ZOOMING around on broomsticks trying to catch the Golden Snitch is just fantasy for most youngsters but for Gemma Padley, Scott Fearn and Emily Dale it's been a regular hobby.

While Harry Potter fever grips the nation, these three teenegers are safe in the knowledge that they have been part of the phenomenon that is J K Rowling's wizard creation.

Scott Fearn and Emily Dale were among more than 70 students from the Jackie Palmer Stage School who have appeared in the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and are both due to take part in the sequel with Gemma Padley.

Scott, who attends the stage school in High Wycombe, says: "Obviously when you read a book you build up a picture in your mind about what you think it's going to be like.

"When you see the film it's totally different. But it is a brilliant film and I think it will go down very well with all the Harry Potter fans."

Scott and Emily, both 16 and professionally acting for around two years, battled it out with hundreds of other hopefuls to become the characters Adrian Pusey and Katie Bell who are Quidditch players in the film. For people who haven't read the book, Quidditch is like football on broomsticks.

"In the auditions we had to do acrobatics, cartwheels and stuff. Then we all had to get in a line and they picked out the people they wanted," explains Scott.

Emily, of Penn, adds: "They wanted us to be flexible because of all the work we would have to do on the broomsticks. Scott and I were both Quidditch players and for flying on broomsticks you had to have very good balance."

The movie is set to smash UK cinema records and with a budget of £100 million and more than 100 million copies of the book being sold, it has all the makings of a world wide success story.

A galaxy of stars surrounded Harry Potter, played by Daniel Radcliffe, including Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Zoe Wanamaker and Alan Rickman.

"Meeting Chris Columbus, the director was a highlight for me," explains Scott.

"He was the one who auditioned us and he was a brilliant director. I had never heard of him before and I was stunned to find out he was the director of films like Home Alone and Mrs Doubtfire."

"For me it was just really fun doing it," says Emily. "Plus meeting everyone. It was a really good atmosphere and everyone was really enjoying doing the film."

Both Quidditch stars say their time on the film was a memorable one and Gemma, 17, from Holmer Green has it all to come.

Gemma, who has appeared as Alice in the BBC's In A Land of Plenty, is due to appear in the sequel to the Philosopher's Stone as Penelope, the head boy's girlfriend.

She explains: "Penelope is a bit stuck up and snobbish, but it should be fun to do.

"In the book she says something but I don't know whether they will cut it out or not."

All three Potter actors have read the J K Rowling books and say there is just something magical about them.

"I've read all the books, I confess. I really enjoyed them, they were really well structured," says Gemma. "What sets them apart from other books is all the little details, the character and everything.

"It's just so original, there have always been stories about boarding schools and wizards but Harry Potter is just different."

November 9, 2001 10:00