**John Lithgow Reveals His Thoughts on Playing Dumbledore in the 'Harry Potter' Series**
John Lithgow, the seasoned actor, opened up about his role as Dumbledore in the upcoming "Harry Potter" series during his appearance at the Rotterdam Film Festival. His latest film, "Jimpa," premiered on Sunday to a packed audience.
When asked about J.K. Rowling's recent statements on transgender issues, Lithgow said, "I take this subject extremely seriously. She has created an amazing canon for young people that has deeply embedded itself in society's consciousness. It's about good versus evil, kindness versus cruelty. I find her views ironic and inexplicable. I've never met her, and she's not really involved in this production at all. But the people who are involved are remarkable."
He added, "It upsets me when people are opposed to me having anything to do with this. But in the 'Potter' canon, you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity. She's written about kindness and acceptance. And Dumbledore is a beautiful role."
Lithgow further commented, "It was a hard decision. I felt uncomfortable and unhappy when people insisted I walk away from the job. I chose not to do that." He even joked, "I'm the oldest person in this entire room, just turned 80. And yet I signed a contract – I will be playing Dumbledore for the next eight years! I absolutely have to keep at it. I felt like, 'Wow! That means I will live to be 88.' I have that in writing."
Despite his dedication to the role, one audience member expressed disappointment over his decision. They left the room in protest, sparking a heated discussion that overshadowed Lithgow's Rotterdam premiere of "Jimpa." Lithgow was unfazed by the backlash, saying, "I'm perfectly ready for collisions of opinion. I understand it."
In "Jimpa," Lithgow stars alongside Olivia Colman. He praised her acting skills, saying, "Olivia has such access to her own emotional life. It's so genuine and real to her. She keeps you on the same emotional wavelength. What an amazing actor."
Directed by Sophie Hyde, "Jimpa" follows Hannah (Colman) as she reunites with her father (Lithgow), who came out later in life and now lives in Amsterdam. Lithgow shared his positive experience working with the Dutch crew, saying, "They're the most welcoming people in the world. The whole experience was like one big party. I was one percent of the straight crew and had a magnificent time."
He also praised Hyde's artistic and emotional instincts, saying, "I don’t know if I was her first choice to play her father, but that’s what she told me." Her references included his role in "Love Is Strange." Hyde explained that the film was inspired by her own story, including her father's HIV diagnosis and his subsequent transition to a non-binary identity.
When asked about his heroes, Lithgow said, "I grew up in a theater family and among actors. Many of them were my absolute heroes. My father was a hero of mine, but these actors in a small town in Ohio, acting in Shakespeare plays in the summer time, they were such passionate people. Many of them gay by the way. I was just a little boy, idolizing these gay men. It informed me playing Jim."
The actor also spoke highly of the rehearsal period and the secret assignments given by Hyde, saying, "She was turning us into a real family." He described it as a "one big love affair," with Lithgow being enthusiastic from the very beginning.
Another cast member, Zoë Love Smith, echoed Lithgow's sentiments, saying, "My big international role and to play with John and Olivia? There was this immediate warmth. I wanted this role not just because it was big but because it felt so good. I didn’t have rehearsals like that ever in my life."
Romana Vrede, who also joined the team on stage, called the film "powerful and personal," adding that it captured life beautifully.
Talking about acting, Lithgow said, "Styles change, but the basics of storytelling are very much the same. Any actor’s Holy Grail is the suspension of disbelief, making the audience believe that it’s not fiction but it’s real. Forgetting that these are actors. You never achieve it because adults at least know they are watching actors pretend."
He concluded by saying, "I've had a long career and there have only been five or six films that were everything I’d hoped for. In this hothouse moment when there’s such cruelty and misuse of power over people, it’s wonderful to make a film about empathy and kindness." He recalled an especially moving moment in "Jimpa" where he lay in a coma next to Colman and a tear ran down his cheek, revealing that he heard and understood what she was saying. "I guess I was just terribly moved by the thought of my own death," he said with a smile.
