'Harry Potter' baby actor 'paid £40 for film role'

The parents of a baby who appeared as 1-year-old Harry Potter in Deathly Hallows: Part 2 have claimed that he was only paid £40.

Toby Papworth featured in four scenes in the final film of the series based on JK Rowling's popular books. The Sun reports that his parents were shocked to discover his small earnings for the day.

"I couldn't believe my eyes when I got the cheque," his mother Ashley told the paper. "I was told he would get a standard extra's fee for the day, but they promised to try to get more if he appeared in the film."

During his day on set in Leavesden Studios, baby Toby was given his own dressing room, while Ashley received a £90 chaperone fee.



The youngster features in scenes which see Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) kill Harry's parents. Another sees Alan Rickman's Severus Snape cradle the body of Lily Potter in his arms.

"I had to get Toby to look in certain directions by teasing him with his favourite toys," 26-year-old Ashley explained. "He was one of two babies filmed for the part, but I didn't know his scenes had been chosen until June.

"Then I started seeing the trailers on TV and I realised his little face was being seen all over the world. On one hand, I was over the moon because his scene is quite a major one. But on the other, the filmmakers didn't so much as send me a ticket."

She added: "I phoned Toby's agency when the cheque came and they told me that was all he was getting - just £40. Considering he was a named part, it seems a bit mean. That said, we had a great day."

Warner Bros commented that the fees had been set by an external company.

Since its release last month, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 has taken more than £704.8 million at the box office, making it the third-highest grossing film of all time.

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Watch Toby appear in the trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 below: