The Harry Potter star, who was knighted last month (July15) by Queen Elizabeth II, announced in June (15) that he had been diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer.

However, the 75 year old is "optimistic" of a happy outcome, telling British magazine Radio Times, "I can't say I worry about mortality, but it's impossible to get to my age and not have a little contemplation of it. We're all just passing time, and occupy our chair very briefly. But my treatment is going terrifically well, so I'm optimistic."