Bonnie Wright Wants Her Son to Read the Harry Potter Books Before Watching the Movie

Harry Potter fans watched Ginny Weasley say “good luck” to The Boy Who Lived as he left for Hogwarts almost 23 years ago in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – and an actress Bonnie Wright can’t wait to watch the scene with his own child.

“I hope they like it a lot! I mean, I can’t force them, but I will definitely encourage them to read positively,” said Wright, 33, exclusively. Us Weekly while in New York City for the Back to Hogwarts event at Grand Central Terminal on Sunday, September 1.

Actress, who appeared in all eight Potter film as the youngest Weasley, showing son Elio, who turned 1 on September 19, with his wife Andrew Lococo. Although it’s still a few years away, Wright has determined that Elio must read the book before seeing the film adaptation that launched his mother’s career.

“I wish I could read it to him…but I’ll definitely make sure we read the book before watching the movie,” she insisted. “It can be like reading a book, (then) watching a movie. But I will definitely make sure we open the book. I also remember with the audiobook, so maybe the audiobook will be good.

It’s not just baby boys who will experience magic for the first time. Wright notes Lococo, who wed in March 2022, is not a Potterhead.

“He hadn’t seen the film before we met, so we hadn’t done everything yet,” the London native said. “We did it a bit out of order when, randomly, we together with all our family went to one of the city concerts they did where you listen to the score while watching. So, he just woke up, like, Goblet of Firethen we suddenly went to watch Deathly Hallows Part 1and I was like, ‘You missed an important part!’ So we have to go back a bit. But he never read the book, so I hope he can share it with his son. I’m sure he will.

Wright hopes that his beloved stories will help his son develop the same love of reading that his fans share.

“I hope they love the world, and I meet a lot of children today who are 6 years old, 7 years old – it’s not clear when it happened – and they’re just in this world, they’re happy.” he told us. “I think it’s very special that a lot of new generations of fans are going to enjoy it and find a story that resonates with them. And I talk to a lot of parents when they read it or teachers who are like, ‘Oh my gosh, thank you so much.’ Harry Potter because it really has inspired more reading, literacy, everything.’”

When Wright filmed in 2001 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, he is among the youngest actors in the cast at just 9 years old. Now, he and many of his friends have children of their own.

“James and Oliver (Phelpswho played Fred and George Weasley) are both parents. Rupert (Grinwho plays Ron Weasley) has a daughter, and I think, for all of us, sometimes we’re like, ‘This is wild right now, with kids, talking about kids,'” he said. “Like, you wouldn’t think , so it’s really good. Dan (Radcliffewho plays Harry) have had children, and it’s great that time seems to fly by but it doesn’t – but when you have children, you’re like, ‘Oh, time flies.’

Although it’s been more than two decades since the start of the film franchise, you wouldn’t know it based on the spirited gathering of witches and wizards at New York’s Grand Central Terminal on Sunday. For years, fans have gathered at London’s Kings Cross Station to celebrate at 11 a.m. on September 1, the date and time the annual Hogwarts Express brings students back to the magical school via Platform 9 3/4. However, this year, Warner Bros. set up special events in iconic locations around the globe – including Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo – so more fans can enjoy Wizarding World activities.

Manhattan events include photo ops, giveaways, performances from Broadway Harry Potter and the Cursed Child musicians, appearance of Cursed Child actors, Lego activities and a sneak peak of the future Harry Potter: Quidditch Champion video games. Their flagship store, Harry Potter New York, has all their sugar cravings covered with their delicious Butterbeer as well as magical treats like Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Peanuts.

Wright was a surprise guest during Sunday’s official countdown, hosted by TikToker Kierra Lewisand was met with cheers from many fans in Hogwarts robes in Vanderbilt Hall on Saturday. He fondly remembers how his first scene – and only scene – was in 2001 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone that’s when Harry pushed through the magical barrier to Platform 9 3/4.

After the event, he told me us so that he remembers the wonderful first day. “I had never walked on a professional set, so I didn’t know what to expect,” he recalls. “They’ve been filming for a few months, so I’m in production, but obviously the first day of the week, the new family, it’s a fun and exciting day. I remember they blocked some platforms to make the film. And the scale of Harry Potter as the movie was massive. You have several cameras, hundreds of crew. And I remember just being like, ‘Oh my gosh, like, what am I supposed to do?’ I’ve never done anything (on film or TV before).”

Wright shows when Julie Walters playing Ginny’s loving mother on screen, she also helped Wright find her footing behind the scenes.

“Julie Walters, who plays Molly Weasley, actually noticed that I looked a little lost and took me under her wing and was like, ‘OK, stand here.’ You did this, you’re good.’ And (Julie) just took care of me, and I’m so glad she did,” Wright gushed. “It’s just special and magic.”

Her appearance, she says, doesn’t require much effort because it matches her own emotions. He explained, “I really think my performance was just how I felt during the day – my eyes were wide, like, ‘Wow, what’s going on?’ And then the line I had – ‘good luck,’ which I said to Harry when he pushed the wall – was actually not in the script, so I was given that day. So I was very happy to have the role of the spokesperson.

Of course, the first of many lines for Ginny, who later became Harry’s love interest and eventually wife. However, Wright didn’t know where the story was in 2001 (the last book didn’t hit the shelves until 2007).

“At that time (when filming Magic Stone), some of the books have come out, but for many of us, we really don’t know the fate of our characters. So I’m also thankful to have such a good character,” he said us. “Ginny has had such a huge journey, so it’s great to be able to play for 10 years.”

Wright recently returned to the place where all the magic first happened for the upcoming Max competition series Wizards of Bakingwhich bakers make Potter-inspired desserts. He was announced as a guest judge on a new show during the Back to Hogwarts event.

“It was really fun,” she said of the experience. “We filmed it recently, like, back in July. It was with my wonderful brothers, James and Oliver Phelps. They did a great job of putting on the show and really just brought us back to the magic of the series. We filmed it on the actual set, which I think people will enjoy because going back to them and looking at them in more detail, it’s really cool.

Wizards of Baking will premiere later this fall in Max, where all eight Harry Potter The movie is now available to stream.