J. K. Rowling Newsnight Interview, 2003

[@KatieWilliams1990x]

Us true 90's kids and Harry Potter fans had an absolutely stunning childhood thanks to this woman, I can't thank her enough for all the magical times I had rushing to buy a new Harry Potter book, reading it and talking about the story with friends in school. I feel so privileged to have grown up the the Harry Potter years, some of the best years of my life :)

[@milagroslinares7428]

PJV1990 totally!

[@jean-luceldenwood4877]

same

[@Ryan_Giggs97]

I was born 1997. Am I nineties child?

[@tholidae]

@@Ryan_Giggs97 no. You’re a 90s baby.

[@non-copyrightedmusic764]

A lot of people hate her now smh

[@nickjjismyhusband]

Bless this woman and her genius mind.

[@slaizen]

bless the worst witch

[@VideosOfRandomContext]

Slaizen I Nezials excuse?

[@SuziLikesToPlay]

Have you ever thought: "god I am so happy she exists"

[@GP71_OO]

Mirajane Strauss everyday :)

[@MissPlease88]

all the time

[@aodhanbrannigan22]

Always

[@hey_its_annabel]

Omg yes!

[@robertf6409]

yep

[@audeliatrahan4354]

4:57 " I don't think you're a waste of space " Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

[@mayur795]

Means?

[@audeliatrahan4354]

@@mayur795 spoiler alert? that's what dudley says to harry before abandoning the house in the last book, so it's a perfect response to what she's saying in the interview :)

[@alaia-awakened]

I love how she says 'I'd be devestated if somebody found out about the thing that's underneath it all', and then Jeremy Paxman actually GOES there 5 minutes later and she has to keep her pokerface!

[@flugsven]

Ennaliya Just drop it🙄

[@jean-luceldenwood4877]

that was a crazy moment!

[@swordablaze9259]

I was so gutted for her when he went there. I was amazed that she acted to casual about it.

[@kcesca]

That split second pause where the kill bill siren is going off in her head.

[@charmedprince]

@@kcesca hahaha the kill Bill siren!! I was so afraid JK was gonna say something and mess it up but she handed it very well like the pro that she js

[@stefan4159]

I love how Paxman predicted that Snape was in love with Lily! also, thanks for uploading!

[@dion789]

Stefan And how Jk Rowling goes ' Eh... Crap, what am I going to say now' for a moment.

[@Jonatan394]

The funniest thing is that if you pay attention, you can see that Jo was kind of dull and speechless when Paxman talks about the alleged love affair haha

[@pierzing.glint1sh76]

I know he's paid to analyse and ask questions but how on earth did he pull that one out?! Very smart guy

[@SaphiraBrisingr]

he will have read order of the phoenix, which is where it is first strongly hinted that he loved her. (pensieve moments). he didn't predict it, he just inferred it like the rest of us.

[@pierzing.glint1sh76]

Joseph Carson all I remember for ootp was snape calling lily a mudblood in the pensieve...I don’t know how you can get that he liked her from that...

[@tgoazevedo]

This is very inspiring, I loved the fact that she was given the mission to start writing the first book and she listened to that inner voice and actually started writing. Makes me wonder how many of us have that inspiration to do something we really want and then we try to quiet it down by fear. Lets allow our imagination to fly and fulfill our purpose in this world.

[@renehenriksen1735]

I think many of us get scared about it. Rowling herself I think also got oerwhelmed by it. But she manages it very well.

[@yazhini5652]

"I killed Sirius Black." - Rowling, and Lestrange

[@gustavomorales1003]

14:00 OMG how did he know?! Good thing JK Rowling kept a poker face. 😂

[@admiralaokiji7889]

lmao

[@iss2075]

It was a fairly obscure Internet theory at the time. Some people figured it out because Harry Potter is written in a chiastic structure, so you can work out a general outline of the plot for the later books by looking at the earlier books in reverse. I'm surprised it was brought up though, because most people (including me) thought it was too ridiculous to be true, until I read it for myself. But I remembr one person who figured it out (as well as a lot of other plot points in Book 7) used chiasm to do it. The whole series is full of chiasm.

[@gustavomorales1003]

@@iss2075wow, that is impressive. The Snape-Lily unrequited love did not occur to me at all, nor did I hear anyone speculate about it before book 7 was released. So, it was a complete surprise to me when I read it the first time. I saw a video on KZbin recently that said Snape’s interrogation of Harry in that first Potions class was a hint of his love for Lily because it had some hidden meaning. However, I’m not sure when was the first time anyone noticed this. There are certainly other aspects of the plot that an attentive reader could have picked up on, for example: the fact that RAB was Regulus Black and that he was the one who destroyed the locket. The fact that Harry himself became a Horcrux. It is clear that she had this whole story figured out from the very beginning!

