How kissing Daniel Radcliffe and R-Patz didn't convince Katie Leung that acting was for her
By Andrea Magrath
Last updated at 9:16 PM on 6th December 2011
She shot to fame playing the girl in the middle of Daniel Radcliffe and Robert Pattinson in the world's biggest film franchise back in 2005.
But getting to be Pattinson's onscreen girlfriend in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and kiss Radcliffe in the following film The Order of the Pheonix weren't enough to convince Katie Leung she was in the right business.
The 24-year-old has revealed that she almost gave up acting altogether after completing work as Cho Chang on the final Potter film this year.
Acting bug: Harry Potter star Katie Leung is making her stage debut in February after almost leaving the profession after the final Potter film
'Harry Potter was an amazing experience but I didn't know whether I was chosen on my acting ability or because I fitted the character at the time,' Miss Leung told today's Evening Standard.
But she has been tempted back to the profession, after rediscovering her love of acting during an intensive course this summer, and will be making her stage debut in February.
In another adaptation, the Scottish actress will take on the role of author Jung Chang in Wild Swans at London's Young Vic.
Love interest: The 24-year-old shot to fame as the object of Daniel Radcliffe's desire and was Harry's first kiss in Order of the Pheonix in 2007
Lucky girl: She also played Robert Pattinson's (as Cedric Diggory) girlfriend long before Kristen Stewart in 2005's Goblet of Fire
The book, the best-selling non-fiction work in British history, tells the history of China in the 20th century through the eyes of three generations of women in Chang's family.
Katie says: 'It is a great honour to be involved in such an extraordinary project and especially to be playing the role based on Jung Chang. I look forward to performing this truly inspirational story on stage.'
'This production means a lot to me,' says Jung Chang. 'To see Wild Swans on stage - transferred into another art form - will be fantastic.
'It feels great to know that my book is in such good hands.'
Rising star: Miss Leung, pictured with her Harry Potter co-stars in 2005, wasn't sure of her acting ability before taking a crash course this summer
It is the first stage adaptation for the 1991 work, which has sold more than 13 million copies in 36 languages, and has come about through collaboration between the Young Vic, the American Repertory Theater and the Actors Touring Company.
The play, which will run at the London theatre for a month from April 13, features a cast of British and American performers and is directed by Sacha Wares.
Its world premiere will take place at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on February 11.
Wild Swans – Cast Announced!
Harry Potter star Katie Leung will play the character based on Jung Chang in the first ever stage version of her astonishing true story Wild Swans.
Katie rose to fame as Harry Potter’s girlfriend Cho Chang in the much-loved film series.
Katie commented ‘It is a great honour to be involved in such an extraordinary project and especially to be playing the role based on Jung Chang. I look forward to performing this truly inspirational story on stage.’
Katie joins a cast of British and American actors that includes Oliver Biles, Eric Chan, Annie Chang, Ka-Ling Cheung, Victor Chi, Celeste Den, Joanne Fong, Jon Kit Lee, Orion Lee, Jennifer Lim, Les Mau, Ron Nakahara, Zenghui Qiu and Julyana Soelistyo.
Jung Chang commented ‘This production means a lot to me. To see Wild Swans on stage – transferred into another art form – will be fantastic. It feels great to know that my book is in such good hands.’
Read the announcement news in the Evening Standard piece Why I nearly kissed goodbye to acting, by Harry Potter girl Katie Leung >>
Click here to learn more about the production and to get yourself tickets from £10. Wild Swans is part of World Stages London.
Katie rose to fame as Harry Potter’s girlfriend Cho Chang in the much-loved film series.
Katie commented ‘It is a great honour to be involved in such an extraordinary project and especially to be playing the role based on Jung Chang. I look forward to performing this truly inspirational story on stage.’
Katie joins a cast of British and American actors that includes Oliver Biles, Eric Chan, Annie Chang, Ka-Ling Cheung, Victor Chi, Celeste Den, Joanne Fong, Jon Kit Lee, Orion Lee, Jennifer Lim, Les Mau, Ron Nakahara, Zenghui Qiu and Julyana Soelistyo.
Jung Chang commented ‘This production means a lot to me. To see Wild Swans on stage – transferred into another art form – will be fantastic. It feels great to know that my book is in such good hands.’
Read the announcement news in the Evening Standard piece Why I nearly kissed goodbye to acting, by Harry Potter girl Katie Leung >>
Click here to learn more about the production and to get yourself tickets from £10. Wild Swans is part of World Stages London.
