3
Dec

The Harry Potter Interviews – Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint!

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With fifth Potter movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix about to hit UK cinema screens, David Savage went to the press conference in London, then chatted to Daniel Radcliffe about art and theatre, and Rupert Grint about golf and ice cream! Here’s our report…

On the morning of Monday 25 June 2007, the day that Britain will have its worst storms in decades and Sheffield will be submerged underwater, a large group of international journalist types – and me – are sat in a big room in County Hall by the Thames in London. It looks like the House of Commons, but the witchy broomsticks scattered about make it clear that it’s not boring old politicians we’re waiting for. Nope, this is the press conference for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, hosted by That Ben Shepherd Off TV, and there’s a buzz in the air because all the major young cast members are about to arrive, along with the director, producer and writer.

When they do, it’s interesting to note the differences between Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint who sit together. Daniel’s smart with suit and tie, buzzes with nervous energy, talks lots and isn’t just make-you-smirk-from-time-to-time funny but actually spit-out-your-crisps laugh-out-loud funny, and could easily have a career as a stand-up comic. Whereas Rupert is casual, laid back, a teen of few words, and has a quieter sense of humour, a deep grin often creasing his face as he happily watches Daniel get tangled up in his rapid-fire monologues.

[…]

Next, it’s time to chat with Rupert Grint. He’s as chilled out as ever, friendly and fun to speak to.

Rupert, how did you find making Driving Lessons compared to making the Potter films. Like Daniel’s December Boys it was quite low budget…
Yeah, it was really two extremes. Driving Lessons had such a low budget. We just filmed it round London. It was really simple and I enjoyed it. We didn’t do too many takes – usually just about two takes. About five scenes a day. It’s such a different way of working; quite cool. And it was nice to be in such an atmosphere – not full of magical creatures. Dragons and stuff like that!

Which of the two types of film would you prefer to make in future?
I don’t know, really. I did like it, yeah. But it’s a lot of fun doing all the visual effects stuff, too, ’cause it’s really cool to look back and watch the film at the end. There’s one scene in the new Potter that’s just out there really, where we’re flying through London. It’s really wicked, and I do love stuff like that. I do like that side of film.

Is it true you’ve bought an ice cream van?
(NODS) It’s quite strange really. I’ve always been into the ice cream industry, and I’ve just got an ice cream van, yeah. It’s got two freezers and lots of ice cream in the back. It’s lots of fun driving it about.

Which ice cream van jingle does it play?
It’s hard to find one, actually. I can plug it into my MP3 player and play what I want, but it’s hard to find a good ice cream jingle.

Do you park then drive off when the local kids come for ice creams?
Yeah! You get a lot of disappointed children following you round.

There’s a road movie in that. You setting off on an adventure in your ice cream van…
Yeah! And it’s also a back up plan in case the acting doesn’t work out.

What else are you into?
I’ve got quite a few interests. When I left school I limited my boundaries a bit, I suppose. But I’ve always been into art.

Did you leave before A Levels?
Yeah, I left at 16. I could always go back… but I don’t see it, really!

Is it true you’re into golf?
Yeah, I am into golf. I’ve just been getting into it recently.

What’s the best golfing tip you’ve ever been given?
The best tip?!

Aren’t golfers always swapping golfing tips?
Yeah. Well, the most important thing is to keep your head down when you’re going through the swings. I never thought I’d get into it, but I really enjoy it.

Do you buy any of the golfing magazines?
I have bought a few, yeah!

It’s that bad, then?
Yeah. But there’s so much equipment involved!

You’re into music, too, aren’t you?
Yeah, I like music. I play the didgeridoo. I got a little CD that taught me – but I don’t really know what to do with it. I haven’t mastered it yet. I can make a noise with it. I can sound like Rolf Harris.

Which bands do you like?
I’ve got wide tastes. I like the Arctic Monkeys and a lot of new bands. I go to a lot of gigs.

On your travels, which country has the most intense Harry Potter fans?
It varies. The British ones aren’t as forward or loud as the American ones. But the Japanese are really crazy. I went a couple of years ago – it was really great.

Have you seen any of the films dubbed into Japanese?
Yeah, they ran them on TV there. It was cool. You couldn’t tell it was dubbed. It really looked like I was speaking Japanese.

When a new cast member like Evanna Lynch (as Luna Lovegood) joins the set, how do you make them feel like one of the family – because you must all have bonded so much over the years.
We don’t really do anything in particular. But Evanna fitted in really well. She knows the books so well, everyone speaks to her to find out stuff! It’s good for us when there’s someone new ’cause it freshens things up for us.

When the last Potter film wraps, there’ll surely be quite a big vacuum in your life – will it be hard to deal with for a while with when it all ends?
Definitely, yes. It’s been such a massive part of my life. Every year I’ve had the same consistent routine.

And you spend much more time in the Harry Potter world than out of it…?
Definitely, yeah. It will be weird not to do it, really. Hopefully other stuff will come up. But I’m gonna miss it. It’s been really fun and I’ve met some really cool people and done some really cool stuff.

Another writer asks Rupert if it’s true that he’s scared of spiders and he shudders – “yeah – spiders. Really bad. I don’t like ‘em at all” – so how did he cope with facing the whopping spider in Prisoner of Azkaban? He says he’s lucky he didn’t have to face any real ones, but adds “I’m not really scared of massive ones. Just the little ones that can crawl on you.”

So if you got into your ice cream van one pleasant morning and found a Black Widow perched on the Raspberry Ripple, how would you cope?
Oh, that’d ruin the whole thing. That would totally put me off it…

Original article found here: Popcorn | June 25th, 2007

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1
Dec

Meet Rupert Grint, Actor

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TFK speaks with the young star of the Harry Potter films

Rupert Grint, 15, leads a magical life. He plays Ron Weasley in all three Harry Potter movies. In the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which opens nationwide on June 4, Ron plays a more significant role in the plot. But Rupert didn’t mind the extra work! TFK spoke with him about the new movie, his favorite characters at Hogwarts and the best part of playing a wizard.

TFK: What can you tell kids about Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban?
Rupert: It’s quite scary, but it’s funny as well. It’s really good!

TFK: What was different about filming this movie than filming the first two?
Rupert: Not much, actually. It was longer, and the director was different, but other than that, it was just as much fun.

TFK: Was it easier for you now that you’re older?
Rupert: I guess it helped. We’ve done two already. You kind of get used to the routine.