[@cliles6764]

There is no way on earth that this brilliant woman will be remembered for pieces of plastic. I personally have read each book several times, watched each movie several times, listen to Harry Potter audio books as read by Jim Dale daily in my car. I also watched and cried as this incredible woman discovered her ancestors and found there were some extremely notable heroes residing in her family tree. We all fall down. The heroes in this world get up and keep going until they fall down again...and they get back up and keep going.

[@GettingOverYouAgain]

For whatever reason, your comment just made me extremely happy. I just wanted to tell you that. I wish you all the best. Stay safe. ✨

[@Big-guy1981]

You read children books multiple times? Grow up and read some Tolstoy, Jane Austen, Victor Hugo, etc.

[@siliqua4584]

@@Big-guy1981it’s not just a book for children. There’s lots of deep stuff inside. And I’ve read those authors you’ve mentioned, I liked them, but HP is till my favourite over them.

[@tinyfreckle]

@@Big-guy1981 they're not mutually exclusive

[@Kith2504]

13:54 Oh holy hell, he’s actually guessed it all.

[@caracapuano1205]

And she didn't even smirk or have any reaction in the slightest!

[@inga1721]

Cool things: 1. She never underestimates her reader 2 The History of Dementors have butterflies on the cover

[@inga1721]

@Golden Eagle LOL

[@theradgegadgie6352]

@Golden Eagle 1993. :p

[@Inwardlove]

Been on a kick watching this brilliant woman speak

[@ellasademcleod4159]

14.20!!! Paxman just blows it out the park! She keeps such a good poker face!

[@rach5516]

unbelievable!! can't believe he guessed it!!

[@StephanieTips]

Her poker face was WOW

[@Mugglestrugglez]

I feel safe knowing jk Rowling is on the same earth as me

[@renehenriksen1735]

What is so good about her, is her honesty, down to earth-attitude and her ability to make us all feel that it´s OK to be human. If she´s a genius or not I don´t know, but she certainly has a unique talent. I often wonder if the publishing-companies who rejected her aren´t feeling a little pity because they rejected her.

[@GymRat2133]

"I don't feel a waste of space" I love this woman so much

[@LollywoodLoganator]

You know you're doing something right when Jeremy Paxman is giving you a very pleasant interview.

[@garland3688]

Is it possible for anyone to upload more rare J.K. Rowling interviews? Especially from pre-2003

[@clockwork9827]

Check BBC

[@360Fov]

I love the way she navigates questions that could be seen as prickly; it keeps the mood light and she comes off as super grounded and poised.

[@rhiannon3452]

13:57 OMG he guessed right on Severus and Lily!

[@Jackyish]

She's a star! She thinks about her answers and they often make me snort laughing she's fun and kind and smart and lovely

[@lostAstronaut]

this is so fantastic to watch more than 10 years later when you know all that's coming!!! It's so funny how I suspect Jo is talking about Snape and Lilly when she talks about a romance almost no one has guessed yet and the reporter later brings tham up as a wild guess!!! He probably must feel so happy watching this years later and being like, I knew it!!! it's incredible she can keep her poker face in this situation! She's an amazing writer but most of all she also seems like an amazing person!

[@sharonmary]

Omg when she held the book up I got a nostalgic whiff of that tantalising feeling of knowing a new HP book was on the way. 💙💛💙

[@dion789]

I was desperate for clues in her interviews while the books were being written and it's fun to see all this again after they've all been published how she sprinkled small hints throughout the years.

[@slandersir7255]

13:59 Wow! This guy was good!

[@theradgegadgie6352]

14:00 Paxo scores a massive bullseye and JK squirms in her seat big time! lol With hindsight, quite a perspicacious question. Also she virtually prophesises it at 8:20.

[@saraho92]

24:05 Incredible to think she took no time off between books!

[@mllesarahyasmine]

thanks so much for uploading this! i remember watching it on tv all those years ago! lovely to watch it again :) also can't believe paxman guessed that snape was in love with lily! xxx

[@Subirna]

I'm watching this because you liked it! So thanks for liking the video haha :)xx

[@aprilgosa3884]

some fans guessed it

[@SaphiraBrisingr]

This interview happened around the time of the release of book 5. he just called her out. gotcha journalism.

