Playing Ron Weasley for a decade In 'Harry Potter' films was 'very suffocating': Rupert Grint

Opening up about his experience of starring as Ron Weasley in the 'Harry Potter' franchise for over a decade, actor Rupert Grint said how he wanted a break “to reflect on everything”. The British star played Ron from age 11 to 22 in the career-defining franchise which comprises eight films and was based on author JK Rowling's fantasy novel series.

“In the movies ('Harry Potter'), we merged into one. By the end of it, I was playing myself. The lines were blurred,” Grint said in an interview.

“'Potter' was so full on — (filming) all year, then we’d promote the rest of the time. It was quite suffocating. I wanted a break, to reflect on everything... It was an out-of-body experience for a while, but I think we finished at the right time. If we continued, it could’ve gone downhill,” he added.

The 34-year-old actor said even today if someone calls him Ron, he answers. “It’s my second name.” Last year, the "Harry Potter" cast reunited for HBO Max’s “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts”, which according to Grint was a “good opportunity” to look back.

“It was happening, I didn’t really have a say. (Being in 'Harry Potter' films) was a really unique experience only us core group really know, so it’s nice to see them. It was a good opportunity to reflect on everything and just say how crazy it was. It’s always nice to look back,” he said.
 

Grint is part of M Night Shyamalan’s psychological horror series “Servant” on Apple TV and has an upcoming apocalyptic psychological horror movie “Knock at the Cabin”. Last year, he starred in Guillermo del Toro’s “Cabinet of Curiosities”, a horror anthology series on Netflix.

“I’m quite dark. It’s definitely part of my personality, especially in humour," the actor said of his interest in the genre.