all film premieres since Sept. 11, was distinctly low-key in comparison. Fans were few, but celebrity wattage was high. Robin Williams, Diana Ross, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, Joan Allen, Kathleen Turner, Sigourney Weaver and JAG's David James Elliott were among those on hand. Many brought their kids. Sadie Friedman, Joan Allen's 9-year-old, was looking forward "to seeing what Voldemort" - the evil wizard who killed Harry's parents - "looks like." Amy Irving came with her two sons, Max, 16, and Gabriel, 11. Max, whose dad, Steven Spielberg, decided to make A.I. instead of Harry Potter, admitted that Harry Potter isn't high on his reading list these days. Speculation has been that teenage boys aren't interested in Harry because he appeals to younger kids. But Max said he was eager to see the movie. Diana Ross' eldest son, Ross Naess, 14, said: "I think Harry Potter's for kids of all ages." Asked if he liked Harry, Williams, accompanied by wife Marcia and kids, answered, "I'm hairy, but I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. "But it's my kids who are real fans. We had to be in line one night at midnight to get one of the books first. It was like waiting up all night to get that first edition of Madonna outtakes."