Colin Creevey Actor: J.K. Rowling Was 'Trigger-Happy' in Final Harry Potter Book
Every year now, on the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling apologizes for another character she killed off. She started with Fred Weasley and continued with Lupin. She may never get to Colin Creevey, but the actor who played him in the second film hasn't forgotten his sacrifice.
Hugh Mitchell, now 27, played Hogwarts photographer/Harry Potter Stage 5 Clinger Colin Creevey in "Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets." He joined the second podcast of EW's Binge of Harry Potter following the second book and its film adaptation.
Mitchell's Colin was only in the second movie, despite the character continuing on in later books. When he initially replied to an ad for the movie (which arrived via fax to his school), Mitchell said he auditioned for Justin Finch-Fletchley. The audition process was drawn out over a few months, then he was ultimately cast as Colin. Mitchell said director Chris Columbus had him go crazier and crazier in the role.
Mitchell told EW he wasn't quick enough to read the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," so other people spoiled his own character's death for him. EW asked if he thought Colin deserved his fate, as one of the victims/heroes of the Battle of Hogwarts:
"There's a sort of prevailing opinion that I think J.K. Rowling got a bit trigger-happy towards the end — she got a little bit like, 'Oh, screw it, kill him as well.' I think there's a certain poignancy to Colin's death just because he was that picture of innocence and also bravery — the whole thing of sneaking back into the castle. So yeah, a lot of people were pretty cut up actually about Colin's death."
He said it all in a light-hearted way, and he knows Colin wasn't the only one to die in the battle -- and at least he died a hero, if a much too young one. Listen to his whole interview for more, including his thanks to fans for not being too annoyed by Colin.
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