TFK: How do you think that Ron has changed?
Rupert: He’s gotten a bit more mature. Hermione gets Crookshanks, the cat, and Ron’s rat and her cat do not get on, so Ron and Hermione kind of clash in this film.

TFK: Your rat turns out to be pretty evil in this film.
Rupert: Yeah! That’s one of the reasons why the third movie is my favorite. I also like it because of all the scary things.

TFK: Are you similar to Ron in real life?
Rupert: When I was reading the books, I felt I could relate to little things. We both have ginger hair. We’ve both got quite a big family. We’re both scared of spiders.

TFK: If you could play a different character, which one would you choose?
Rupert: Malfoy’s pretty cool. I’d probably like to play him because he’s evil.

TFK: Which house do you think you would be in if you attended Hogwarts?
Rupert: That’s quite hard! I probably wouldn’t be in Gryffindor, because I’m not that brave. I wouldn’t be in Slytherin, because I’m not exactly evil. Ravenclaw seems to be a bit more of a mean house. Hufflepuff is a bit nicer. So, probably Hufflepuff.

TFK: Who is your favorite character?
Rupert: My favorite character overall is Gilderoy Lockhart. He’s funny. But in this film, I like Ron. He is one of my favorite characters. He’s just such a cool character.

TFK: How did you originally land the role?
Rupert: There is a TV program in England for kids called Newsround. They showed you how to audition. I was a really big fan of the books, and I really liked acting as well.

I found out that some other people were sending in videotapes of themselves reading bits of the book. So I made this videotape, and my mum filmed it. I made up a rap song about how much I wanted to be in the film. Then I made a speech for Ron. And then I did auditions and screen tests, and I got the part!

TFK: Do you think you would be friends with Harry and Hermione in real life?
Rupert: Yeah, I think I would!

TFK: Are you friends with Daniel and Emma off the set?
Rupert: Oh yeah, we’re really good friends.

TFK: What do you think is the best part of being a wizard?
Rupert: The magic, and all of the wizard sweets. They’re brilliant. They’re really good.

TFK: Bertie Botts’ Every Flavor Beans?
Rupert: Yeah, those are really good! And the chocolate frogs are good.

TFK: Which spell do you wish you could do?
Rupert: Hmmm…there were quite good ones in this film. Invisibility would be quite cool.

TFK: Was it harder to film this movie than the first two?
Rupert: Well, it was longer. But other than that, it wasn’t really like work at all…just fun.

TFK: Are you going to do the fourth movie?
Rupert: Yeah, because I have a really good time doing them.

Original article found here: Time For Kids | Mary 24th, 2004

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1
Dec

Hairy Potter? NR talks to Rupert Grint

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Rupert Grint aka Ron Weasley



Rupert Grint has wowed audiences as Ron Weasley in the last two Potter films. He’s back in Azkaban and now his long locks are the talk of the fans.

Lizo caught up with the auburn-haired actor and asked him about this film, the next one, and whether Ron’s new look is permanent.

Lizo: Now Rupert tell us how much fun did you have with this movie?

Rupert: Yeah, this one was fun! But seeing it finally was the really good bit – ‘cos you get to see all the special effects that you didn’t get to see when we were making the film.

Lizo: So is it bizarre on set when you’re doing stuff without knowing how it’ll turn out – like the scenes with the Dementors?

Rupert: It’s weird – and there’s some scary puppet stuff as well. Yeah, it’s really weird doing all the special effects stuff but it’s really satisfying to see it all at the end.

Lizo: What did you think when you saw it on screen?

Rupert: It’s a lot different to the other films which was good. It’s a lot more grown up, and a lot darker as well which is good.


Lizo: Things are hotting up between you and Hermione?

Rupert: There’s a lot of awkward hand-holding moments which is a bit weird but it is fun to do! And there were a few hugs as well which didn’t make the final cut – there was a lot of that sort of stuff.

Lizo: Do you think Ron and Hermione are well-suited?

Rupert: I dunno! When they first met they didn’t like each other. And in this one they were arguing about the cat and the rat!

Lizo: So forget the Sirius Black thing – this movie’s all about the cat and the rat stuff eh?

Rupert: Definitely yeah!


Lizo: What did you think of the cat playing Crookshanks?

Rupert: Emma liked it but Dan and I thought it was a bit ugly – he has a flat face. He was alright.

Lizo: Did he have a nice personality?
Rupert: Ha! Well he was really well trained. All the animals were, the rat aswell.

Lizo: What’s it like being one of the most famous teenagers in the world?
Rupert: I get recognised sometimes which is quite weird. It’s hard to get used to. It’s really weird but quite cool too.

Lizo: What do you do when you have time off?

Rupert: I’ve just recently started playing golf – I played in Scotland, they’ve a lot of courses up there. That’s quite fun. And I play computer games a lot.

Lizo: What do you do when you’re on set but not filming?

Rupert: There’s not really a lot of time. We’re always filming and when we’re not we’re tutoring! But we have a really good time anyway ‘cos, well, it’s not that hard work, it’s all good fun.

Lizo: You’re just getting ready to start the next film – what are you looking forward to in that?

Rupert: My dress robes are going to be quite cool – so I’m looking forward to seeing what they look like. The Yule Ball should be good.

Lizo: And finally the question everyone wants to know – are you going to get your hair cut – or is this the new look for Rupert?

Rupert: I think it is. That’s what they’re saying. I have had it cut – this is it short, well shorter than it was ‘cos it was really long for a while. Yeah, this is the final sort of thing.

Lizo: Well, we’ll let you know how the vote goes on the web!

Rupert: Yeah do!

Original article found here: CBBC Newsround | May 28th, 2004

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1
Dec

Growing Up In Front of the Cameras

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Young Performer with Rupert Grint

YP: Rupert, how do you juggle fame, filming and school?
RG: Life is pretty much as it was before, except Japanese people send me birthday presents, and I get recognised sometimes which is weird! I go to school for exams, but I have never been top of the class, so I prefer tutoring – fewer distractions. My school friends just behave normally, which helps. Also I’ve got lots of little sisters and we still argue and stuff.

YP: Did you honestly like Ron’s pet rat Scabbers?
RG: I think rats are cool so I didn’t mind doing scenes with Scabbers. The Animal department shaved bits of his fur off so he would look manky, but he is really a nice healthy rat who had a make over.

YP: Have you and Ron changed in the 3rd Potter movie?
RG: I’m taller and my voice has broken. Ron changes, there’s the Hermione budding romance thing going on. Yeah I relate to Ron because we both have ginger hair, big families, and I’m scared of spiders like him.
But I’d like Ron to turn a bit evil, that’s be cool. I’ve always wanted
to play an evil person!

