Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be in theaters this summer, July 17, 2009.  Its young actors have been quite busy filming, and since there is such a history of Harry Potter, both in books and in films, I cannot do it justice in a single story.

For right now we will zero in on most of the leading actors, which may be one at time. The film stars Harry Potter, himself, as portrayed by actor Daniel Radcliffe. Before we navigate through the acting history of the young actors, let us see what scenario there is behind the upcoming film - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

According to Nickelodeon Magazine Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds, and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was.  Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort’s defenses. Professor Horace Slughorn is recruited to help solve the mystery.

Meanwhile the students are under attack from a very different adversary - teenage hormones! Harry, Ginny, Dean Thomas, Lavender Brown, Ron, Romilda Vane and Hermione are all caught up in jealousy, infatuation, romance and even being aloof.

Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again. But on to the actors themselves, their backgrounds and how they were cast. Great casting usually has to lead to a great end result, either in the format of a film, television show, commercial show or theatrical performance.  On to our actors!

Emma Watson, Hermione, is a French-born British actress. Before being cast, at the age of nine, to be Hermione, she had only been in school plays. Since 2007 she has been involved in two non-Harry Potter productions: made-for-television Ballet Shoes and an animated film, The Tale of Despereaux.Rupert Grint, Ron, was born in Hertfordshire, England.

Before he was cast his acting experience was that of school plays and stage productions with his local theatre group.Alan Rickman, Severus Snape, is an English film, television and stage actor.  Rickman worked extensively with various British repertory groups. He is well known for his film roles as Hans Gruber in Die Hard and the Sheriff of Nottingham in 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and many more.Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe was born in West London, England. His father, a literary agent, and his mother a casting agent. Both parents were involved in several films for the BBC.

Radcliffe’s first desire to act was at the age of five. He made his acting debut in the BBC’s televised two-part verson of the Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield.  The Harry Potter films have not been the only thing that Radcliffe has been a part of just a few other productions have been - The Play What I Wrote, December Boys, Equus and My Boy Jack.

In 2000, at the age of 11, Radcliffe was asked to cast for the part of Harry in Harry Potter. Producer David Heyman had seen his acting side in a play and then gave him a screen test. Having seen Dan Radcliffe’s screen test I don’t think Chris Columbus could have found a better Harry.”

Helena Bonham Carter, with no formal acting training, she earned enough money from a writing contest to enter into the Actors Directory ‘Spotlight.’  Her first acting debut, a TV commercial, was at the age of 16. Carter is an Oscar-nominated English actress. She made her film debut in A Pattern of Roses, and then had a leading role in Lady Jane. She is also known as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, she was also in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and many more, continuing her role as Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.