Unedited JK Rowling Interview on the Birth of Harry Potter (1998)

On 23 July 1998, acclaimed author JK Rowling sat down with ITN in Nicolson's Café in Edinburgh to talk about the enormous success of the Harry Potter series. Weeks before, the second of what was to be a seven-book series had been released, and Rowling was working on the third. The Philiosopher's Stone and its sequel, the Chamber of Secrets, had been enormously successful in the UK and the US and major production companies were jockeying for the rights to make the Harry Potter series into a film franchise. The rest is history.

It was announced on 12 April 2023 that HBO Max were to make a TV series of the Harry Potter books with Rowling as Executive Producer.

#HarryPotter #JKRowling #Potterhead #HBOMax #ChamberOfSecrets #PhilosophersStone #Magic #Hogwarts

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[keithcuarteros]

Little did they know 20+ years later HP has multiple theme parks, 8 movies and people are still rereading the books countless times ✨

[sketchtheparadigmyork]

What’s really cool about her is how she knew the full story already, and had the end of 7 written early on. It makes you realize how talented she is.

[greeeneyes]

she has enriched so many people‘s lives and childhoods. i still reread all the books almost every year bc they are just brilliant.

[richardvoncline]

I love how polarizing this woman is. Early in her career, far right conservative Christians absolutely crucified and boycotted her. Later in her career, far left progressive radicals absolutely crucified and boycotted her. Neither time did it matter, Harry Potter lives on and is arguably a stronger brand than ever. He is after all... the boy who lived.

[johnnyrsj]

I started at university in Ed in 1994, I remember going to Nicolsons in my first year and seeing a woman sitting with her baby and she had papers all over the table. It always stuck in my head cos it just wasn't a sight I'd ever seen before - cafe culture hadn't started, starbucks hadn't arrived, I came from a small town - it didn't even occur to me that she could be doing work... in a cafe... with a baby... And then years later The Elephant House christened themselves 'The Birthplace Of Harry Potter'

[crikxouba]

She was so quirky and a little nerdy then. I am not even a massive Harry Potter fan but she is such a brilliant writer.

[MadMovieMakers]

Writing a book you would want to read yourself, that's great advice. I imagine it's hard to do though

[Odinoji]

What a legend of a woman. I'm 30 now and respect her more than ever. For people like me who came from an abusive family hogwarts was a privilege to escape into. Who knew I'd end up being a better version of myself than if I didn't read her books. Thank you ma'am

[terabyter]

"My highest ambition would be that long after everyone's forgotten that I was a single mother and that I was poor and that I wrote in cafes people are still reading about Harry Potter, that's my highest ambition."

Just read the first book last week for the first time.

[knd]

One of the greatest authors of the century. What a time to have lived in the wizarding world of J.K. Rowling.

[BeastLordofMetal]

She seems so shy and outspoken at the same time.

[hannahahle]

As a writer, she’s fascinating to listen to. A real inspiration. It’s clear she believed in herself for so long before anyone else did. She’s totally unapologetically herself. She’s loved around the world for being herself. I cried when she said she wrote long hand then typed up. I felt most seen hearing that. I do that in 2023. Very glad I stumbled upon this video

[irrumnaaz]

This is so fascinating to watch and lovely to see her like this, as a beginner and quite nerdy almost. The fact that this woman created the Wizarding World and everyone in it 20 odd yrs ago, and it's still here is almost mind boggling. The way she talks abt everything that she created is amazing. You can say whatever you like abt her, but she is one hell of an author.

[george_s]

You were as clever as Hermione and you are definitely a genius. Thank you for my childhood J.K.

[ngodcreatedwoman]

Shes so young, yet you can tell she’s been through a lot.
Apologizes when she laugh, maintains deep eye contact, very confident yet terrified… I just wanna hug her and tell her it’s going to be more then ok. I relate to her a lot, thanks for everything JK 🤍

[DdotRay]

Never read a single Harry Potter book, but absolutely fascinated by this woman's story. From destitution to a billionaire, carried by her imagination. Incredible.

[guyesmith]

I like how authentic and personal she is in this interview. Fame and success is still very new to her here. Oddly enough 1998 feels like a simpler time...

[Historian]

To write a first novel with that kind of careful planning and stick to it is amazing. And to do that writing as a single mother with a very young child is even more so. Her ability to focus is extraordinary. BTW once she got famous, her violent ex-husband tracked her down, broke into her home and tried to force her to give him money. She’s one tough woman.

[ghost_fueled_scarecrow]

I don't care what the internet says, no matter how loudly they excrete their horrible agendas. This woman is like the parent i never had. I started reading these books at sixteen having just realized that my entire childhood was wasted in an appartment of a loveless city, i was extremely suicidal and these books were what kept me alive. Oh course, i never had a flying car full of friends come rescue me, and life now isn't much better, but the hope got me through, as it does now.

[blaargyaarg]

I dont know what is best, her choice of words, how she speaks, her mind in general. She is truly magical..