Thompson: 'Potter employed my family'

Emma Thompson has praised the Harry Potter film franchise for employing so many British actors.

The actress, who plays Divination teacher Professor Trelawney, revealed that many of her family members also took part in the productions.

"Absolutely everyone in equity has been in it," she told MTV News.

"Including all my family, practically. My sister just finished. I don't know what the name of her character is; she's got a major role in this last one."

Thompson admitted that she was glad to take part in the series but was sad that her final scenes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows were shot in only two days.

"They were very quick. I just had to do a bit of waving of a wand and a bit of 'ooooo-ing' over dead people, because of course they just had to fit absolutely everyone in," she explained.

"[It was like] a conveyor belt of characters, as this extraordinary machine came to its end. It was incredible to see everyone and just sort of quickly say hello and goodbye."

The first instalment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows opens worldwide on November 19.