YP: Describe your average day on the set?
RG: I get up early, go to the studios 45 minutes away, have breakfast, costume, hair, and make up. Then I either go to tutoring, or on set, depending if they’re ready. On set the director runs us through the scene, we’ll rehearse it a couple of time, and then start filming

YP: What was the worst thing about filming?
RG: The rat peed on me! And the clothes – unfortunately Ron still wears his Weasley sweaters, so I never got to experience normal clothes.

YP: Do you want to continue acting when you grow up?
RG: It’d be cool to carry on doing films, but when I was a kid I wanted to be an ice cream man.

Original article found here: Young Performer | July 15th, 2004

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1
Dec

Rupert Grint Has Fun Making The New Movie

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Rupert Grint Has Fun Making the New Movie
By Marie Morreale



Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley
(Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Rupert Grint has spent the last few years playing Ron Weasely, Harry’s best buddy. He’s back and this time he not only gets to hang out with Harry and Hermione,
he gets to hang with the owls.

We sat down with Rupert to talk about filming the Prisoner of Azkaban, and his favorite species of owl.

Find out what kind of owl is Rupert’s favorite in this interview with Scholastic Entertainment Editor Marie Morreale.

Marie: I’m going to ask some questions about the owls in the movie. Do you have a favorite species of owl?

Rupert: A favorite species of owl? I like the snowy one that they use in the film. He’s really cool, the one they have.

Marie: Why do you like it so much?

Rupert: I don’t know. It’s just really cool. The other owl I really liked was the one that Errol was. I’m not sure what owl that was, but it looked really funny.

Marie: Did you have to interact with them a lot?

Rupert: Oh yeah, they were really well trained, yeah. They could practically do anything, really.

Marie: Is there any reason why you think the owl is sort of a perfect bird for the magic of Harry Potter?

Rupert: I’m not sure, really. They’re really obedient and they can deliver messages really well, so I guess that’s the reason.

Marie: Was there any scene with the owls that was particularly funny or surprising?

Rupert: Well, when we were in the car with the twins, Fred and George, I don’t remember how, but the owl pooped on Fred, on one of the twins, and it stank out the back of the car because it’s quite a small tight car and really hot. It stank.

Marie: That sounds like no fun at all. So what’s your favorite part of this new movie?

Rupert: I did a really cool stunt on this one. It was like . . . I got dragged. They put this harness on my leg. It was when the dog dragged me into the tree. It was really fun.

Marie: How long did it take you to do that scene?

Rupert: I was all padded up. Yeah, it was quite a quick drag because we go really fast, so it didn’t take that long.

Marie: Did you get hurt at all? Did you get any bruises?

Rupert: I swallowed a lot of grass. No, I didn’t. It was really good.

Marie: Do you have any plans on any other movies after the next Harry Potter?

Rupert: I think I’m going to take things as they come I had a really good time doing these films, so yeah.

Marie: This is a question from one of our magazines that’s published in England. They told me you were probably starting to study for your national exams?

Rupert: Oh, yeah, I’m doing my GCSE’s at the moment, just studying for now and I take the exams next year.

Marie: So what do you have to do to prepare for that?

Rupert: It’s just normal revision really. You choose the subjects and you only do the exams that you chose, and of course the compulsory ones like math and science that I don’t really enjoy.

Marie: Which ones are you choosing to do?

Rupert: I’ve chosen arts, German, because you have to do any language you want, either French or German or Spanish. German was pretty easy so I chose that.

Marie: How long have you studied German?

Rupert: For about three years.

Marie: Do you feel like when you go to Germany, you can speak it pretty fluently?

Rupert: No way, no. I’m just about stringing sentences together and I can count.

Marie: Is it hard to keep up with your studies and do these films like this?

Rupert: No, it’s all right. We have a tutor on the set and do a minimum of three hours a day when we’re working or five hours a day when we’re not performing. It’s pretty good cause it’s one to one. You do kind of miss out on a few things like your friends; and usually when you’re in the classroom there’s lots of distractions that put you off learning, but this is one to one, so you don’t really get distracted.

Marie: What is your favorite holiday destination?

Rupert: Well, I like sunny places. They’re pretty cool. I went to Switzerland one year and it was really wicked. It was really cool.

Marie: Did you ski?

Rupert: No, it wasn’t very snowy so we didn’t really get a chance to. It looks really fun. I’ve never tried it but it looks cool.

Marie: What’s the biggest change that’s happened in your life since you started the Harry Potter movies?

Rupert: Not much has changed really. I try to keep my life pretty normal. The only difference is that I get recognized quite a bit, but that’s usually all right. That’s really the only thing. I still do the normal stuff I used to do before.

Marie: We were talking about your studies. What are your favorite subjects?

Rupert: Art is probably my favorite subject.

Marie: Do you plan on going on to university?

Rupert: I’m not sure actually. I’m on my last year of secondary school and I haven’t really decided what I’m going to do yet.

Marie: If you did, what do you think you’d study?

Rupert: Art, definitely. I’ve never been too interested or good at any of the academic subjects, but I seem to do all right in art. Yeah, I enjoy it as well.

Marie: Who is your favorite character from all the Harry Potter books?

Rupert: Ron has been my favorite character actually through all of them, even before I got the part. It was just really cool when I got the part because it was my favorite character.

Marie: As you’re growing up and you’re seeing Ron grow up, do you see yourself sharing any similar kinds of interests or feelings about things?

Rupert: Well, there were some sort of similarities before I started in, so that’s why I could always relate to Ron as a person. It’s like we’ve both got big families, we’ve both got ginger hair, we both like sweets. We both don’t like spiders as well, which is weird.

Marie: What’s the best book that you’ve read in the past six months?

Rupert: I’m reading a cool book at the moment for English; it’s called Of Mice and Men. It’s quite good.

Marie: Have you ever seen the movie?

Rupert: No, but I’m going to watch it as part of my revision for it. I’m looking forward to it.

Marie: What’s the most outrageous thing that you’ve bought since you started Harry Potter?

Rupert: I bought this wicked bike, and it’s got massive handlebars and it’s really cool.

Marie: When you’re on the set, do you get to bring things like bikes or scooters?

Rupert: I’ve brought my unicycle up there a couple of times just to see if I can crack that, but I still haven’t learned anything.

Marie: How long have you been riding a unicycle?

Rupert: Well, I’ve been trying to do it for about two years now, but the only thing I’ve done is about four pedals and then I fall over horribly.

