Over the course of the eight Harry Potter films, fans watched its stars grow up right before their eyes as the once child stars were propelled into one of the most successful and beloved franchises in the fantasy genre. However, spending your adolescence working back to back in the confines of the Hogwarts film set isn't all the magic wands and chocolate frogs one might imagine. Rupert Grint recently opened up about the isolation that came with portraying the lovable Ron Weasley, a role he once had second thoughts about continuing midway through the franchise, explaining:
I had just finished my GCSEs. I thought 'Do I actually want to keep doing this? It's a bit of a drag.' Because obviously, it's a big sacrifice. You take for granted anonymity, just doing normal stuff, just going out. Everything was different and a little bit scary. There were times when I was like 'I'm done.'
After wrapping Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Rupert Grint was a teenager, unsure if he could push on for another four films. In an interview with Independent, Grint explained this weird feeling of detachment he has with other people his age because his daily life as a child was so uniquely different than his peers while working on the Harry Potter films. The actor did have his on-set family to relate to, but always felt he was in this bubble from the age of 11 to 22.
Rupert Grint thankfully Ron-ed on until the end of the franchise along with the rest of the principal young cast, and has no regrets over his final decision. When you think about it, finding success in your career at such a young age is certain to play with the mind a little, especially in the case of becoming a celebrity. He continued with these words:
It's almost like having a split personality. Sometimes it can be quite dehumanizing to have people just taking pictures of you when you're out. To them, you are just this one thing. It's a weird existence. But that's my life. I can't really remember life before it. In a weird way, you become blasé about it. It becomes normal and you adapt.
Now a 30-year-old man, Rupert Grint still finds he has a strange relationship with age due to the Harry Potter films. Grint has revealed before about his past doubt with acting, as the actor almost called quits on his career after his long stint as Ron Weasley. While the actor hasn't continued to take on more high-profile projects as his co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have, Grint continues to take on new roles, every so often. He currently stars on the Crackle television adaption of Guy Ritchie's film Snatch. Grint will also star in the upcoming BBC mini-seriesThe ABC Murders and the Shakespeare-inspired drama Instruments of Darkness.
