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I do believe in fairies Rachel and Jeremy interview at Empire Online
Peter Pan: Interview with cast and crew Olivia Williams, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Ludivine Sagnier, producer Lucy Fisher
Peter Pan: Interview with director P.J. Hogan and cast Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Sumpter
Captain Hook and Company: THE STARS OF PETER PAN! A Girl's World
Peter Pan my first kiss The Sun
Pretty Fly December 14, 2003
English rose earns garlands in £58m film of Peter Pan December 10, 2003
Peter Pan film unveils new star - BBC News December 10, 2003
IGN Interviews Rachel Hurd-Wood December 08, 2003

Articles

From MovieMagic Magazine, typed by Mili :D
Movie Magic - Rachel Hurd-Wood

QUESTION: So is there an exciting story behind how you got to be cast as Wendy?

RHW: My grandparents heard about it on the television and told my mom. One day when I came home from school, she measured me to see if I was within the height restrictions, without telling me what she was doing. I was confused as to why she was doing that. Then she told me that I was within the height restrictions and I got really excited and I thought, "I'd love to do an audition."

QUESTION: how tough was the audition process?

RHW: Not very tough. All I had to do was tell the casting lady a bit about myself, then she gave me a recall where they gave me a couple of pages of lines that I had to learn. The next time I got recalled, I just sort of said them in front of a video camera. It was a bit nerve-wracking, but it wasnt really bad because everyone was so nice.

QUESTION: This may seem like a silly question, but had you been familiar with the Peter Pan story?

RHW: Oh, yes. I loved the story since I was very little, though I havent been very in touch with it since I've been older. But I was fond of it and had watched the Disney cartoon.

QUESTION: My understanding is that this movie is very close to the original novel. RHW: I think it's fantastic and it's much more true to the original book than perhaps the other versions have been. It's really, really good.

QUESTION: For you, what was the appeal of playing the character of Wendy?

RHW: She's quite like myself. She's adventurous and brave, yet she's got a feminine side to her as well. It was tricky to play her at times, because there are so many things that combine together to make the Wendy character. But that made it really good fun playing it.

QUESTION: Jeremy mentioned that he had a height issue during production. Did you? RHW: I think I grew five inches in the year.

QUESTION: What was the experience of flying on wires like?

RHW: It was really, really good fun. After a time, it could get really tedious, depending on what you were doing. When I heard there was blue screen flying, I thought it was a bit pointless, but then I realized that you have lines and stuff up there, so it is acting, except that you're high above the ground. Being in the harness, sometimes it can dig in around your leg area and stuff, but it wasnt too bad and you do get used to it. There was also back arching and pointing toes, so you have to be very cognizant of what you're doing the whole time - as well as acting, which was good fun. It was all a learning experience.

QUESTION: Are you excited to see the end result?

RHW: I am. I cant wait to see what the whole thing looks like. I wasnt allowed to see dailies, because P.J., the director, was scared that it might affect performances. I've seen little bits of it and I love the trailer for the film. I think its fantastic.

QUESTION: Is acting something you wanted to pursue all along?

RHW: This is totally new to me. Truthfully, the only reason I went to the audition was for the fun of seeing what an audition was like. The only other experience I've had is just doing school plays and stuff. I've never, ever really done anything like this. So this is all very amazing. I was so excited when I found out that I had the part. I was over the moon.

QUESTION: Having had this experience, is acting something you want to pursue in the future?

RHW: I would definitely like to do more of it, but I'm not really sure if I would want to do it as a career. I'm crazy about dolphins, so I'd rather be a marine biologist.

QUESTION: Did you and Jeremy have a good working relationship?

RHW: Definately. We're really good friends and he relaxed me when we were on set, so that was great.

QUESTION: In your mind, what was the most challenging aspect of this movie?

RHW: Probably, for me, the toughest scene is in Hook's cabin, because its very emotional and I had to really think about what I was doing. I was so nervous coming to set that day, but, of course, it all became very relaxing.

QUESTION: It's probably important to remember that the effects will only take you so far, that its the emotions the audience will identify with.

RHW: You have to really think about what you're doing beforehand and make a few mental notes about the scene. Generally, I like to read the script, read that scene through, the whole thing, just to get a grip on what was really happening.

QUESTION: In modern Hollywood, the thought is always for the franchise, the sequel - do you think there will be a follow-up to this?

RHW: To be honest, I dont think there could be a sequel , because Peter Pan is a timeless classic. I just dont think a sequel could work as well as I think this movie will. I also dont know if I could play Wendy again, because I would be a little bit too old at that point.

From LondonNet.co.uk
10/12/03
Pan Flies Back to London - Thousands turn up at Leicester Square for premiere

PETER PAN drew thousands of fans to Leicester Square last night for the world premiere of the new film based on JM Barrie's famous book about the boy who wouldn't grow up.

Leading actors from the movie, including American Jeremy Sumpter, who plays Peter Pan, British teenage actress Rachel Hurd-Wood (Wendy) and French find Ludivine Sagnier (Tinker Bell) turned up for the premiere.

"I can't believe that I'm here, it's so unreal," said Hurd-Wood. "People outside were shouting my name and it's just incredible. I was so lucky to get this part and the experience was just amazing."

Some of the money behind the film came from Harrods owner Mohammed al Fayed, whose late son, Dodi, financed Hook, an earlier Pan movie.

Hooked on Neverland
By Richard Simpson, Showbusiness Correspondent, Evening Standard
9 December 2003

Schoolgirl Rachel Hurd-Wood is set for movie stardom when Peter Pan - billed as this Christmas's big family film - opens in cinemas worldwide this month.

The 13-year-old was picked from thousands of hopefuls to play Wendy Darling in the film, based on JM Barrie's classic story about the boy who refused to grow up.

"One minute I'm walking across the playground to maths, the next I'm flying out to Hollywood to meet the world's press. It's a dream come true," said Rachel.

She tried for the role after her grandparents saw a television clip that said film bosses were looking for a "young English rose" to play in the £65 million film.

"They mentioned it in passing to my mum on the phone," said Rachel. "When I came home from school she smiled at me and said 'Do you want to audition for a film?' I never thought in a billion years I would get the part.

"I auditioned in London last year then went to Australia, where they were filming for a final audition."

Rachel, who lives in Godalming, won the part despite virtually no acting experience. But during her spell in Never Never Land she got to work with Richard Briers and Lynn Redgrave, and spent eight months on Australia's Gold Coast.

As Wendy in the film, she cannot decide whether to kiss Peter Pan - played by American teenager Jeremy Sumpter - or mother him. But, in real life, Rachel said: "I haven't started dating boys yet."

Now back home with young brother Patrick and parents Sarah and Philip, she is discussing future roles. The film premieres tonight and opens at cinemas across Britain on 26 December.