Red hair and always a slightly absent look: That's not only the hallmark of Harry Potter's best friend Ron Weasley. Ron-player Rupert Grint (18) is really like that in real life. Everyone who meets him has to remind themselves constantly that this is Rupert sitting opposite, not Ron because the two of them are so alike! Just like his "Harry Potter" character, Rupert has been growing up in a big family: Alongside his parents Nigel and Jo there is Rupert's brother James (17) and his three sisters Georgina (14), Samantha (11) and Charlotte (8).

Rupert: "We Grints are all huge Harry Potter fans! And of course we love the Weasleys!" Only Rupert's mates haven't been infected by the "Harry Potter" fever in a while. "They prefer watching a horror film on DVD instead of watching the new 'Harry Potter' in theatres", Rupert says a bit contritely and adds: "This used to be different though. When I got the part of Ron my friends were totally proud of me and were pestering me with questions! They especially wanted to know all about Emma", Rupert remembers. And he always enjoys telling the story of how he got the part: "I was rapping in my own Hip-Hop-video about why I had to play Ron. The producers obviously liked this so much that they invited me to an audition. A few days later I got the deal!"

Although Rupert didn't want to become an actor when he was a child but an ice cream vendor! He recently made a part of this childhood dream come true: "I bought myself an ice cream van. And if it shouldn't work out with the acting, I can still become self-employed as an ice cream vendor!", Rupert grins. He fulfils the qualifications: He got his driving licence six months ago, but only on the third attempt: "I failed my driving test twice because I'm just a lazy bugger!" Even during shooting? "No!", he replies shocked! "I give everything on set – especially during the breaks", he grins broadly!

His wardrobe – a mere gambling house: PS3, kicker, billiard table. There's (nearly) nothing that you can't play there. No wonder that the other actors and crew members like to meet up in "Rupert's Game Room". David Yates (44), the director of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", tells us with a grin on his face: "When ever we didn't know where some one was we checked Rupert's trailer first: In 95 % of the cases we found the missing one there!"

In private Rupert totally likes action as well: He bought a Quad-Bike with his first salary. And if he's not roaring round the corner with his quad or with his ice cream van, he tries to keep balance on his unicycle. If Ron would be a real person – Rupert would surely be his best mate!

[Bravo! Magazine || August 2007 || Original scan in German can be found here]