New Interviews from The Guardian with James and Oliver Phelps, Rupert Grint

Jul 03, 2011

Posted by: John Admin

DH Film

Over the weekend, the Guardian published two new interviews with members of the Harry Potter cast: the first with the Weasley twins, James and Oliver Phelps, and the second with Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley).

The Phelps’ talk about the challenge of being seen as individuals after portraying one of the most famous twins in the world. They also recount their first audition for the roles of Fred and George Weasley, but admit that they “fell into acting by accident.”

“I felt like [I wasn’t a proper actor] for about three or four years, and then when I was about 17, I really started to take it seriously,” says James, who still occasionally takes acting lessons. “I’m very aware that I’m lucky to call it my job.”

Were James and Oliver Phelps very conscious that they were twins as children? Not especially, they say. Their parents would dress them in different clothes, mainly to tell them apart, but also because the family were involved in the Twins & Multiple Births Association, which has always stressed encouraging children’s individuality. “If anyone referred to us as ‘the twins’, we would ignore them,” says James. “I know people don’t mean to be insulting, and I know that some twins enjoy being seen as twins, but we’re at the other end of the scale.”

Click here to read the full interview with James and Oliver Phelps.

The Guardian’s Sunday paper, The Observer, featured a lengthy profile piece about Rupert Grint. The article not only features new quotes from Mr. Grint about his first meeting with co-star Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and growing up in the spotlight, but also some words from producer David Heyman and friends Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) and James Phelps.

I want to know his impressions of Radcliffe, on first meeting him, aged 11. Grint’s a year older and anyone who can remember life as a pre-teen will remember what an impossible chasm of time and gathered wisdom that seemed. What did he think of the squitty little 10-year-old, cast opposite him? Grint starts talking about how exciting everything was at the time. He applied for the part on a whim¦

But what did you think, I repeat ’ perhaps when you first shook hands? Did you size him up? Grint considers. He yeah-sort-of-ums.

What was the very first thing that occurred to you? And then, finally, he sniffs up a laugh, tickled by buried memory. “I remember thinking,” says Grint, grinning brilliantly, “that this guy has a really triangular-shaped head.”

Click here to read the whole interview with Rupert Grint.





The Leaky Cauldron is not associated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any of the individuals or companies associated with producing and publishing Harry Potter books and films.