Trio face up to life after Potter

They've become global stars in their nine years at Hogwarts – but can it last?

Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe at the premier of the final Harry Potter film last week (Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

This Wednesday sees the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth film in the franchise. In the nine years since the trio of schoolchildren were cast, they have become global stars. But will their fame last beyond the final film, due to be released next year?

Daniel Radcliffe

Then The son of casting and literary agents, Radcliffe, aged nine, played David Copperfield in a BBC adaptation. But he only came to Potter by chance when producer David Heyman spotted him in a theatre audience. J K Rowling said she didn't think they could have found a better Harry.

Now At 19 he has finally weathered the inevitable cries of "But he can't act!", garnering great reviews in the West End and on Broadway for his portrayal of a sexually deviant stable boy in Peter Schaffer's Equus, and showing sporting humour when sending himself up in Ricky Gervais' Extras. He is now learning ballet to stand up against drama school graduates once he exits the Potter safety net.

Emma Watson

Then The daughter of lawyers, Watson spent the first five years of her life in Paris. In her first outing as Hermione Granger, her debut professional role, she was widely trumpeted as the most talented of the three young stars.

Now Watson recently modelled for Burberry's latest collection, but with three As at A-level she has plans to study liberal arts at a US university.

Rupert Grint

Then As a huge fan of the books, Grint hurled himself at the chance to star in the films, sending a homemade audition video in which he rhapsodised about his desire to play Ron Weasley.

Now A critically acclaimed turn in the ITV one-off drama Driving Lessons in 2006 showed off his talent. He is now generally held as the best young actor in the Potter films, with director Alfonso Cuaron pronouncing him "the likely future star of the Hogwarts trio".