Marie: What made you pick that up?

Rupert: I don’t know. I just wanted to do something a bit different I’ve had bikes before and ridden them, so I just thought it might be quite cool to try it. It seems like clowns and stuff do it in the circus and it’s quite easy, so I thought it’d be really easy, but it really hurts.

Marie: What’s your favorite article of clothing?

Rupert: I guess I wear quite a lot of jeans, so probably that.

Marie: Your favorite kind of candy?

Rupert: Oh, God. All of it, really.

Marie: Do you have any favorite type of food?

Rupert: Well, I like ice cream a lot.

Marie: What kind of ice cream?

Rupert: Just any ice cream, because when I was a kid I really wanted to be an ice cream man, and I still quite fancy the job. It just looks like quite a cool job.

Marie: If you could create a flavor of ice cream, what would be in it and what would you name it?

Rupert: They’ve practically got every flavor already.

Marie: Do you collect anything?

Rupert: When I was a bit younger I used to collect yo-yos because I was quite into that a lot. I had a collection of yo-yos, which was quite cool.

Marie: Is there any special one from that collection?

Rupert: There’s one called the Super Yo Satellite, and it broke the record for the longest sleeper, and that was 12 minutes. Yeah, it was quite cool to have that.

Marie: Tell me about the new Professor Dumbledore. What’s it like to be working with somebody new in that role?

Rupert: Well, obviously it was quite hard to replace Richard Harris. He was so brilliant for the role and it was really sad to see him go, but this new guy Michael Gambon, he’s really good. He’s really brought something else to the role.

Marie: Had you seen him in anything before?

Rupert: Yeah, I’ve seen him on a couple of things. We don’t really work with him a lot but when he does come he’s really good.

Marie: What do you like to do to relax?

Rupert: Well, I’ve just started golf and I’m really enjoying that. It’s really good fun.

Marie: How well do you play?

Rupert: I’ve managed to not lose one ball once, which is quite an achievement for me.

Marie: How did you get into golf?

Rupert: My grandfather and my dad play quite a lot, and some of my friends at school play, so I just kind of fancy that. Once when we went up to Scotland for location, it’s like, Scotland is like the hometown of golf, and where we were filming there was a golf course right behind a mountain. So uh, yeah, I basically spent every night there playing golf, yeah.

Marie: Is there a certain kind of book that you like to read?

Rupert: Like a genre? I like comedies really, comedy books that make me laugh, or horror books are quite cool.

Marie: Have you read any Stephen King books?

Rupert: Yeah, I’ve read a couple of his. They’re quite good.

Marie: Is there anyone in England that would be like the Stephen King there?

Rupert: I don’t think so; he’s the main one over here as well.

Original article found here: Schoolastic | Unknown 2003

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30
Nov

Harry’s Shape-Shifters

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SUMMER SNEAKS
‘Harry’s’ shape-shifters
Hermione and Ron move to the fore in the third “Harry Potter” film, ready to make magic.


By David Gritten, Special to The Times

It’s been almost three years since J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” characters moved beyond the literary phenomenon and became part of a hugely successful movie franchise. In that time, the primary image associated with the films has been Daniel Radcliffe, playing the wholesome teen wizard Harry, with his trademark round glasses and his perpetual expression of faint surprise.

Well, things are about to change. Now it’s time for Harry’s sidekicks to grab a piece of the action. The third film in the series, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (it opens June 4), spreads the story much more evenly among Harry and his Hogwarts school pals Hermione Granger, played by Emma Watson, and Ron Weasley, portrayed by Rupert Grint.

Alfonso Cuarón, the Mexican director of “Prisoner of Azkaban” (he succeeded Chris Columbus, who directed the first two), notes: “Ron and Hermione are companions in adventure in this film, and they effectively drive the third act. It’s pretty amazing to see.”

There’s no question Watson is pleased with her contribution to “Prison of Azkaban,” even before she has seen it. She strolls into a room near the production offices, sits upright on a sofa with three embroidered cushions with a likeness of Harry Potter and an owl, and starts chatting.

“The third book is definitely my favorite, and it’s a good script for Hermione,” she says. “She has some great scenes.” There’s a split second in the trailer for the new film when Watson as Hermione apparently punches someone, then says: “That felt good!” And did it? “You’re very right about that,” she giggles. “Yes, I loved it. My first screen punch! It was fantastic!”

So who was on the receiving end? Wouldn’t you know, it was Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), the rather odious Hogwarts pupil who is a constant thorn in the sides of Harry and his two friends.

“It’s been building up for ages through the first three films,” Watson says, flailing her arms wildly. “He’s been insulting, rude and really hateful. Harry’s going, ‘Ignore him, don’t say anything,’ and suddenly Hermione gets so angry she ends up punching the guts out of him. It’s fantastic! Very girl power!”

Even apart from this scene, Watson thinks Hermione is finally coming into her own: “She’s had two films of being put down by teachers and rudely insulted by Malfoy. In this film, she thinks, ‘Right, that’s it, I’m not having any more of this.’ She storms out on a teacher, punches Malfoy, fights with Ron. She’s really fired up. She’s not taking nonsense from anyone.”

Watson is disarmingly articulate in explaining this. Slim, petite, with a sparkle in her eyes, she wears a pale green cable knit sweater over a T-shirt, flared jeans and cream sneakers with a gold trim. She looks like many English girls of 14 and reveals a bristling intelligence when she speaks. She also has a finely tuned sense of humor. Since landing the role of Hermione, she has constantly stressed how little she has in common with her character. Now she feels less sure.

When Cuarón (who’s noted for his work on 2002′s “Y Tu Mamá También”) met the three young actors, he asked them to write an essay about their characters — what they felt, what drove them, what they believed. The way the three responded fit their characters perfectly: Radcliffe wrote one page and felt he had done rather well. Grint, in true Ron Weasley style, somehow avoided doing it at all. Watson, reacting like Hermione to a set task, wrote some 16 pages — which prompted much on-set teasing.

“Was it 16?” she says now, covering her face and blushing slightly. “Might it have been 12 … or a little less? All right, I enjoyed writing it. But my handwriting’s big! I leave big spaces between words.” In retrospect, she found it a useful exercise. “It made me see Hermione in a completely different way. Alfonso made me think: Why does she do the things she does? Why is she such an annoying bookworm? I thought maybe it’s her mask, her front, so she doesn’t have to show any emotions or feelings. I’d never thought about that before, so for me she became a much deeper person.”