[@thelonewolf1894]

She has written her genius inside the pages of Harry Potter. An amazing and brilliant writer

[@Ryan_Giggs97]

Such a great poker face JK has when talking about Snape

[@Monkonmunky]

8:20 - 8:44 13:50 - 14:18 Perhaps one of the funniest and for that reason, best interviews ever in the history of interviews. Damn lol

[@callumdrage5889]

She seems like she knows every little detail, and is very quick to answer and she is so sure about her answers, Its a good thing... I think

[@bellef7687]

She’s so brilliant. One of the best authored to have ever lived

[@kylenoe2234]

I think her key to success is this: she stays humble.

[@n_wallmann]

Thank you, for uploading this :)

[@ali5tairj5]

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

[@authorgkray]

"Pretty much, actually. It's the flogged-horse school of writing." I feel this in my soul. LOVE HER TO PIECES.

[@eliotmalave4165]

Toys come and go no matter how popular. Stories live forever. Love you JK! You saved my life with Harry Potter

[@lareveuse7540]

Les anciennes vidéos il faut les garder, c'est précieux

[@laurencimorellibow]

Wow...he called Snape/Lily and publishing under a pseudonym...

[@jamesreynolds7334]

Jeez I really wish JK Rowling would narrate all her books! Brilliant.

[@oldscribe6153]

What a wonderfully grounded and adroit person JK is. If you've written a novel or three or seven, you'll find a subtext and level of meaning here that is utterly invisible if you haven't. Thanks JK - owe you a sarsaparilla at Christmas.

[@oranjelibertine]

My dad died in July 2003, just around the time Phoenix came out. Took me 2 years to read it but I got there in the end.

[@IThinkItsForYou]

Thanks for the upload, this is great!

[@ali5tairj5]

Thanks for the thanks! I originally recorded this on VHS tape and later transferred it to DVD, so apologies the quality isn't better.

[@IThinkItsForYou]

Alistair Sowerbutts Don't worry about it, it's brilliant. I could watch interviews all day long with this incredible woman.

[@andreidenisjebelean6297]

Amazing woman! I will always love you, J. K. Rowling!❤️🥰✨

[@nmariejenkins2041]

Woah.... she handled the 14:00 min mark GREAT. That would have given the lot away.

[@aalex7gp]

Please, upload more Rowling videos if you have!

[@ali5tairj5]

Alex Guzman Hi Alex, Thanks for taking time to post a comment! I'll certainly upload any I find but other people seem to have covered all the other interviews I have right now! Watch some Mario Kart while you wait!

[@dulceroque3601]

bjl

[@abyhjp666]

Alistair, thanks for uploading! I looked for this one for a long time. The interview that is still missing is the Larry King one, and I really wish to see it and I think it from 1999. Any spoken or uttered thing by JK should be shared :-)

[@hillyplays29]

My friend in middle school told me Sirius died and I cried when I read that. Of course this was a long time ago, but I'm not over it yet. 😭

[@jontheartist]

Dumbledore shook me to the core I was sad for a while after that. Also dobby

[@DaegdaGames]

Knowing the entire story now, some of the questions He asks... When she answers you now KNOW what she is referring too.. an odd feeling to be sure

[@fresh_avocado]

Guys I think I figured out something. So in first chapter of the 5th book where Uncle Vernon is asking what are dementors and Aunt Petunia just says they're the guards of Azkaban and Harry says WHATT how did you know that and Aunt Petunia says, "I heard that awful boy telling her years ago," and Harry says, "do you mean my mom and dad you can just say their names" but Aunt Petunia didn't respond so I came up with the idea that SHE MUST BE TALKING ABOUT SNAPE which is the awful boy because Lily don't know James when she has still contact with Petunia and Snape would really tell Lily about dementors.

[@nenej12]

Snape was putting Harry’s mom up on game lol

[@strawberriesandcandy]

this is literally such a british conversation--the interviewer is SAVAGE

[@aaronying4989]

Haha that’s why I love listening to British interviews. The interviewers and reporters are always really good and very dynamic. A lot of American interviews are very meh.

[@robertf6409]

interviewing with a table of tea and crumpets between them 🇬🇧

[@DazzaS83]

And Paxman is just interviewing a popular author which you can see he has a genuine interest and appreciation of the work. Watch his interviews with politicians, they are carnage!

[@TrequartistaFM]

@@DazzaS83 you can definitely see paxman has a lot of admiration for her. The best part of paxman is his overall dislike of politicians - right or left wing

[@zachcouch8654]

She made a wonderful world I know I can always go to a relax is magic.

