To mark a magical double anniversary,

Empire's special edition gathers wizards and hobbits alike.

Dive into a unique conversation,

where Daniel Radcliffe and Elijah Wood bridge Middle-earth and Hogwarts.

Among the film's memorable supporting cast,

Sean Biggerstaff reflects on his journey as Oliver Wood.

His initial tryout had a different aim,

not for the Quidditch captain's role he'd later claim.

He shares cherished moments from the set,

of Alan Rickman's presence he'll never forget.

And of director Chris Columbus' guiding hand,

during those first adventures in a wondrous land.

This exclusive peek behind the curtain is found,

only within Empire, on newsstands all around.

Initially, I auditioned for the role of Percy Weasley, which was quite a stretch from who I am. I prepared with my best RP accent and all sorts of mannerisms I thought suited a bespectacled ginger character. However, the moment I stepped into the audition room, Janet Hirshenson, the casting director, looked at me and said, “No, I think you’re more of a Wood.” I was puzzled because the only description I knew of Wood was “burly,” yet at 17, I was as fragile as a glass of water. I have no idea what she saw, but it turned out to be a fortunate decision.

I regret not holding onto anything from the set. That costume was fantastic— a cozy jumper paired with three matching pairs of moleskin trousers— and I wish I’d asked to keep it. I was pretty well-behaved during filming. The only cast member I noticed brazenly taking things was Alan Rickman. It seemed like he took anything he could get his hands on, probably to auction for his charity work. I remember him saying publicly, “I just go in, I do my work, and I leave, and as I leave I steal things,” which I believe was his way of supporting causes he cared about.

Alan Rickman was incredible. Unlike the stereotypical director who’s often portrayed as a commanding, egotistical figure with military precision, Chris was the opposite. He was a calm, humorous presence on set. Once, he decided to prank everyone by testing a new fake goblet designed for stunt scenes—one that would break without harm. He told me, “After the next take, I’ll give you a note, then we do another take. Don’t change anything, and then I’ll get really angry and throw this at you. Cool?”

During the second take, he asked, “Sean, did you listen to me?” I admitted I had a brain fart and would do it again. Then, he suddenly went silent, started ranting about how frustrating it was, and hurled the goblet an inch from my head in front of 150 crew members and some of the world’s biggest actors. For a few seconds, everyone was stunned, before I burst out laughing. That’s just the kind of person he was—completely unexpected, and genuinely hilarious. I loved working with him.

Empire magazine’s special issue celebrating 20 years of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings hits shelves this Thursday. You can pre-order your copy now! Check out the cover and an exclusive excerpt from their interview with Harry Potter producer David Heyman right here.

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