At this point, Grint enters, having completed a tutoring session. (There is an unofficial Harry Potter school at this studio, and all the young actors and their doubles have lessons for up to five hours a day.) His red hair is worn longer than in the films, almost falling into his eyes. He is ultra-casual in T-shirt and baggy pants.

There’s a telling teenage moment between him and Watson; he moves toward a chair next to the sofa but is then persuaded to sit beside her. After much eye-rolling from them both, with Watson complaining he has forced her to move from a warm spot on the sofa, they finally settle down.

Grint agrees that the new film offers more scope. “There’s a story line developing between Ron and Hermione,” he reflects.

“It’s like a little thing going on between them, and there’s a lot of awkward moments in this third one. A few hugs. And we fall out a lot as well. Alfonso thought that was a replacement for our relationship.”

What he enjoys most is being involved in stunt work. In one scene, Ron is pulled along the ground and through a hole in a tree. “That was fun,” he says with a smile. “I did swallow a lot of grass, though.”

Grint, who will be 16 in August, admitted it was hard to adjust to another director after two films with Columbus. “But Alfonso was great. He was into us having a say about things. He wanted us to customize our school uniforms. He thought it would look different, for instance, if we all wore differently knotted ties.

“So I did mine a bit scruffy. I had my shirt half untucked, the top button of my shirt undone.” He pauses for effect. “A bit like I wear my real school uniform, actually. Dan was a bit tidier than me, but Emma being Hermione, everything was perfectly done up.”

He’s an engaging young man, with sleepy eyes, a slow smile and an ability to stay quiet in conversation, then deliver a funny line almost sotto voce. Grint is an intriguing contrast to Watson, who talks fast and energetically, in perfectly formed, complete sentences.

Both want to continue acting. “I’d be up for doing all seven Harry Potter films,” Grint says. “I really enjoy acting. You meet new people, go to different locations.” Another trademark pause. “It’s quite easy as well.”

Watson has learned she likes performing and expressing herself: “I love art. I love being on stage, singing, dancing. So even if I don’t end up acting, maybe I’ll try screenwriting, whatever gets thrown at me.” She wrinkles her nose. “I can’t really see myself in an office.”

The adults around them think they can fulfill these ambitions. Cuarón says of Watson: “If she decided, she could have a big career. She’s growing up so beautifully. I’d love to work with her again, away from ‘Harry Potter.’ She listens intensely, and there’s an intelligence and warmth about her.” As for Grint, he enthuses, “I’ve never seen a young actor with such a brilliant timing for comedy. But that’s Rupert in real life as well. Definitely there’s a career there for both of them if they want it.”

An important neutral voice is also pushing Watson’s claims. Jina Jay, one of Britain’s leading casting agents, specializes in finding child actors, including Jamie Bell for “Billy Elliot.” “I feel Emma has enormous potential as a future leading actress,” she says. “I’d expect her to explore her abilities carefully beyond ‘Harry Potter.’ I also feel she’s clever and focused enough to only choose material and directors for whom she feels passionate.”

It’s striking how unspoiled and natural Watson and Grint seem. “They’re not like stage kids at all,” says David Heyman, producer of the “Harry Potter” films. “They don’t behave like stars, and we don’t treat them as such. A lot of the cast and crew are like family here. They’ve been on all three films. So the kids get gently teased, and treated like everyone else. There’s a mischievous air on set.”

It helps that these unlovely studios, situated in the middle of nowhere about 20 miles north of London, lack glamour. And they are hard to find. In the three years since filming started on the first “Harry Potter” film, only a handful of fans have even made it as far as the security gates.

Watson and Grint are determined to remain levelheaded. “I still do normal things,” Watson insists. “There’s nothing I can’t do now which I could before the films. I hope I’m exactly the same person.”

Grint echoes her sentiment: “My friends don’t think I’ve changed. I’ve tried to stay pretty normal throughout all the films, and my friends and family have helped in that. I’ve just kept living the same way.”

Original article found here: Harry’s Shape-Shifters | May 9th, 2004

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30
Nov

Rupert reveals his Azkaban antics

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Emma Watson (Hermione), Dan Radcliffe (Harry) and Rupert Grint (Ron)


Rupert Grint has told Nickelodeon magazine that he loves watching himself in the first two Harry Potter films.

Whereas Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson can’t bear to see themselves, Rupert told the magazine he loves it.

The trio have also talked about how they spent their time in-between scenes for Prisoner of Azkaban, out on 4 June.

While Emma has a table tennis table in her room, Rupert has a pool table and darts board. But he and Dan tried to make a crazy golf course too!

“We made a six-foot windmill out of these massive cardboard boxes and it looked really good,” he said in the interview.

“We had plans to expand it out to the main studio, but it never really got past one hole,” he said.



Filming on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry has ‘murderous thoughts’ towards Sirius

Rupert also told the magazine that his favourite scenes to film in the Prisoner of Azkaban were at the Whomping Willow.

“I was supposedly being dragged along by a dog, but this guy was pulling me along the set.”

His other fave shots were in Defence Against the Dark Arts when Professor Snape is dressed as a woman, which he found “very funny”.

Rupert also gave hints as to what he would like to be when he is older.

“When I was younger, I wanted to be an ice-cream man.

“I’d like to be a cartoonist as well. I like drawing a lot; I especially like cartoons, I really love Spongebob.”

The dark side

The trio all said how much darker POA is going to be compared to the first two.

And it is not just seeing the Dementors that makes it a scarier production, explained Daniel Radcliffe. We see the dark side to Harry too.

“He actually does have murderous thoughts.

“Literally, he would kill Sirius Black if he got the chance,” he said.

We can’t wait!



Original article found here: CBBC Newsround | May 14th, 2004

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29
Nov

Rupert Grint: Philosopher’s Stone Premieres on ABC

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Courtesy of Danradcliffe.com

harry_and_ron_movie_1

US TV network ABC tonight broadcast the US network premiere of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in a special four-hour presentation. In exclusive interviews from the Great Hall on the “Harry Potter” set, the film’s stars – Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) – talked about their work in the movie in interstitials that were featured throughout the telecast. The telecast itself presented an extended version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, including materials not seen in the original theatrical release (basically the deleted scenes on the DVD inserted into the film). And by exclusive arrangement, at the conclusion of the broadcast, ABC aired a 10-minute sneak peek at the third film in the “Harry Potter” series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Transcript

This is a transcript of the interstitials and the 10 minute preview.

Introduction

Daniel Radcliffe: Hi, I’m Dan Radcliffe.