[@DoraLee90]

She must be talking about Snape and Lily at 8:30. THAT is the heart of the whole book, in terms of romantic pairing.

[@vibhabalasubramanian8824]

yeah ! i thought so too.

[@Digital111]

Then 13:58 he asks her that exact thing.... That was terrifying to watch lol she managed to wave it off like it was a nice speculation... Had I been her I would have panicked and made it obvious his theory is right lol

[@mattmetal8083]

Is that the 'heart' of the whole thing? Id say the heart of the whole thing would be the importance of love, which ofcourse snapes love for lily is significant

[@dangerusb]

I've seen Paxo interview people over the years. I really think he's a Potterhead after seeing this interview. And Jo has the most attractive giggle. It's so charming.

[@percyweasley9301]

*It is one of the best interview. Love from Assam, India.*

[@kushanshah8040]

The older she gets, the hotter she becomes.

[@Kanza535]

She said Dumbledore was gay over a decade ago.

[@Kanza535]

@Persephone Diggen It was hinted at with his relationship with Grindelwald

[@TheSupaman98]

kushan shah That’s what plastic surgery does to you.

[@st4rb0y333]

the edward scissorhands music at the start suits so much imagine if danny elfman did the score omg i would die

[@GP71_OO]

thank you so much for this video

[@gorgolyt]

13:00 Paxman must have been a fan, he asks a series of questions that are amazingly prescient in hindsight, and Jo puts on a great poker face. "Do we find out why Voldemort had such an animus towards Harry's parents", "do we find out more about Snape", "was he infatuated with Harry's mother?" 😅

[@narumitoyoi6488]

I was 13,14 when I read the 5th book of Harry Potter. It was like my first time that made me go inside the book (all the Harry Potter series). I was reading it from page to page. And now proud of myself that I grew up with Harry Potter.

[@AbhishekMishra-hf2vn]

She inspired millions of minds around the world ,all with a pen and an idea

[@angeloddrev]

That's crazy that he guessed so early on about Snape and being in love with Lily! It blindsided me and I'd have never guessed it. Jo did well to keep a poker face!

[@matthewhonnor]

Really weird watching this in hindsight and knowing the whole story

[@jilliannelson1579]

I'm always a little peeved when people ask her how much she's earned. Like, what a rude question! Let's talk about Harry and his adventures. I'm more interested in that than the amount of money she's been given due to her success. It's well earned, for sure, but it's also a private matter.

[@kaylaschroeder1]

Thank you! The manner and tonality of his questioning was irking me something fierce! Honestly, I found him pompously rude like 70% of the time. Maybe it’s cause I’m not British and I just don’t get that style of conversing, but it didn’t feel right.

[@kaylaschroeder1]

And P.S. I LOVE J.K. Rowling!! She’s become vastly one of my favorite famous people. I can’t get enough of her interviews. Such a beautiful person. ♥️ So gracious.

[@jamiengo2343]

@@kaylaschroeder1 Paxman is an interviewer who uses a more antagonistic interviewing style to get answers, common in the U.K. In comparison to his other interviews, especially with politicians, this is a nice interview! Watch Paxman’s interview with Michael Howard.

[@kaylaschroeder1]

@@jamiengo2343 Hi Jamie, wow - totally forgot I wrote about this lol. Honestly, thank you for your reply. I rewatched this interview and saw it in a completely different light. I found it mostly relaxing throughout, calm and honest. I appreciate you inspiring me to give it another go. :) Cheers.

[@kaylaschroeder1]

@@jamiengo2343 However, I will still stick with my initial reasoning for commenting at all: I don't think it's prudent to ask someone about their earnings, even though we're all thinking about it. But, we all have our style of eliciting answers, I suppose. I found it more interesting just watching how she chose to answer or not answer his questions, this time around. We all have that choice, whether to give a response or not. I sounded so young three years ago. I'm betting if I see this comment three years from now, I'll think something totally different about this very comment... like, maybe it's too long...? lol Whatever. Feels good to ramble on a keyboard. Take care.

[@PerfectNormal]

Opening with Edward Scissorhands theme. Very cool!

[@Dan-ky5es]

After watching this all I want is a Moaning Myrtle lavatory seat!!!!!!!

[@bradleywillard2361]

His face and delivery of; “Oh” at 15:39 is just gold.

