Harry Potter actress says late star Michael Gambon accidentally ‘spat in her face’ in scene cut from film
An ill-timed TikTok video has gone viral in the days after the death of Harry Potter star Michael Gambon.
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An ill-timed TikTok video has gone viral in the days after the death of Harry Potter star Michael Gambon, in which the actor is said to have “spat” in the face of an extra on set.
Samantha Clinch – a former child star who was initially cast as an extra but later played Eloise Midgen in The Goblet of Fire – recalled working with Gambon in the 2005 movie, calling it one of her “career highlights” even if he accidentally spat in her face during filming.
In her TikTok video shared just one day before Gambon’s death on September 27, Clinch said Gambon – who played Professor Albus Dumbledore – was standing very close to her as he delivered an intense line that she felt some spit land in her eye.
“Goblet of Fire there’s a moment where Dumbledore needs to announce that the dementors are coming and obviously this is absolutely terrifying, terrifying news for everyone involved,” Clinch said of the scene, which sadly never made it in the movie.
“But [ …] Dumbledore being Dumbledore, there’s a lot, a lot at stake for him,” she continued. “Anyway, he comes over to the table that I’m at and puts his hand on my shoulder, looks at me directly in the face and said, ‘The dementors are coming!’”
Clinch said that’s when the unfortunate incident occurred, but she still looks back on it fondly.
“Quite literally frothing at the mouth [ …] there was spit everywhere,” she said. “I might have got it in my eye. Dumbledore spat in my eyes.”
“That’s the moment that Dumbledore probably had one too many butter beers,” she joked. “Good times. A career highlight, I’d say.”
One day after she shared it on TikTok, news broke of Gambon’s death. He was 82.
A statement on behalf of his wife Anne Miller and son Fergus Gambon said: “We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon.
“Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia.
“We ask that you respect our privacy at this painful time and thank you for your messages of support and love.”
Originally published as Harry Potter actress says late star Michael Gambon accidentally ‘spat in her face’ in scene cut from film