Acting vs Embodying (was Re: Dan's acting)

[juli17 at aol.com]

Richard wrote:

I have  problems with people saying he's something he isn't. Namely: a great  
actor. At least, not yet. Although I have every hope he has it inside him  
to become one.


Julie:
I don't mind agreeing with you here. Dan had limited experience, but I've 
seen his skills grow throughout each movie. Furthermore, I'm not sure  it
really *matters* for the purposes of HP movies whether he's a  "great" actor.
What matters (and probably why he was chosen out of many thousands
to take on the Harry role) is whether he can embody the imaginary boy
wizard, Harry Potter. And at that, he shines, IMO.
 
Dan's calm nature, his natural reticence and occasional hesitancy, his 
innocence (especially in the first movie) all *fit* Harry Potter  perfectly.
There may be more technically skilled child actors--Haley Joel Osment
of a few years ago comes to mind--but skill is naught if the actor  doesn't
fit the part. And great as Haley Joel was in movies like The Sixth  Sense,
could you see him as Harry Potter?
 
If roles were filled based only on technical acting skill and  experience,
then the very central role of Harry Potter might have gone to Rupert
Grint, a child actor we probably all agree was naturally skilled from
the beginning. But again, could Rupert believably embody the role  of
Harry Potter? I don't think so, because even while acting some of
the actor's natural personality shines through, and Rupert wasn't
"right" for the role of Harry Potter. 
 
The final test for me with any movie role is if the actor *becomes*
the character. And Dan passes that test. He has become Harry
Potter to me. Just as Rupert has become Ron, and Alan Rickman
has become Snape. When I read the books, I see them in my mind.
(Admittedly, I sometimes see Hermoine differently than as Emma 
Watson, perhaps partly because her character is the most changed
from book to movie.)
 
So Dan's acting skill is generally a moot point for me. I'm thrilled
he got the role, I love how he's embodied Harry Potter, and I am
extremely grateful he will again do so in OotP and HBP. And I  await
those future performances eagerly.
 
Julie 
 
 


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