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London - Emotions ran high at the dazzling word premiere in London on Thursday of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two - the final instalment of the eight-part cinema series.
"Thank you for queuing up for the books for all those years, for camping out in a wet Trafalgar Square," Harry Potter author JK Rowling told the cheering crowds.
When the fans returned the compliment, Rowling signalled for them to stop. "No, no, I'm already crying," said the 45 year-old, whose Harry Potter series has become a phenomenal worldwide success.
Thousands of fans, braving the unpredictable British weather of heavy showers and occasional sunshine, had camped out in central Trafalgar Square to catch a glimpse of Rowling and the Harry Potter stars.
'End of childhood'
"I have loved Harry Potter since the first book came out and it's the end of an era. I want to be here to experience it because it has been a part of our childhood," said 16-year-old Idun Anduik, who travelled from Bergen in Norway.
"It's really sad. I wish there were more books and more movies," added her friend, Marie Ones.
"It's kind of the end of our childhood," said Georgia Giles, 19, from Liverpool. Layne Ahlstrom, 15, who travelled from California, said: "I will forever love Harry Potter."
Stars get emotional
Most of all, those gathered along the red carpet in front of London's National Gallery hoped to catch a glimpse of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, the former child stars who launched the record-breaking movie series in 2001.
Watson, now 21, said playing Harry's friend Hermione Granger in the films had changed her life.
"Hermione's been like my sister. She feels so real to me," she told journalists. "I will miss being her. She has pushed me and made me a better person."
Filming for Harry Potter had been "like coming to work every day and being that girl that lives in this magical world," said Watson, wiping away tears.
Producer David Heyman said the three young stars were "still humble, still enthusiastic and still generous" even after the massive success they had enjoyed.
"Each and every person, not just here in this square but around the world who have watched these films for the last 10 years, they will always carry the films with them for the rest of their lives," said Heyman.
Rave reviews
The films, based on the seven-sequel book series, have made Rowling and the young actors multi-millionaires.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two, which was split into two parts for the screen version, is due to go on general release on July 15.
While the fans will have to wait to see the final Potter, British film critics on Thursday raved about the "spectacular action scenes" as Harry and Voldemort do battle.
"It could easily have been a letdown. But the fight here between good and evil is more than satisfying. It's thrilling," said the Daily Mail, echoing the Sun newspaper which hailed the "dizzying and thrilling" battle scenes.
But some viewers warned that "death is everywhere" in the film, and that the brutal scenes and bloodletting could be too scary for younger cinema-goers.
However, The Daily Telegraph concluded that director David Yates had produced a "genuinely terrifying spectacle, as bloodied students fight desperately against a horde of screaming black-robed Death Eaters."
Jason Isaacs, who plays Lucius Malfoy in the film, said he was not surprised by the enthusiastic reaction of the fans.
"The books are all about death and loss and mortality so they are very emotional and they make people emotional. You find this wherever you go in the world. Harry Potter just seems to light up the world," he said.
"Thank you for queuing up for the books for all those years, for camping out in a wet Trafalgar Square," Harry Potter author JK Rowling told the cheering crowds.
When the fans returned the compliment, Rowling signalled for them to stop. "No, no, I'm already crying," said the 45 year-old, whose Harry Potter series has become a phenomenal worldwide success.
Thousands of fans, braving the unpredictable British weather of heavy showers and occasional sunshine, had camped out in central Trafalgar Square to catch a glimpse of Rowling and the Harry Potter stars.
'End of childhood'
"I have loved Harry Potter since the first book came out and it's the end of an era. I want to be here to experience it because it has been a part of our childhood," said 16-year-old Idun Anduik, who travelled from Bergen in Norway.
"It's really sad. I wish there were more books and more movies," added her friend, Marie Ones.
"It's kind of the end of our childhood," said Georgia Giles, 19, from Liverpool. Layne Ahlstrom, 15, who travelled from California, said: "I will forever love Harry Potter."
Stars get emotional
Most of all, those gathered along the red carpet in front of London's National Gallery hoped to catch a glimpse of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, the former child stars who launched the record-breaking movie series in 2001.
Watson, now 21, said playing Harry's friend Hermione Granger in the films had changed her life.
"Hermione's been like my sister. She feels so real to me," she told journalists. "I will miss being her. She has pushed me and made me a better person."
Filming for Harry Potter had been "like coming to work every day and being that girl that lives in this magical world," said Watson, wiping away tears.
Producer David Heyman said the three young stars were "still humble, still enthusiastic and still generous" even after the massive success they had enjoyed.
"Each and every person, not just here in this square but around the world who have watched these films for the last 10 years, they will always carry the films with them for the rest of their lives," said Heyman.
Rave reviews
The films, based on the seven-sequel book series, have made Rowling and the young actors multi-millionaires.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two, which was split into two parts for the screen version, is due to go on general release on July 15.
While the fans will have to wait to see the final Potter, British film critics on Thursday raved about the "spectacular action scenes" as Harry and Voldemort do battle.
"It could easily have been a letdown. But the fight here between good and evil is more than satisfying. It's thrilling," said the Daily Mail, echoing the Sun newspaper which hailed the "dizzying and thrilling" battle scenes.
But some viewers warned that "death is everywhere" in the film, and that the brutal scenes and bloodletting could be too scary for younger cinema-goers.
However, The Daily Telegraph concluded that director David Yates had produced a "genuinely terrifying spectacle, as bloodied students fight desperately against a horde of screaming black-robed Death Eaters."
Jason Isaacs, who plays Lucius Malfoy in the film, said he was not surprised by the enthusiastic reaction of the fans.
"The books are all about death and loss and mortality so they are very emotional and they make people emotional. You find this wherever you go in the world. Harry Potter just seems to light up the world," he said.
