Daniel Radcliffe has apologised to disappointed fans who camped out at last weekend's (22-25Jul10) Comic-Con convention in San Diego, California hoping to see their Harry Potter hero - explaining he was in Russia celebrating his 21st birthday.
Thousands of Potter devotees descended on the comic book convention and queued for hours to ensure they were first in line to catch the Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows panel discussion.
But fans expecting Radcliffe and his co-stars Rupert Grint and Emma Watson were left disappointed when only the villain of the film franchise, Tom Felton - who plays Draco Malfoy - turned up.
Radcliffe understands why fans, who took to the Internet to complain about the star's no-show, are unhappy but he insists he was never billed to appear at Comic-Con.
He tells the Los Angeles Times, "I apologise to all the wishful thinkers for my disappointing non-presence. I suppose it's like when I'm at (a music festival), and I hear that suddenly some amazing band is going to play a surprise gig and then it turns out to be total fiction.
"I was in St. Petersburg (Russia) for my birthday, which is probably the most beautiful, the most incredible, wonderful place I've ever been in my life. It really is absolutely amazing. I went with two friends and it was brilliant."
Radcliffe turned 21 on 23 July (10).