Emma Watson: I’m Emma Watson.

Rupert Grint: And I’m Rupert Grint.

D: We are delighted to be with you this evening to host the network premiere of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone here on ABC.

E: Throughout the night, we’ll be sharing with you some of our favorite memories from the first film.

R: We’ll also be giving you an exclusive first look at the new film

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which opens nationwide on June 4th.

D: At the end of the film, we will show you a great 10 minute making-of special with never-before-seen film clips, behind the scenes and interviews with the cast, filmmakers and our new director, Alfonso Cuaron.

E: Hope you enjoy the movie!

A Star (Or 3) Is Born

E: Rupert and I were together when we found out that we had the part.

R: Yeah, we were in David Heyman’s office.

E: Wow, that was scary.

D: I was in the bath… um… yeah… (laughter) we won’t go into too much detail about that one!

E: Tell us about your audition, Rupert!

R: I really wanted to be in this film so I made this videotape and at the beginning I dressed up as a woman and then I did this little rap song about how I wanted to be in the film.

D: Can you remember the rap?

R: No, I can’t remember the rap!

E: Oh come on, please!!

R: No, I can’t remember the rap.

D: I met David at the theatre completely by chance one night – he just happened to be sitting in the row in front of me. Yeah, and then I came to the auditions and then I met you guys and yeah, it kind of all went from there.

E: Yeah, because me and you (pointing at Rupert) had quite a few auditions together when we were doing it.

R: Oh yeah we did didn’t we?

E: You should all go to the theatre… that happens…

R: Or dress up as women!

E: Either way!

Lights, Camera, Potter

E: When I first walked onto the set and saw all these people and… oh my goodness… and the cameras and…

D: It was scary at first but it was really exciting I think.

E: …on the first day of the film…

D: It was kind of intimidating because the first thing we were ever doing was with loads of extras…

R: And the train…

E: Yeah, no pressure!

D: Yeah, the train was particularly demanding!

E: I was so nervous.

R: I know.

[clip: Trio and Snape in the corridor]

R: The sets were just amazing, some of them were just really big like this Great Hall.

D: I think one of the most intimidating things is probably the scale. I mean, they are, like, this is huge.

E: I think everyone has visions in their head about what Hogwarts, this magical place, is like but I have to say that the sets that they have created live up to the expectations of the book.

D: It’s weird because when I was reading the books, I always had this tendency to visualize cartoons as the characters – DOESN’T EVERYONE??? (as the others laugh) – so it was really weird seeing it all come to life and be real as well.

E: Great.

The Fame Game

E: I remember somebody saying to me “Would you sign a book for me?”. I could not believe it. It’s so hard when it, like, hits. I could not understand why anyone would want my name on a piece of paper.

D: Especially, I have really horribly bad handwriting. So it’s like, why do you want the handwriting of a five year old on your nice book? You’d ruin it!

E: Dan’s first… well, far from his first… encounter with quite a big fan… A massive fan…

D: I was doing an interview with MTV in America and there’s a girl standing down there in a towel, nothing but a towel, just a towel, with a huge sign saying “Nothing comes between me and Harry Potter”. But she seemed really nice.

E: That’s an everyday thing for Dan you know…

D: No, it’s really really not!

E: Girls were holding up signs with “Marry Me Dan”…

D: Really?

E: Properly.

D: Wow.

Conjuring up Sorcerer’s Stone Memories

D: Quidditch is quite an experience really because it’s very surreal because you are on a broomstick and you’re just kind of being thrown about in front of this bluescreen and it’s just very… It’s not the most comfortable of sorts to play I have to say but the end result is always so good that it’s always worth it in the end and you always kind of have that thought to see you through really.

R: Oh yeah, the chess scene, that was fun because I got to get on that horse. That was really cool, yeah.

E: In the first film, I remember the hardest scene for me to do was the troll scene because of those stunts. I literally ate dust for about a week. Properly ate dust. I had a bump on the back of my head where every time I went under them [the sinks] – bang, bang, bang, all the way down!

D: Yeah, but it looked amazing.

E: Well it was hard but it was one of those things that when I saw it, I was like yeah, you know, that’s really good. It looks good.

The Prisoner of Azkaban: The Magic Continues

D: I think Prisoner of Azkaban, compared to the last two films were… like the second film particularly was really an action movie. The third film is much more of a kind of emotional journey for Harry.

[Clip: Harry and Lupin]

D: My scenes with David Thewlis really make up kind of the emotional heart of the film and they are amazing scenes. They are so moving.

R: It’s a lot more darker as well. There’s a lot more scary things in it.

[Clip: Ron and Hermione outside the Shrieking Shack]

E: That moment we have outside the Shrieking Shack, all those nice hormones coming out…

D: I think the teenage tension between Ron and Hermione with the kind of hormonal thing is actually really funny.

E: There’s kind of a love-hate relationship going on there.

R: Some awkward moments.

E: Yeah, there’s quite a few of them!

D: The hand moment.

R: I get bogged down with the hand moment

The Prisoner of Azkaban: New Film, New Director

D: It was great to have the transition between Chris and Alfonso because we did learn so much with Chris Columbus, we were now getting a chance to put everything we learnt with Chris into practice with a new director which is of course a challenge in itself.

E: I think Alfonso gave us so much freedom. He’d always turn around and say to you “You know what, it’s not me, you’ve got to decide for yourself, you come up with whatever feels natural”.

D: And eventually I think we all got into that and I think it worked really well in the end.

E: And a lot of the things that are in the second one are still in the third one. I mean they haven’t changed – he kept a lot of sets, the same kind of stuff but it’s just evolved. He wanted it to be really fluid. He wanted it to be real. He wanted to take the gloss off it.

Big Bad Boggarts

D: A boggart is basically a shape-shifter which, if it confronts someone, it assumes the form of that person’s worst nightmare.

[Clip: Lupin's first DADA class]

D: So in Ron’s case it would be spiders.

[Clip: Ron confronts a boggart-spider]

D: That’s gonna be a really funny scene.

E: It will be so mad.

D: That was actually one of the first things we shot.

[Clip: Neville confronts boggart-Snape]

D: Any scene with Alan Rickman in a dress has got to be worth seeing, really!

E: Exactly! Alan Rickman… full blown, you know… the dress… we had the beautiful hat… Great!

The Making of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

D: And now we would like to share with you this exclusive sneak preview of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

E: You’ll definitely meet a few new things – new characters, new creatures and finally, Hermione wearing jeans!

R: As you can see, we’ve grown a bit. So enjoy the show.

