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Daniel Radcliffe braves rain for fans

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-07-09 09:34

 

Daniel Radcliffe braved torrential rain and hail at the world premiere of 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' in London's Leicester Square last night (07.07.09).

The 19-year-old star spent an hour signing autographs for some of the 3,000 screaming fans who had been camping next to the red carpet for more than 24 hours.

When it became clear the rain was not going to ease, Rupert joined Daniel, shunning umbrellas to get closer to the crowd.

But while the boys cackled and splashed about in the rain, Emma Watson remained dry and warm in her limousine, unwilling to get her vintage Ossie Clark gown wet.

The stunning actress eventually emerged nearly an hour later, waving to fans and posing for pictures with a sodden Rupert and Daniel.

She thanked fans for braving the inclement weather, gushing to BANG Showbiz: "It's just so fantastic that people have been so dedicated to come down and see us all. My message to the fans is thank you so much I love you all and I'll be so sad when this series finally comes to an end."

Daniel agreed, adding: "It's going to be very, very sad to finish these movies but at the same time it will be exciting, there's more stuff to move on to, so I'm not purely depressed about finishing them."

The film's other stars Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon, Bonnie Wright, Helen McCrory, Tom Felton, Jessie Cave, Evanna Lynch and Matthew Lewis also attended the premiere.

But it was 'Harry Potter' creator JK Rowling who got the biggest cheers of the evening. The author arrived minutes before the screening was due to start, walking briskly through the crowds in a sexy electric blue gown, smiling and waving to fans.

Most of the cast wore white ribbons around their wrists in tribute to their murdered co-star Rob Knox, who was stabbed outside a London pub last May.

Daniel said: "Rob would have loved to be here tonight. It's awful that he's not. It must be very hard for his family."

The film is the sixth in the popular boy wizard franchise.

It sees Harry and Professor Dumbledore desperately trying to devise a plan to defeat dark Wizard Lord Voldemort, as Hogwarts faces attack from both outside and within.

Clive Owen, Jamie Oliver, Graham Norton, Gordon Ramsay and Pixie Geldof also walked the red carpet at the event.

The film will be released next Wednesday (15.07.09).