Pottermania takes London by storm
Hundreds of fans, mainly young girls, crammed into London’s Leicester Square in torrential rain to chant “Harry, Harry, Harry” – drowning out the occasional dramatic crack of thunder.
Speaking about the female attention he attracts, Radcliffe said: “I can’t complain. It’s rather wonderful, really.”
Speaking of his first on-screen clinch with Katie Leung, who plays Cho Chang in the film, he said: “She’s a very good kisser.”
Radcliffe’s co-stars Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) were also expected at the event.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix sees Harry, played by 17-year-old Radcliffe return to Hogwarts for his fifth year, but his integrity is called into question when some of the wizard community believe the story of the teenager’s recent encounter with Lord Voldemort is a lie.
The world premiere took place in Tokyo and broke box office records.
Critics have given the film mixed reviews.
The seventh and last book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is released on July 21.
Internet retailer Amazon.com said nearly 1.6 million people worldwide had pre-ordered the book.
That beats the 1.5 million advance orders that the website took for the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
JK Rowling made a rare public appearance at the premiere and spoke of finishing the final book in the series.
“Finishing it was very, very emotional. It was a combination of relief and sadness really,” she said.
“It’s been a hell of a month. I’ll want to know what the people in my house think of it.”
The writer said to see the crowd congregated in Leicester Square was “fantastic”.
Rowling was shocked to hear some fans camped overnight to catch a glimpse of their favourite characters. “No. They haven’t?” she asked. “Poor, poor things.”
But she was evidently pleased at their enthusiasm.
“It’s fantastic and they’re holding books and that’s the best thing.”
Asked what questions she had been asked by members of the crowd, she said: “They’re asking all the obscure questions and I can’t say yes or no. But they’ve only got two weeks to wait now so I’m not being too mean.”
She indicated that the final book would indeed be the last Harry Potter, and, when asked if she had been tempted to change her mind, she said: “No, it is really what it was always planned to be.”
Asked what plans she had for the near future Rowling said: “I’m looking forward to going on holiday.”
Rowling, who is a supporter of the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown, was asked if she would ever consider going into government.
“Absolutely not,” she laughed.
Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weaseley said Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was darker than previous films.
“I think everyone’s grown up in this one.”
Asked how he felt about the film’s franchise coming to an end, he said: “It’s been a big part of my life. A really cool experience.”
Responding to the rumour the on-screen kiss between Radcliffe and Leung took 30 takes, he said with a smile: “That’s what I heard.”
Fans screamed wildly and thrust pens and any signable surface eagerly towards the stars.
Another held by Vicky Martini, 24, and Deborah Silva, 19, read: “We came from Brazil for extra potion classes.”
They said they had travelled from Brazil for the book release and the premiere. When told that J K Rowling would be attending Vicky said: “Oh my God, she’s the one I want to see. She has a great mind.”
Asked what the books meant to her, she said: “That life can be full of magic.”
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