[Assorted behind-the-scenes clips]

E: This one is sort of a bigger picture.

R: Yeah, it’s a lot darker as well, there’s a lot more scary things in it.

D: The fact that it’s darker is because it’s in the book.

R: In the second one we had the spiders – that was scary for me, yeah – but this time we’ve got Dementors.

E: It’s a bit of a different ballgame to go from creepy spiders to go to, suddenly, people which suck your soul out.

D: We do have other things in this one.

R: Yeah, the hippogriff was really cool.

D: Prisoner of Azkaban, compared to the last two films, is a lot different. There’s so many different people.

E: Emma Thompson – I was so pleased to be working with her.

D: Gary Oldman – I have so much respect for him as an actor.

E: Michael Gambon entered into his own perception of what Dumbledore was going to be like.

R: He was really amazing.

D: It is a much funnier film.

[Clip of Knight Bus]

E: Smack! Bam! Crash!

D: I get thrown against windows, I’m all over the place!

E: I think you can tell it’s a different director – he’s just done it in a different way. It’s great.

Alfonso Cuaron: Chris Columbus had done the first two films and he had put together a universe that was very eloquent, so I felt very comfortable to play in that universe.

Chris Columbus: Alfonso’s got a real good visual sense, he’s always been really strong with actors. I really grew to care about these kids and I wanted to make sure they were in the hands of someone who would take care of them, who would look after their best interests and I think they formed a really strong relationship.

A: I was the luckiest guy because I got these three kids that they’ve done already two Harry Potters. They knew everything relating about their own characters and the universe around them.

C: I was completely blown away by their performances because there’s such a maturity, there’s such an assurance, there’s confidence.

E: Alfonso, he was very trusting, he wanted us to put a lot of ourselves and our thoughts into the characters. He’d always turn around and say to you “You come up with whatever feels natural”.

D: And eventually I think we all got into that and I think it worked really well in the end.

R: Yeah, that was quite cool. He’s funny, he’s really funny and easy to work with as well which is really good.

E: In the series so far, you have never ever seen us fight and then suddenly in this one, it all falls apart. It’s me and Ron, it gets really bad, it’s the whole cat and the rat thing isn’t it?

David Heyman: The actors are growing up with the characters and the characters are growing up with the story and the story itself is obviously much more mature.

D: In this film there’s a major stand toward the Dursleys with Aunt Marge getting inflated by a spell that I don’t even try to do.

E: In this one, Hermione really comes into her own. It’s like meeting a different person you know, she’s girl power. Malfoy insults her and instead of, you know, keep walking, just ignore him, that’s it – smack!

D: It’s about time really.

E: Take him down a peg or two.

E: We look like teenagers.

D: Yes.

E: I mean, Hermione gets to wear jeans.

R: Ron’s clothes, they stay the same throughout the whole thing, it’s like… Weasley jumpers and poor clothes. I like that, I felt you got into the character a bit more.

[More clips from trailer]

DH: The Prisoner of Azkaban refers to a character by the name of Sirius Black who has spent the last 12 years in prison because it is thought that he murdered, or was responsible for the murder of Harry’s parents. When the film begins, the Prisoner of Azkaban has escaped and he’s on the run and coming to find Harry Potter.

Gary Oldman: I look like I’ve escaped from prison, don’t you think?

D: Working with Gary Oldman this time was just the highlight of my life! When you’re working with Gary, David Thewlis, who is amazing – the scenes with David in the film are just stunning – and Timothy Spall and Alan Rickman all in the same room at the same time, it’s kind of… I was just going to sit down in the corner and be quiet and you guys can…

E: Whoa! No pressure!

Michael Gambon: It’s like every actor’s fantasy isn’t it, playing somebody like Dumbledore, being in Harry Potter, so I’m delighted, I enjoyed the making of it.

Maggie Smith: This is a stunning cast this time and they’re so good, all those guys. There’s a whole lot new. The magic never kind of goes, it’s a magic place to be.

[Clip of Professor Trelawney]

A: She portrays this eccentric character.

D: Professor Trelawney’s scenes are actually, the earlier ones, are really funny.

E: She’s insane. The much earlier ones, she’s absolutely crazy and your reactions to her are really funny.

D: There are scenes of me and Rupert in Divination, just kind of slowly falling asleep…

R: Yeah, snoring, yeah.

D: …and then being woken up by her HUGE EYES behind these glasses!

Emma Thompson: She does see really truly frightening things. She’s looking into tea cups where she sees something very nasty in store for Harry. She ratchets up the suspense basically, she’s there to sort of really get the plot going and get us all feeling a bit nervous.

R: Hagrid becomes a teacher in this one.

E: He is so pleased to be a professor.

Robbie Coltrane: Basically he’s in charge of the magical creatures and some of them are a bit unpredictable.

[Clip of Hagrid introducing Buckbeak]

R: Yeah, that was really amazing – it was like, half horse, half eagle. That was quite cool.

RC: And it’s Hagrid’s job to introduce it to the children and show them how to do it right and how not to offend it or frighten it and so on and of course GUESS WHO gets it wrong.

D: Dobby was kind of the star in the second film and I think Buckbeak’s going to be the star of this one really.

E: So real… so real…

[Clip: Harry flying Buckbeak over the lake]

A: The film is a story filled with magic and magical creatures. Effects are looking really cool. We have a war whoop, the Monster Book of Monsters.

D: And you do kind of think that if all textbooks had teeth and were this vicious, you would pay a lot more attention…

E: …Attention in class, definitely.

A: There’s a creature – the Dementors – they project the fear within.

D: They act almost as a wakeup call, to say “I do have weaknesses, I’m not that kind of powerful or that strong”.

A: The theme of the film – this kid finding his identity as a teenager and he’s learning that both the fears and the power to fight them reside within.

D: It’s more of an emotional journey…

E: Yeah, it’s all emotional, everyone’s on the edge…

D: And then it’s just really exciting at the same time.

The End

D: Well that’s about all we have time for tonight.

E: We hope you’ve enjoyed seeing the film and our special sneak preview as much as we’ve enjoyed making all the Harry Potter films over the past few years.

R: We’ve had a great time being your hosts this evening and we look forward to seeing you again when the movie opens June 4th.

Original article found at Dan Radcliffe.comI May 9th, 2004

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29
Nov

Stars brave the cold at Potter launch

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The Harry Potter stars made a dramatic entrance on a giant, purple bus for the launch of the Prisoner of Azkaban DVD.

