TORONTO (CP) - Dozens of placard-waving teenaged fans jumped up and down and shouted their approval Wednesday as one of the Harry Potter heartthrobs paid a visit to a downtown movie theatre to help promote the young wizard's latest cinematic instalment. Rupert Grint, the 18-year-old redhead who plays Potter's best friend, Ron Weasley, arrived in style for the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," emerging from a black Hummer adorned with Harry Potter artwork.

"We want him to smile at us," said 16-year-old Becca Ferguson, who waited in line for more than three hours to catch a glimpse of the charismatic English actor.

When he appeared, the mostly female group of fans leaped in the air, shouting, "Oh my God!" and "I love you!"

"It's all really crazy," said Grint, who was wearing jeans, a rock t-shirt and sneakers.

"It's really exciting and I've really enjoyed it, but getting recognized - that is really sort of a strange experience and I don't think I'll ever really sort of get used to it."

But while Grint may not be used to being the centre of attention, fans like 12-year-old Hannah Korbee were ecstatic they got the chance to meet him.

"He's amazing," said Korbee, after getting Grint's signature on one of her Potter books.

"This is so exciting. I'm so happy."

After signing autographs and talking to fans, Grint said he had no idea landing the role as the wimpy Weasley in the first Potter film would propel him to stardom.

"When we first started, I didn't really think of this far on," Grint said. "It was enough of a crazy experience as it was because obviously I came from quite the normal background."

Grint said he recently got his driver's licence and purchased an ice cream truck - part of a boyhood fantasy that persists to this day, he said.

"When I was younger it was sort of a dream of mine to be an ice cream man," he said, adding quickly that he has no plans to quit his day job.

The latest film, which features the return of the evil Lord Voldemort to torment the young charges of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft, is the darkest and most serious of all the movies thus far, carrying with it a sense that "a war's about to start," Grint said.

The dark themes made it a particular challenge, but allowed Weasley to grow as a character, he added.

"It was really intense because it was quite a scary time at Hogwarts," Grint said.

"Usually with my character, he's just a bit of a wimp, really, and this time he got to be a little bit more tougher so it was quite fun."

While filming the movie, Grint said author J.K. Rowling regularly visited the set - but divulged no details about the forthcoming seventh and final Harry Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," which hits shelves July 21.

"It's always quite exciting when she comes up, there's a real sort of buzz around because she's sort of the one who created everything," he said.

"She doesn't give away anything about the book, but she's really cool."

Grint, who was making his first visit to Canada, said he managed to find time during his short visit to Toronto to check out the CN Tower and other tourist hotspots around the city.

"It's a really cool place, it's too bad we're not here longer," he said. "It's really good to see everyone sort of excited about the film."

But the new movie wasn't the only Potter product on the minds of fans - many said they're also eager to get their hands on a copy of the latest book.

"We're so excited, we can't wait (for the book)," said Ferguson, who said she's been a Potter fan for more than 10 years.

Evan Hoyle, 15, who got to the theatre five hours before showtime and claims to have read the books more than 25 times, said he'll be doing the same thing when the last book goes on sale.

"The only one bad thing about it is it's the end."

[Melissa Jeurgensen || Canoe- Jam! Movies, 11 July 2007 || Original article found here]