‘It felt quite suffocating’: Rupert Grint admits starring in Harry Potter for a decade was ‘heavy going’ and it sometimes felt like ‘Groundhog Day’

Rupert Grint has admitted that starring in the Harry Potter films for a decade felt ‘suffocating’ as he longed to do other things.

The actor, 32, shot to fame for his role as Harry’s best friend Ron Weasley in the franchise which consisted of eight films released between 2001 and 2011. 

Speaking on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Rupert admitted that sometimes the Harry Potter set felt like ‘Groundhog Day’.  

Honest: Rupert Grint has admitted that starring in the Harry Potter films for a decade felt ‘suffocating’ as he longed to do other things

He said: ‘There was a time where it felt quite suffocating, because it was heavy going, because it was every day for 10 years in the end.

‘It was a great experience. Such a nice kind of family atmosphere. It was always the same crew we kind of grew up with, so it was a great place to be.  

‘But sometimes it definitely felt like, “I want to do something else. See what else is out there.” It just never ended. Every year, we came back. 

‘And it was kind of like Groundhog Day because it was the same sets. It was the same people. But it was great. I loved it.’

Career: The actor, 32, shot to fame for his role as Harry’s best friend Ron Weasley in the franchise which consisted of eight films released between 2001 and 2011 (pictured with Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe)

Rupert also revealed he has only seen each of the Harry Potter films once, expert for the first one which he recently watched for a second time.  

He explained: ‘It still feels too soon really. I can’t detach myself fully. I can’t face it. I’ve got a very different perspective of it now that a long time has passed. I can appreciate what a feat it was.’

The actor said that he ‘cant put his finger’ on why he doesn’t enjoy watching the films but added that he liked ‘leaving’ the work behind on set.

He said: ‘It wasn’t like it was a bad experience. It made me so conscious of my face of, like, what I’m doing… I like being in the moment and creating it and then just leaving it.’

He said: ‘There was a time where it felt quite suffocating, because it was heavy going, because it was every day for 10 years in the end’ (pictured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone)

Rupert also revealed he sometimes struggles with being ‘critical’ of himself, describing watching his old interviews as ‘the worst thing’.

Among the moments in the films he wishes he could take back, he said: ‘My hair in film four is one of my biggest regrets.

‘I think everyone actually had a phase of having this really long hair. They liked it—it was kind of wizardy. We went through our puberty on camera.’

Rupert found dealing with the ardent Harry Potter films ‘overwhelming’ at first, noting he is quite a ‘private’ person.

He said: ‘It was definitely hard to get your head around, because I’m quite a shy, private person and suddenly to be put in that world it was overwhelming for sure. 

‘And also the responsibility as well, because as you say, for fans of the books, and they hold these characters in such high regard.’

Rupert added: ‘Sometimes it definitely felt like, “I want to do something else. See what else is out there.” It just never ended. Every year, we came back’

Dax asked the actor if there was ever a moment where he was ‘s***faced’ and smoked a joint but then stopped because he was worried fans would find out. 

Rupert responded: ‘It was such a kind of buzzkill whenever you were out, because you do kind of think about it. You can never quite relax, because I guess you are kind of this role model figure. 

‘It’s hugely important to these fans. I didn’t really stop me from having fun, but it was always kind of a bit of a shadow.’

The films made him and co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson immensely wealthy at a young age, which he said was ‘really strange’.

He said: ‘Gradually, it became too much, too young for sure. It was quite overwhelming. I literally did not know what to do.’

Role: Rupert also revealed he has only seen each of the Harry Potter films once, expert for the first one which he recently watched for a second time (Still from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2011) 

Among his first extravagant purchases were a hovercraft and an ice-cream van which he said was his ‘first car’.

On the hovercraft, he added: ‘I haven’t been on it in a long time. I crashed it quite badly the last time I was out, because it’s impossible—no brakes. It’s lethal. It nearly killed me.’

When he was around 16, he also splurged on buying pigs and alpacas for the field behind his family’s house.  

Rupert insisted he is far more responsible with his money these days, adding: ‘Nowadays, I’m a lot more kind of sensible I guess. I haven’t done anything mad like that in a while.’

The actor, who currently stars on AppleTV+’s Servant, and his partner Georgia Groome, who have been together for a decade, welcomed a daughter in May of last year.  

Personal life: Rupert found dealing with the ardent Harry Potter films ‘overwhelming’ at first, noting he is quite a ‘private’ person 

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