Interview with Hagrid's double
October 26, 2003 at 7:27 PM ET
Geri
HPANA (via The Telegraph)
Martin Bayfield, one of Hagrid's doubles in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban speaks about his introduction to Hollywood 
and his experience playing rugby for England.
It was while delivering one of his famous monologues in a London hotel that Bayfield was "discovered" by a member of the casting crew who passed on his name and impressive vital statistics to Warner Brothers.
"When they rang up out of the blue I naturally thought it was one of my mates winding me up and, I'm sorry to say, I gave this poor guy a load of abuse before the awful truth dawned that this was a serious offer."
Since his three daughters are too young to remember their dad playing rugby, they are naturally tickled pink to find themselves sharing the breakfast table with a celluloid super-hero in the shape of Hagrid.
"I've come to know Robbie fairly well and he's great company, as are all the principal actors. They're fascinating people, simply fascinating, when you get the opportunity to sit with them and hear all their stories."