It's a magical month for wizard fans around the world. And a very lucrative one for that multi-billion dollar brand, Harry Potter Inc.

First, there's the latest movie, that's next week. Then in three weeks, one of the most anticipated events in literary history, the launch of the seventh, and final, Harry Potter book when we'll find what fate awaits young Harry and his mates - whether JK Rowling has one last dastardly trick up her sleeve.

But it's not quite the end of the world. There are still two more movies to come after this one, so that should keep you happy for a couple of years, at least.

Transcript

TARA BROWN: It just feels like yesterday when the impossibly cute Mr Potter first went to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In fact, his first day was seven years ago. Since then, there have been four films, each grossing more than a billion dollars. But more charming has been the chance to see these three young actors, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe, grow before our eyes. They're down-to-earth, likeable, teenagers, but every day they're reminded they're also rich and famous teenagers.

EMMA WATSON: Everywhere I go people stop me, recognise me. I mean, I don't know quite how to explain it. It's just completely turned my life upside down so, yeah, just — you just have to kind of adapt, I guess.

TARA BROWN: And can anything prepare you for that?

EMMA WATSON: Um, no. You just ... no. You just … just take it as it comes, I guess.

TARA BROWN: How has the Harry Potter movies helped with your female fan base?

RUPERT GRINT: Yeah. Well, definitely here you get a bit more attention, I guess. I'm, like, still getting recognised and that's still quite strange.

TARA BROWN: I've heard you — you're not reluctant to perhaps date a female fan. Is that true?

RUPERT GRINT: No, I'm not too fussy, yeah.

TARA BROWN: And the star, 17-year-old Daniel Radcliffe, well, who would have thought he'd become a heart-throb? Now, fame and fortune — how's that going with attracting the girls?

DANIEL RADCLIFFE: Nothing particularly, I don't know if it helps a huge amount, I don't know, I don't really know.

TARA BROWN: Has it hindered?

DANIEL RADCLIFFE: I don't think it's hindered, either, no, not hindered. It's fine, really. I don't really know if it's made too much of a difference.

TARA BROWN: I've read some of the things. You know, you've had placards saying 'Mrs Radcliffe here!' Things thrown at you.

DANIEL RADCLIFFE: Yes, that was one very particular girl who I have very vivid memories of who was — who sort of chased us around New York when we were last there. Yeah, she was very determined.

TARA BROWN: So who's pottier, do you think? British, American or Australian girls?

DANIEL RADCLIFFE: Definitely American girls.

TARA BROWN: On screen, Harry's discovering girls, too. In his last movie, a female classmate casts her spell on the young wizard. And in this new film, we finally get the much-anticipated kiss. It's short and sweet. What was the first kiss like?

DANIEL RADCLIFFE: Oh, that was fine. That wasn't one of the challenging parts really. I mean, that was — I was a bit nervous to start with but after that, after the first few takes, it became sort of very easy really.

TARA BROWN: I read somewhere that you were actually a bit disappointed. It wasn't quite as sexy as you thought it would be.

DANIEL RADCLIFFE: Well, this is the thing, it never is on screen. I mean, in real life, it's not very sexy. There's something about doing it in front of all those people, really takes away any edge it might have had.

TARA BROWN: The Order of the Phoenix is the fifth film in the series. It's darker and edgier but with the same faithful friends and fearsome foes. Are you still getting a kick out of it?

DANIEL RADCLIFFE: Yeah, I am actually. When you get some brilliant reactions from kids, when you totally freak them out, I think that, for me, is the power of magic.

TARA BROWN: Now, Hermione has been an infuriatingly sensible witch all along. Now she's loosened up a little bit in this film. Does that make her more fun to play?

EMMA WATSON: Yeah, I really enjoyed playing kind of her rebellious side. She kind of breaks free a bit because previously she's played by the rules and would rather die than be expelled so yeah, I'm the rebel.

[......]

TARA BROWN: Even the movie's stars have no idea. How do you think the series is going to end?

RUPERT GRINT: I don't know, really.

TARA BROWN: Well, the latest theory I've read is that you kill Harry.

RUPERT GRINT: Really?

TARA BROWN: Yes.

RUPERT GRINT: Well … I didn't expect that.

TARA BROWN: You didn't?

RUPERT GRINT: Maybe, yeah, I don't know anything's possible, I guess.

TARA BROWN: Some young fans of the Harry Potter series that I've spoken to think that your brains, as Hermione, are going to undo you.

EMMA WATSON: Oh, right! Oh, gosh.

TARA BROWN: And some of them don't even mind if you die a painful death.

EMMA WATSON: Oh, that's outrageous! Oh well, you know, as long as everyone sobs and cries and I have a really, really great dramatic kind of death then I guess that would be okay, but God, that's really harsh. I've never really thought about that.

TARA BROWN: And what do you want to happen in book seven?

BOY: Well, this might sound strange but I sort of do want Harry Potter to die.

TARA BROWN: Why?

GIRL: Oh my God, you're evil.

BOY: He thinks he's so great now and he's always right.

TARA BROWN: Would you like Harry Potter to die, too? Do you want him to die a painful death?

GIRL: What's the point?

BOY: But he shouldn't actually die in pain. Yes, he should be in pain before that but he shouldn't actually die while he's feeling pain. That would just be disappointing.

GIRL: I don't want any of them to die — I wouldn't wish death on anyone.

TARA BROWN: Can you imagine life after Harry Potter?

DANIEL RADCLIFFE: It's a struggle. I don't know, because it's been a part of my life for so long. It's hard to picture it without it, but, you know, — obviously there will be life after Harry Potter and, um, it's exciting in some ways, the prospect of that.

TARA BROWN: Back in Harry Potter's world, the magic continues. All the young stars are signed to do the last two films so, over the next three years, we'll be seeing a lot more of Harry, Ron and Hermione. In the meantime, having bought a house in Melbourne, Daniel Radcliffe is as bewitched by Australia as we are by him.

DANIEL RADCLIFFE: I love Australia and Australia is getting sick of hearing me say that, but, um, probably, but, you know, I love being out there, I love the people, though I loathe your cricket team so, so vehemently because they're just, they're probably one of the best teams the world has ever seen.

TARA BROWN: You're a sore loser, that's why.

DANIEL RADCLIFFE: Of course I'm a sore loser, yes. There's nothing wrong with that! You wait till 2009.

TARA BROWN: Oh, yeah, we'll keep waiting. Good luck.

[60 Minutes, Australia || Complete transcript found here]