[@anglodoomer5995]

Hahaha

[@mohammedharis811]

JK Rowling is one of the most genius people on the face of the wirld

[@Travis7060312]

Was the "one thing" snape and lily?

[@laurenzpeacock3234]

I thought at that point they were talking about growing up and dates, so I thought she was thinking about Ron and Hermione

[@matthewcahill8283]

Can't be, too easy to guess, people guessed it a lot if i recall correctly

[@theoddcrow9382]

It was probably the fact that Harry was a horcrux and needed to die in order to defeat Voldemort, considering she had already at this point written the ending.

[@aditisiddha3088]

Her face.. When he said does Snape had a crush on Harry's mother.... She was shocked.... Hell under

[@mackfarlainethebarenakedau5113]

I think my copy of Order of the Phoenix (hardcover) is actually 870 pgs, not 766.

[@memoowo]

4:58...it reminds me of that quote of Dudley's...

[@goldwaterproductions]

It seems like Jeremy is an actual fan. He seems to give a shit about the characters and he doesn’t seem to phone in this interview

[@nulanula5302]

The sale of JK's notes would bring the highest price at auction of any work of art to date.

[@jojofc88]

This is why I love the fact I was born in 1988. It meant that at the time I was the exact age targeted by the Spice Girls and the Harry Potter franchise 😄😄😄

[@watermelonineasterhay]

I know, I was born 89, it was a gas ❤️❤️👌

[@Vingul]

U wot? Backstreet Boys was targeted at boys, Spice Girls wasn't. Harry Potter was fine for both.

[@bghultman1318]

When the first "Harry Potter" book came out on the market, I immediately recalled a book I checked out from the bookmobile which was in operation during the summer vacation months back when I was eight years old. This was 1964. The book was titled "David and The Pheonix and The Goblet of Fire" David was granted magical powers by the Pheonix in order to aid the Pheonix in completing its' thousand year life cycle.

[@Вика-м7ц]

14:00 omg someone actually did get it in 2003

[@garland3688]

I want to buy a copy of the journal, with the butterfly on the cover, that she used for the history of the death eaters!!!

[@Alina-dp5wk]

Me too😂

[@bugbugbug3469]

"you're writing children's books, you need to be a ruthless killer" hahaha

[@magdieltrejo6517]

Can I just say I love how when Rowling went into the kitchen crying after she killed Sirius and Neil was like "Don't kill him then."

[@SirCumference31]

It would be great if we could now find out how she was feeling when he asked her that question at 13:57!

[@matthall3077]

Recorded On Thursday 12th June 2003

[@bangbang.kisskiss]

i love that they used the edward scissorhands soundtrack for this...and that it worked so well

[@ellasademcleod4159]

The thing at the heart of it all? Must be that Snape loved Lily?

[@UlricGrim]

Interviewer: Do you think success has changed you? Rowling: Umm, yes. Interviewer: In what way? Rowling: I don’t feel like quite such a waste of space anymore. Omg 😢💔

[@Blisteryn]

The interviewer is trully a fan.

[@221091sanmel]

15:37 Love his reaction! :D

[@mizzlemafia551]

Am I the only one who heard that high pitched ring during this video?

[@renehenriksen1735]

Mirajane Strauss >>> She´s so honest, sincere and down to earth that it takes a psychopath not to like her or someone sickly envious.

[@shelley2he844]

JK Rowling is my inspiration, she is a wonderful writer and a true example of self belief against all odds. Not to mention all the money that she gave away. There is a special place in heaven reserved for this lady for all the wonderful things she's done for people all over the world.

[@dylandavidson936]

Wow he just outright got it, Snape has a crush on Harry's mother (well it was quite a lot more than a crush)... J.K was very composed at the core twist being offered up as an option right before her.

[@dylanhillebrand7005]

14:00 OMG how did he get so close?😭 I Know Mrs. Rowling was SWEATING in that moment😂😂😂

[@megaltright974]

omg! the history of the death eaters!!!! i must read that

[@waftsofpetrichor]

Will there ever be a better book after Harry Potter? Because Rowling’s literally covered everything about magic.

[@memoowo]

2:03 Aww she's so adorable

[@cyndephillipshohbein8232]

"The kids..... The kids....." Heck, I was pre-ordering in my forties and binge-reading!

[@nicolasdelaforge7420]

I just don't understand how one can write a 4,500 page novel. And somehow keep all the characters in mind.

[@klaramigbra]

Nice!! Please uploads some more videos of JK ROwling:-)

[@bunker2276]

why r they using the theme from Edward Scissorhands?