Harry Potter actor shrugs off after-show clash as 'silliness'

The Harry Potter film actor alleged to have remonstrated with a member of the audience watching him in a West End play has dismissed it as "silliness".

Ian Hart, 45, who played Professor Quirrell in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was said to have confronted web designer Gerard Earley, 38, at the end of Monday night's performance of Speaking In Tongues at the Duke of York's Theatre.

Hart apparently believed Mr Earley had been talking during the play, something Mr Earley denies.

Hart appeared as normal in the play last night and refused to discuss the alleged confrontation in detail afterwards.

He told the Standard: "You said it mate - alleged. I'm absolutely not interested, it's just a lot of silliness." Mr Earley, from Wimbledon, admitted that Hart may not have made contact with him but said the actor had swung his arms and was shouting.