Rupert Grint Calls ‘Harry Potter’ Experience ‘Suffocating’

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From 2001 to 2011, British actor Rupert Grintattended the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as the character Ron Weasley, one of the three main characters in the “Harry Potter” film series.

Cast at age 11, Grint was a novice to the acting world, having only previously starred in school plays at his local theatre group.

Grint, now 33, recently reflected on what it was like growing up in the spotlight, and the difficulty of experiencing puberty in the public eye.

Although the “Cherrybomb” actor ultimately described his time on set as “a great experience,” he revealed that the role did come with some drawbacks.

“There was a time where it felt quite suffocating because it was heavy going because it was every day for 10 years in the end,” Grint admitted, before adding that he did enjoy the “family atmosphere” he experienced on set.

“It was always the same crew we kind of grew up with, so it was a great place to be,” he explained. “But sometimes it definitely felt like, ‘I want to do something else. See what else is out there.’”

Although he had an intense filming schedule, Grint felt constantly aware of his behavior even off-camera.

“It was definitely hard to get your head around because I’m quite a shy, private person, and suddenly to be put in that world…it was overwhelming for sure,” Grint shared. “And also the responsibility as well, because as you say, for fans of the books, and they hold these characters in such high regard.”

Although he admits that the pressure of being a role model “didn’t really stop me from having fun,” he did confess that “it was always kind of a bit of a shadow.”

Being cast in the franchise came with a substantial paycheck, and Grint found some amusement in spending his first paycheck on exactly what any adolescent boy would want: a hovercraft.

“I haven’t been on it in a long time,” he shared. “I crashed it quite badly the last time I was out because it’s impossible. No brakes. It’s lethal; it nearly killed me.”

He also added that he used the money to buy his very first car: an ice cream van. Although he doesn’t have a license to sell ice cream, he doesn’t mind giving it out for free:

“I tend to avoid July and August, but the rest of the year I'll drive around the local villages and if I see some kids looking like they're in need of ice creams, I'll pull over and dish them out for free. They'll say, 'Ain't you Ron Weasley?' And I'll say, 'It's strange, I get asked that a lot.'”

Although it’s been a while since Grint has shared the silver screen alongside co-stars Emma Watson(Hermione Granger) and Daniel Radcliffe(Harry Potter), he’s about to enter his toughest role yet: being a dad.

In November 2020, he welcomed his first daughter with girlfriend Georgia Groome. He celebrated the birth by creating an Instagram page, sharing, “Hey Instagram….only 10 years late, but here I am. Grint on the Gram! Here to introduce you all to Wednesday G. Grint. Stay safe, Rupert.”

Although he admitted that he has only watched each movie once, he’s looking forward to someday revisiting the franchise with her.

“Now I’ve got a kid,” he said. “That’s going to be a whole new kind of era.”