In the freezing rain, Dan, Rupert and Emma arrived for the magical bash in London on the Knight Bus, which has a key role in the third Potter movie.

James and Oliver Phelps, who play the Weasley twins said: “The DVD is brilliant, especially the 360 degrees tour of Honeydukes sweet shop.

“The DVDs just get better. The deleted scenes are pretty funny too.”

Other stars at the event included Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom, Devon Murray, who plays Seamus Finnegan and Draco Malfoy actor, Tom Felton.

They were joined by the likes of David Thewlis, who plays Professor Lupin, Warwick Davis, who plays Professor Flitwick, and the rest of the Weasley clan.

Waving

The organisers of the event put on a great show for the world’s media.

The set piece was performed outside, starting with smoke rising from the pavements to the sound of the Potter soundtrack. Then the Knight Bus hurtled around in front of the London venue, with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson waving frantically from the platform as cameras snapped away.

Honeydukes sweetshop was re-created at the party!

‘Halfway through’

Some of the stars then chatted to Newsround about what they were up to and what it’s like filming the FOURTH Potter film, the Goblet of Fire.

Honeydukes sweetshop was re-created at the party!

Rupert told us: “We’re about halfway through filming now, it’s going really well. In this one you’ve got the Yule Ball, where we all have to find partners so that will be quite interesting. And I have to wear these horrible dress robes for the ball so I’m not really looking forward to that.”

Emma told Newsround that she was learning new skills for Hermione for the next movie – learning to dance! “And it’s not just normal dancing, I’m talking the tango, the foxtrot, waltzing, it’s quite impressive,” she laughed.

In fact, all of the cast agreed they were having loads of fun on set at Leavesden for film four, and that new director Mike Newell was “crazy and fun”.

For now though, Potter fans will just have to enjoy the third DVD.

Original article found here: CBBC Newsround | November 19th, 2004

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29
Nov

I had to hold hands and hug Hermione… I’m awkward with romance

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THE third Harry Potter movie, The Prisoner Of Azkaban, opens in Britain next Monday. To celebrate, The Sun is bringing you a week of world exclusive photographs and interviews with the young stars. Today Rupert Grint reveals the unusual tactic he used to win his role as Harry’s best friend.

Written by Grant Rollings

RUPERT GRINT has told for the first time how he won the part of Ron Weasley ? he wore a skirt.

The young actor loved JK Rowling’s best-selling books and was desperate for the role.

So to conjure up something really wizard, Rupert did an impression of one of his female teachers.

Talking exclusively to The Sun in his first major interview, Rupert said: “I dressed up as my drama teacher in my video audition tape and did a rap.

“Unfortunately she was a girl so it involved wearing a skirt. I know Ron isn’t a girl but I wanted to get noticed and show I was versatile.”

Rupert, who was 11 at the time, found out about the auditions from the BBC website for kids’ show Newsround.

He had to do half a dozen auditions after sending in his tape ? which he didn’t enjoy.

Rupert admitted: “At the auditions you had to learn your lines and do a screen test. I had to do six or seven of them. I didn’t enjoy it because that’s a lot of nerves.”

Now 15, Rupert had only appeared in school plays before winning the key role as Harry’s best friend.

Overnight he went from ordinary schoolboy to film star. Slowly he is getting used to fame ? and the attention of female fans.

Rupert said: “I get quite a lot fan mail from girls and a lot of them come up to me in the street.”

The ginger-haired star is not keen to take on romantic roles.

But in the movie Ron starts to fall for his friend Hermione so Rupert has had to deal with some “awkward” acting moments.

He reveals they have recorded scenes where the couple hug and hold hands ? which shows new director Alfonso Cuaron has added spice to the film.


Rupert said: “There were some awkward scenes. There was a lot of hand-holding between me and Hermione. There were hugs as well but they got cut out.”

In the books Ron and Hermione do not hold hands until the fourth novel, The Goblet Of Fire.

Rupert said: “It’s weird doing romance. I’ve never been attracted to playing a romantic lead.”

He’s happier playing comedy. And Ron has plenty of witty lines ? which Rupert delivers perfectly.

He said: “I don’t really take things seriously. Ron is a funny character and that is why I like playing him.

“I have always liked comedy films. I like Lee Evans. He’s cool. I would like to do a bit of comedy acting after Harry Potter.”

The fun does not stop when the cameras cease rolling, either. Rupert and Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry, have become great friends and enjoy causing mischief.

Rupert smiled and said: “Me and Dan made a crazy golf course out of stuff we found around thestudios. We made a windmill too, which we were going to power with an electric fan, but it was a bit dangerous.”

Rupert also draws cheeky cartoons of friends and fellow actors.

He said: “I do caricatures. I did Alan Rickman (Professor Snape) with a big nose. I wasn’t planning to show it to him but he crept up behind me and saw it.

“He asked to keep it, which was a relief. It was like being caught by my teacher. It was scary.”

Rupert, who will be 16 in August, does not enjoy school. He confesses he “forgets” to do his homework and will be happy to leave after his GCSEs next month.

He said: “I still get told off. I got a detention when I went back after filming because I didn’t do my homework.

“When the director set an exercise to help us get to know our characters, I was supposed to describe Ron but I forgot to do it.

“But Alfonso thought it was like Ron, so he was OK about it.”

Rupert has not yet finished JK Rowling’s fifth Harry Potter book, The Order Of The Phoenix which was released last summer.

He admitted: “I have read the beginning and it looks really cool.”

Perhaps it is Rupert’s busy social life which is holding him up.

He said: “I have started playing golf. I love go-karting too.” The young actor has treated himself with his wages from the three films.

He said: “I bought my own go-kart and golf clubs. I buy stuff I can enjoy. Some of my money is held in trust.”


But there is nothing Rupert enjoys more than being on set. He talks enthusiastically about stunts for the new movie.

Rupert said: “I get dragged along grass by a guy dressed in an all-in-one suit. In the film he is edited out and a computer-generated dog is put in his place.

“I really enjoyed the film. It’s really wicked.”

Rupert lives with his parents, Jo and Nigel, his four younger siblings and dog Ruby in Hertfordshire.

He said: “I still have to tidy my room. I have tried to stay really normal. I have a big family and that brings you down to earth.”

His youngest sister Charlotte used to believe he had magic powers.

Rupert said: “Charlotte was three when The Philosopher’s Stone came out and she thought it was real.

“When I fell off the horse she got really worried. Fortunately she hasn’t asked me to do any magic.”

Original article found here: The Sun | May 25th, 2004

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