Rupert Grint, who plays Harry Potter’s best friend, Ron Weasley, talks
to Metro about his ice cream van and why he’s happy to be a redhead
icon.
Do you think this movie is too scary for Potter fans?
Kids like to be
scandalized, but the films are getting darker and as we’re growing up
and the environments are changing, you don’t see us in school uniform.
I think it’s much harsher on all the characters, given they’re in a new
environment, they’re on the run, missing their families, tired and
living in this little tent together.
What was your most memorable part of filming this movie?
The day we
filmed on Piccadilly Circus, we closed down the busiest part of London.
That was quite surreal, just to think that we had the power to do that.
It was really weird, crowds were gathering, all just for seconds in the
film.
Is it true that you brought your ice cream truck on the last day of
filming?
Yes, me and Emma (Watson) served ice creams, it was really good, the
classic 99, whippy flake. I’m not really sure why I bought it, it was
always a childhood dream, all I wanted to do was be an ice cream man,
for a long time. I don’t drive it very much anymore because when I
take it out people form queues and want ice creams.
In this film Ron is a lot more serious. The director, David Yates, said
you’d make a great straight actor.
I’m keen to do more of that, the
previous films Ron was always been quite light-hearted and upbeat, but
now it’s a lot more complicated, and you see a darker side of him and
it was cool to do that.
You’ve signed to an agency – are you ready to move on from Harry
Potter?
It’s not quite finished as there’s promotion like this to do,
and there’ll be more when the DVD comes out. But as much as I’ll miss
it, I’m ready to move on. I’m keen to do different things and establish
a bit of a detachment from Harry Potter.
How does it feel being a role model for readheads?
It’s funny the
reaction I get from the ginger community. People with red hair get a
hard time, but I’ve always managed to escape it, I’ve never had any
negative reaction to it. I’m a very proud ginger. Ginger people in the
street shake my hand and it’s nice. I would dye it for a role, but I’m
a ginger at heart.
What was it like having that kiss with Emma?
It was OK. It was more
about the anticipation, neither of us were looking forward to it, I’ve
known her since she was nine, it just didn’t feel right.
What will you do next?
It’s nice to take a break and do normal things,
like see friends. I haven’t been on holiday for three years, although I
did a rally across Europe with James Oliver — you had to buy a car for
less than £100, and try to get to Barcelona. I made it. It was a
horrible car. I’m not much of a mechanic; every man in my family is in
the car industry. But I do want to go back on Top Gear and get my
record back [he was beaten by Tom Cruise in the ‘Star in a Car’], it
really bothers me.
Did you buy Dan or Emma gifts at the end of the filming?
I bought Dan
and Emma trumpets, I don’t know why. I don’t play the trumpet. I got a
kit and engraved them. Dan got me a really nice still from one of the
films and signed it. It was a scene where Dan was climbing on my head
and his foot was crushing my head. Emma got me a leatherbound diary. I
haven’t used it yet, but I’ll always keep it. I once got Emma for her
birthday a signed photo of [British news anchor] Trevor MacDonald, I
don’t know why.
Do you get recognized by fans?
Over the years it’s become more of a
regular thing, particularly at this time when the film’s coming out, and
with my hair, I stand out. I went to a music festival this year, and I
wore a duck head, it was like having the power of invisibility,
strangely.
