Interviews with Rupert Grint

HarryPotter.com Interview - October 2002

Do you and Dan get on as friends?
Oh, yes, we get on really well. I get on really well with Emma too, we've all become great friends. There are lots of new people, too, in the second film, which makes work fun. Kenneth Branagh who plays Lockhart is so nice and so funny and then there's Bonnie Wright who plays my little sister Ginny and there's Hugh Mitchell who plays Colin Creevey. They're all great.

Was the making of Thunderpants very different to Harry Potter?
Completely different. My appearance was totally different as well. I had a perm, which was a bit of a shock! We filmed that in the summer of last year when we'd finished filming Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and shooting lasted about eight weeks. It was great fun to do, but I really wasn't too happy about the perm and I had glasses, a bow tie, and long socks.

How did you feel shooting the Spider's Hollow scenes? Are you afraid of spiders?
I hate them, they are so scary. I don't like them at all. And that scene with all the spiders and the four tonne spider Aragog really didn't help my fear.

Was filming the Slug Scene fun?
That was my favourite scene, I had to put these giant slugs in my mouth and then spit them out with all this lovely goo, it tasted really nice. I don't know what they were made out of, but they tasted great!

How did you get the role originally?
It all started when I was watching this English children's telvision programme called Newsround. The show told you how to audition for a part in Harry Potter and so I sent in a letter because I really wanted to play the part of Ron. But, for weeks I heard nothing. So, I was looking on the Newsround website one day and saw how another kid had sent a video of himself. So, my mum helped me to make an audition tape with me doing a rap of how much I wanted to be in the film, reading some lines as Ron which I wrote myself and also dressing up as my drama teacher. That was the most embarrassing part as she's a woman! I sent it in and the next thing I knew I was being called by the casting director. And then I was doing screen tests? And then I got the part!

Do you get much attention from girls?
Well, after Thunderpants? No! I do get recognised which is quite hard to get used to, but really cool. And I'm asked to sign some odd things. Yesterday, I was asked to sign a cheque book!

What do you love most about the second book?
I love the Whomping Willow and the fact that I get to drive a flying car, which is really cool and then, of course, I get to cough up slugs. I love the fact the book is really scary and I know the film will be scary too. Being in the flying car was particularly wicked, it was like a fair ground ride, it went really fast.

What's the most frequently asked question you get?
Actually there is this question that always comes up which is "have you met Daniel Radcliffe?!"

How do you feel about the fact that you have created a wave of acceptance for redheads?
I still get called ginger a lot, but I don't mind that as I'm used to it. And I'm in great company, look at Nicole Kidman!

How much do you relate to the character of Ron?
I have red hair, I like sweets and I have a big family. Oh, and I also have to wear hand-me-downs, so I suppose I'm quite a lot like Ron. And don't forget that we're both terrified of spiders!

What stunts did you like doing most in the second film?
The car was the best, definitely.

What's different about the second film?
The first one was like the set-up, where they all started the new school, Hogwarts, but in the second one we all get to do a lot more. There's definitely a lot more action, it's darker and much scarier - and much funnier too!