Harry Potter was once one of the biggest franchises in the world. Rupert Grint has spoken about the pressures he faced while filming, saying he found the role "quite suffocating."
Harry Potter is a perennial mainstay in pop culture. From 2001 to 2011, Grint starred in eight Harry Potter films as Ron Weasley, Harry Potter's (Daniel Radcliffe) best friend who struggles with the idea of existing in Harry's shadow. The films also starred Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. The trio of Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson were the franchise's core, and the three actors faced unique challenges when navigating Hollywood as child actors.
In an interview with Bustle magazine, Grint stated that starring as Ron in Harry Potter entwined his identity with that of the character. “I was feeling the difficulty of being seen, being overshadowed,” Grint said. “In the movies, we merged into one. By the end of it, I was playing myself. The lines were blurred." Still, Grint added with a laugh that he feels some measure of gratitude for the role, regardless. “I answer to it, if someone calls me Ron. It’s my second name.”
Though Grint does not refer to the rumors of a Harry Potter reboot being in the works, he does mention that he believes the films stopped at the right time. “Potter was so full on — [filming] all year, then we’d promote the rest of the time. It was quite suffocating,” Grint said. “I wanted a break, to reflect on everything... It was an out-of-body experience for a while, but I think we finished at the right time. If we continued, it could’ve gone downhill.”
Grint's experience echoes that of many child actors. For many, their career defined their childhood to such a degree that it is a part of their identity. It doesn't appear that Grint is resentful of that fact, but it does seem he's aware of it, as perhaps audiences should be aware of the challenges of being a child actor.
Grint isn't the only cast member who says that these unique experiences and challenges are part of his character. Fellow Harry Potter alum Radcliffe also loves when fans scream at him from cars, even if they confuse him with Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood. The eccentric experience of being an actor is surreal.
The Harry Potter films are available on HBO Max.
Source: Bustle