Rupert Grint

Rupert Grint

Grint at the premiere of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in Toronto, Canada, 2007
Born Rupert Alexander Lloyd Grint
24 August 1988 (1988-08-24) (age 22)
Harlow, Essex, England, United Kingdom
Occupation Actor
Years active 2001–present

Rupert Alexander Lloyd Grint[1] (born 24 August 1988) is an English actor best known for portraying Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films. 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).

Contents

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.[2] He has one brother, James (born in 1990), and three sisters: Georgina (born in 1993), Samantha (born in 1996) and Charlotte (born in 1998). Before being cast in Harry Potter franchise, he had only appeared in plays for school and his local theatre group, Top Hat Stage School. 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.[3]

He attended a Roman Catholic[4] primary school prior to enrolling at Richard Hale School, a boys' state comprehensive school in Hertford, the county town of Hertfordshire, followed by the Top Hat Stage School, also in Hertford.

Career

Grint in July 2009

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) which neither received much attention nor did anything for Grint's career and holds a 3.0/10 user rating on IMDB. In 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2009 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 and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Grint also starred in the coming-of-age story Driving Lessons with Laura Linney and Julie Walters (who acted as his character's mother, Mrs Weasley, in the Harry Potter movies), 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.

Also known for his radio and television voice-over work, he appeared as Nigel Molesworth in the Baggy Trousers series for BBC Radio 4[5] and voiced Peter Pan in a BBC documentary.

On 9 July 2007, Grint and fellow cast-mates Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson left imprints of their hands, feet and wands in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.[6]

On 2 July 2008, it was announced that Grint would star in Cherrybomb, "a gritty thriller about two teenagers who get into trouble when they both fall for a beautiful new girl in town".[7] Filming was wrapped up in late August 2008; the film opened in the UK on 23 Apr 2010.[8]

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.[9] Grint's character is called Tony. The filming for Wild Target wrapped up on 27 September 2008 and opened in the UK on 18 June 2010.[10]

While directing Prisoner of Azkaban, director Alfonso Cuarón said Grint is "the likely future star out of the Hogwarts trio".[11]

He voiced Ron Weasley in the video game of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, as well as in the video game of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

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.

Rupert Grint appeared as the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car in Episode Three of Series Fifteen of Top Gear,[12] setting a lap new record[13] in the Kia Cee'd, although the record was broken two weeks later by both Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise.

Personal life

In July 2004, Grint finished Richard Hale School, taking his GCSE examinations. When not working, he enjoys learning to ride the unicycle, drawing/sketching, watching Tottenham Hotspur and playing golf. He has stated that, like the character he portrays, Ron Weasley, he has arachnophobia.[14]

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.[15][16]

In September 2007, Grint and his co-stars, along with David Heyman and David Yates, attended the National Movie Awards. He lost to his co-star Daniel Radcliffe for Best Actor.

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.[17]

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 in an interview that he once woke up in a graveyard after getting extremely drunk the night before. He went on to say that he considers himself and cast mates Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe 'lucky' to have escaped the more serious problems that often plague child stars.[18] All three have often said of their friendship as 'more like siblings', having known each other from an early age, they will be friends for years to come.

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
2001 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Ron Weasley Released as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US and India
2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Thunderpants Alan A. Allen
2004 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Ron Weasley
2005 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
2006 Driving Lessons Ben Marshall Leading role
2007 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Ron Weasley
2009 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
2010 Cherrybomb Malachy McKinney Leading role
Wild Target Tony
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I Ron Weasley Release date UK and USA 19 November 2010
2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II Release date 15 July 2011
Eddie the Eagle Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards Pre-production[19]

Awards

Awards
Year Award Category Work Outcome
2002 Empire Award Best Debut Harry Potter and the Philosopher' s Stone Nominated
Satellite Award Outstanding New Talent Won
Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor Won
Best Ensemble in a Feature Film Nominated
2003 PFCS Award Best Acting Ensemble Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Nominated
2006 MTV Movie Award Best On-Screen Team Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Nominated
2007 National Movie Award Best Performance by a Male Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Nominated
2009 Scream Award Best Supporting Actor Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Nominated
Portrait Choice Award Best Male Movie Performance Nominated
2010 People's Choice Award Favorite On-Screen Team Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "harrypotter.warnerbros.co.uk". Warner Bros. (Flash: click appropriate actor's image, click "Actor Bio") (Official site). http://harrypotter.warnerbros.co.uk/gobletoffire/master/index.html. Retrieved 28 March 2006. 
  2. ↑ Rupert Grint Biography (1988-)
  3. ↑ The Press Archives @ RupertGrint.Net
  4. ↑ Rupert Grint Yahoo! Movies
  5. ↑ "radiolistings.co.uk". Radiolistings: Baggy Trousers episode guide. http://www.radiolistings.co.uk/programmes/baggy_trousers.html. Retrieved 28 February 2006. 
  6. ↑ "Hollywood Blvd Celebrates Potter's 'Wands Of Fame'". CBS2.com. 9 Jul. 2007. http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_190124828.html. Retrieved 10 Jul. 2007. 
  7. ↑ "Rupert's New Film "Cherrybomb"". RupertGrint.Net. 9 Jul. 2007. http://rupertgrint.net/snews/general/ruperts-new-film-cherrybomb/. Retrieved 2 Jul. 2008. 
  8. ↑ "'Cherrybomb releases Today in the UK". RupertGrint.net. 23 Apr 2010. http://rupertgrint.net/snews/cherrybomb/rupert-grints-cherrybomb-releases-today-in-the-uk477/. Retrieved 12 Jul 2010. 
  9. ↑ "Rupert Cast in New Film". RupertGrint.Net. 2008. http://rupertgrint.net/snews/wild-target/rupert-cast-in-new-film-wild-target/. Retrieved 12 July 2010. 
  10. ↑ "Wild Target Opens Today". RupertGrint.Net. 18 Jun 2010. http://rupertgrint.net/snews/wild-target/rupert-grints-wild-target-opens-today-exclusive-review544/. Retrieved 12 July 2010. 
  11. ↑ Lamble, David. "The Dystopian Future Awaits", Bay Area Reporter Online, 28 December 2006
  12. ↑ "Rupert Grint in a Reasonably Priced Car". RupertGrint.Net. 29 Jun. 2010. http://rupertgrint.net/snews/general/rupert-grint-in-a-reasonably-priced-car563/. Retrieved 29 Jun. 2010. 
  13. ↑ "Rupert Grint on Top Gear". RupertGrint.Net. 12 Jul. 2010. http://rupertgrint.net/snews/general/rupert-grint-on-top-gear576/. Retrieved 12 Jul. 2010. 
  14. ↑ Harry Potter: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint Celebrity Interview Unscripted - Moviefone
  15. ↑ "theage.com.au". The Age article (Melbourne). 24 June 2007. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/06/23/1182019425502.html. 
  16. ↑ "Emma Watson, Patton Oswalt, Mark Ronson". Late Night with Conan O'Brien. NBC. 12 Jul. 2007.
  17. ↑ "Best Music hair" from The Daily Telegraph
  18. ↑ Showbiz - News - Rupert Grint: 'I slept in a graveyard' - Digital Spy
  19. ↑ Sweeney, Ken (22 November 2009). "The Diary: Irish director makes leap of faith in casting for 'Eagle' biopic". Sunday Tribune (Tribune Newspapers). http://www.tribune.ie/article/2009/nov/22/the-diary-ken-sweeney/. 

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