--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have been in five Harry Potter films…" description: "\"I have been in five Harry Potter films and never read a 'Harry Potter' book. If you are an actor, all you have is the script you are given. If you read..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/michael-gambon-13467_about_i-have-been-in-five-harry-potter-films-a_99070.jpg" --- # I have been in five Harry Potter films and never read a… ![“I have been in five Harry Potter films and never read a 'Harry Potter' book. If you are an actor, all you have is the script you are given. If you read the book, you might get disappointed about what's been left out.” quote by Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/michael-gambon-13467_about_i-have-been-in-five-harry-potter-films-a_99070.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/michael-gambon-13467_about_i-have-been-in-five-harry-potter-films-a_99070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/michael-gambon-13467_about_i-have-been-in-five-harry-potter-films-a_99070.jpg) > “I have been in five Harry Potter films and never read a 'Harry Potter' book. If you are an actor, all you have is the script you are given. If you read the book, you might get disappointed about what's been left out.” [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors rely on scripts, not source material; reading the original may reveal omitted depth. **In simple terms:** Scripts differ from books. Key Takeaway Adaptations can lose nuance. Themes film literature adaptation Mood reflective cautious Type observational cultural critique When to use this quote - watching a movie without reading its novel - actors preparing for a role Key Concepts interpretation expectation management Practical Applications - compare screenplay to source - read summaries before filming Questions to Reflect On - How does knowing the source affect your experience of a film? A Different Perspective Not all viewers need the original to enjoy the adaptation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) [Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films/) [Harry potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harry-potter/) [Harry potter film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harry-potter-film/) [Harry Potter Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harry-potter-films/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing's really changed since the Harry Potter films came along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/nothing-s-really-changed-since-the-harry-potter-films-came-along/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [I see myself doing Harry Potter films as long as I'm enjoying it and as long as they are going to challenge me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-see-myself-doing-harry-potter-films-as-long-as-i-m-enjoying-it-and/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I was in three of the Harry Potter films without reading one of those book, quite thankfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/i-was-in-three-of-the-harry-potter-films-without-reading-one-of-those/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [I could be 100 years old and in my rocker, but I'll still be very proud that I was part of the 'Harry Potter' films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-could-be-100-years-old-and-in-my-rocker-but-i-ll-still-be-very/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [I was asked to be in the last two 'Harry Potter' films and I couldn't do it because I was busy filming 'Grey's Anatomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mckidd/i-was-asked-to-be-in-the-last-two-harry-potter-films-and-i-couldn-t/) [Kevin McKidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mckidd/) > [And of course I've got kids of my own now, and they love me being in the Harry Potter films. I'm now part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/and-of-course-i-ve-got-kids-of-my-own-now-and-they-love-me-being-in/) [Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/) > [For me, the biggest thing was writing memorable themes for the new characters so that ultimately people would have the same identification with 'Fantastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-newton-howard/for-me-the-biggest-thing-was-writing-memorable-themes-for-the-new/) [James Newton Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-newton-howard/) > [I don't like people who drain my time and energy. 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You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/i-ve-got-kids-of-my-own-now-and-they-love-me-being-in-the-harry/) [Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/) > [Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter films and was the family comedy king through the '80s and '90s - 'Mrs. Doubtfire,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-koryta/chris-columbus-who-directed-the-first-two-harry-potter-films-and-was/) [Michael Koryta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-koryta/) > [I'd be very suspicious of anybody that seems to have to move to the next level of expression. I distrust that: now I'm writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-d-be-very-suspicious-of-anybody-that-seems-to-have-to-move-to-the/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [I want to keep continuously going through all the pages in the book of being an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mitchell/i-want-to-keep-continuously-going-through-all-the-pages-in-the-book/) [Jason Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mitchell/) > [When I write a book, I don't have a plan or an outline. The characters move the action, and the action develops the characters.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-hoban/when-i-write-a-book-i-don-t-have-a-plan-or-an-outline-the-characters/) [Russell Hoban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-hoban/) ## More by Michael Gambon > [Theater actors are just tolerated. You have to be a movie star to be a celebrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/theater-actors-are-just-tolerated-you-have-to-be-a-movie-star-to-be-a/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I see film roles as lovely presents that come along now and again. I feel really lucky and say thank you very much. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-see-film-roles-as-lovely-presents-that-come-along-now-and-again-i/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I used to be gay, but I was forced to give it up, because it made my eyes water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-used-to-be-gay-but-i-was-forced-to-give-it-up-because-it-made-my/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I can't remember any of the films I've done. You go from one to another, and they all blend in to a big mass.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-can-t-remember-any-of-the-films-i-ve-done-you-go-from-one-to/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I live in fear of being a contented passenger. I'd rather get parts I can't play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-live-in-fear-of-being-a-contented-passenger-i-d-rather-get-parts-i/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I promise myself that I would go and do a play every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-promise-myself-that-i-would-go-and-do-a-play-every-year/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [Television has dried up for my generation, so it's plays and films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/television-has-dried-up-for-my-generation-so-it-s-plays-and-films/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I never met my theater fans. I'm out the stage door five minutes after the curtain goes up. So that's it. I don't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-never-met-my-theater-fans-i-m-out-the-stage-door-five-minutes-after/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [There are some actors who are rehearsal actors, and some who are not. I am not. Having said that, I don't know what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/there-are-some-actors-who-are-rehearsal-actors-and-some-who-are-not-i/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I fell in love with Alan Ayckbourn the day I met him and, starting with 'The Norman Conquests,' went on to do eight plays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-fell-in-love-with-alan-ayckbourn-the-day-i-met-him-and-starting/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I've had a private pilot's license for years and flown all round the U.K. and over to France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-ve-had-a-private-pilot-s-license-for-years-and-flown-all-round-the/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [All actors say they're concerned about the state of the theatre, but what they're really concerned about is that there'll be less work around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/all-actors-say-they-re-concerned-about-the-state-of-the-theatre-but/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I belong to quite a lot of learned societies. We collect firearms and discuss them at dinners and clubs and things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-belong-to-quite-a-lot-of-learned-societies-we-collect-firearms-and/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [Television has dried up for my generation, so its plays and films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/television-has-dried-up-for-my-generation-so-its-plays-and-films/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [Paul Schofield said something like, 'If I'm not acting in a play, I don't really exist.' Those weren't the exact words, but he meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/paul-schofield-said-something-like-if-i-m-not-acting-in-a-play-i-don/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) [Explore all 50 Michael Gambon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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