Rupert Alexander Lloyd Grint (born 24 August 1988) is an English actor best known for portraying Ron Weasley in the Harry Potterfilms. In December 2007, Grint was ranked #16 in the list of Forbes top twenty earners under 25 with an annual earning of $4 million (US).
Early life
Grint was born in
Harlow,
Essex and grew up in
Hertfordshire. His mother, Joanne Grint (
née Parsons), is a housewife, and his father, Nigel Grint, is a
memorabilia dealer.
He has one brother, James (born in 1990), and three sisters: Georgina (born in 1993), Samantha (born in 1995) and Charlotte (born in 1998). Before being cast in the
Harry Potter franchise, he had only appeared in plays for school and his local theatre group, Top Hat Stage School, which is still running now in Hertford run by Warren Bacci. As a young child, he was once cast as a fish in a play based on the story of
Noah's Ark. He also played
Rumpelstiltskin in another school play. As a child, he also used to voluntarily help out in his local church as a
bellringer.
A fan of the
Harry Potter book series, young Grint was interested in getting a role in the film. For his audition, he sent a video he made of himself, in which he dressed as his drama teacher while rapping about how much he wanted the part; Grint won the casting selection with the video. After completing the first Harry Potter film,
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, he appeared as science-whiz Alan A. Allen in the British film
Thunderpants (2002). In 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2010, he again starred as Ron Weasley in the Potter sequels
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Grint also starred in
Driving Lessons, which was released in the summer of 2006. Grint got excellent reviews for his first leading role: the critics praised the realism he brought into the role of shy teenager Ben Marshall, as well as his "riotous comedic timing" and "fantastic screen chemistry" with Walters.
On 2 July 2008, it was announced that Grint would star in gritty thriller
Cherrybomb alongside
Robert Sheehan and
Kimberley Nixon. Filming was wrapped up in late August 2008; the film opened in the UK on 23 Apr 2010.
In August 2008, it was announced that Grint is to star in comedy remake of 1993 French film Cible Emouvante, titled
Wild Target, alongside
Bill Nighy and
Emily Blunt. Grint's character is called Tony. The filming for Wild Target wrapped up on 27 September 2008 and the film opened in the UK on 18 June 2010.
While directing Prisoner of Azkaban, director
Alfonso Cuarón said Grint is "the likely future star out of the Hogwarts trio".
Rupert Grint was also praised by critics for his performance in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Michael McGuire, a writer for the Examiner, had this to say about him:
I appreciated Rupert Grint for the first time. To me, he’s always been “that other guy” in the Potter movies, but he truly steps forward in this edition and, if he keeps it up, he could be the one of the three getting the best parts a decade from now.
Personal life
Grint purchased an ice-cream van and then stated jokingly that if his career falls out after the end of the seven part series, then he'll still have the van. According to his co-star
Emma Watson from her interview with
Conan O'Brien, the van has all the toppings and such in it. He also brought it to the last day of filming
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and served ice-cream on set.
Hair care company
Brylcreem released a list of the best and worst male hairstyles of the celebrity world in 2007 putting Rupert Grint's haircut with the Top 5 Best Male Film Star haircuts and his co-star,
Daniel Radcliffe, in the Top 5 Worst Male Film Star haircuts.
Daniel Radcliffe stated in Empire magazine (August 2008) that although he and Emma Watson have had disagreements, it was impossible to fall out with Grint as he is "the most laid back guy in the world."
Grint stated that he considers himself and castmates
Emma Watson and
Daniel Radcliffe 'lucky' to have escaped the more serious problems that often plague child stars. All three have often said of their friendship as "more like siblings", having known each other from an early age.
When asked whether he would keep a memento from the Harry Potter series Grint admitted that following the conclusion of filming the
Goblet of Fire in 2005 he secretly stole the 'Golden Egg' prop used in the film, which apparently caused "a bit of a fracas" with the props department.
