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| 3 new wonderful interviews with Rupert!
1) AMNY.com: Talking to Rupert Grint
by Kara Warner
Rupert Grint is best known as the redheaded Ron Weasley in the 'Harry Potter' movies. But he managed to take some time off from wizarding school to star alongside Laura Linney in the coming-of-age movie 'Driving Lessons,' in theaters this Friday. Grint plays a young boy trying to find relief from his overbearing mother (Linney).
AMNew York talked to Grint just before the movie opens.
So, how did you come to be involved with the film? Well, I was doing the fourth Harry Potter film and got sent the script. [The filming] was only going to be six weeks, so it was quite easy. I met with Jeremy [Brock, the writer/director] and he was really cool. It just sort of happened from there, really.
I know you were working on getting your own driving license, has that come to pass? Yeah. I passed on Saturday.
So how about your character. Is there anything in your personality that relates to him at all? Not really. There are a few sort of teenage things, like his actions around girls. They're quite awkward and strange, and I can generally relate to that.
Was this your first onscreen kiss? This was my first.
Was that something that was exciting or was it awkward? I was actually quite nervous about that, because it's quite a big step. It was really weird because you have the whole crew watching you. It makes you really self-conscious. But she [actress Michelle Duncan] was really cool. She's older, so it helped a little bit. Watching it back is the worst, especially with my family. They laughed their hearts out.
How was this film different from filming Harry Potter? There were no sets, for one. We filmed all around London. It was only six weeks and the budget was pretty small.
There's a scene in which you resist some wine because you say you¹re underage at 17. Just to clarify, what is the drinking age in the UK? Eighteen. You can pretty much do whatever you want at 18.
Are you getting used to all the screaming, fanatical Potter fans? A little bit, yeah. I've been recognized a lot more recently. I don't know if it's something you get used to, it's really weird. They're always really nice so it's never a problem.
You were recently getting ready to film the Thestral scenes in the fifth Harry Potter movie. Have you finished those yet? Yeah, we did those the other day. It was really a good time because they had to make a mold, a specially made harness that goes under your legs, because in the film it has to be invisible. [The Thestral is a magical horse-like creature that is only visible to those who've witnessed death.] They put you on this crane and lifted you up in the air. That's been my favorite scene so far.
And that was done on a green screen? Yeah. We're working on a lot of the final scenes now, the Dumbledore's Army stuff.
What's next for you? When does 'The Order of the Phoenix' wrap? We're finished the middle of November, I think.
And you get a break after that? Yeah. We don't start the next one until next summer, so there's quite a big break. I'm going to try and do something else in-between.
I've heard you're afraid of spiders, are there any in the new film? They were going to put in a scene where a spider comes down on my leg while I'm hiding under a tree, and they were going to use a real spider. So they were doing tests with different spiders, letting them crawl on my leg. They ended up cutting it because I couldn't really deal with it.
Were they using tarantulas? Yeah, baby tarantulas. They're horrible.
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2) BlackFilm.com: An Interview with Director Jeremy Brock and Rupert Grint
by Krista Vitola
After appearing in numerous Harry Potter films and having fans worldwide, Rupert Grint is the first of the three to step out of his character and do another film for a change, “Driving Lessons”, where he’s paired his other Harrp Potter co-star Julie Walters and Laura Linney. Grint plays Ben, a young lad who spends weeks attending bible classes and having driving lessons with his mom until he meets an eccentric actress who challenges his beliefs. In speaking with blackfilm.com Rupert as well as Director Jeremy Brock talked working on the film and doing something other than Harry Potter.
After working on the big budgeted Harry Potter films, how do you adjust to working on something smaller like “Driving Lessons”?
Rupert Grint: It was quite nerve wracking going into it. It was a lot different doing Driving Lessons because we shot on location.
In casting Rupert, did you have any concerns?
Jeremy Brock: No, not at all. We had discussed when I sent him the script. He read it and we discussed what it would entail. I actually knew that he wanted the balance of shooting a film in six weeks. That generates an energy that feeds off itself.
How difficult was it to go from this back to Harry Potter movie?
RG: Well, one scene took about a week to shoot or maybe even longer, whereas with this film, we were filming 2-3 scenes a day. It’s a completely different movie.
How did the two of you get together for this film?
JB: I had seen him in all of the Harry Potter and I just thought that he’s an incredibly gifted, natural actor and I wanted that particular quality because the character then has to carry and convey feelings of inadequacies and frustrations all on his face and that’s what he’s so good at.
RG: I was actually quite scared about that because you got the whole crew watching and that was a bit scary and the Michelle Duncan, girl was really good because she’s helped us all.
What was it like working with Julie Walters outside of the Harry Potter films?
RG: It was good having someone I sort of knew because I was a bit nervous about coming in to a new filming environment because I'm used to the 'Harry Potter' way of doing things.
Do you have an appetite for many independent films?
RG: Yeah, definitely.
In the film, Julie Walters’ character challenges you. Did she do that to off-screen as well?
RG: Yeah, I suppose. She would ad-lib some scenes and challenge me to do the same.
What did you like about the role?
RG: I liked that he was socially different.
How was working with Laura Linney?
RG: The great thing about her is that she’s a tremendous actor. She made it comfortable when you’re in an uncomfortable situation. It felt fin with her playing my mom.
How did you feel about directing the film?
JB: I love the process of directing. I love the way it’s like 3-D writing and I found that enormous rewarding. I love the idea of writing about something that I can relate to. I wanted to write about my life in suburbia and I wanted to stick to the story about this amazing relationship I had with (Dame) Peggy Ashcroft.
Can you talk about your driving skills and how’s it going?
RG: I passed my test Saturday. It was second attempt. I’m embarrassed on the amount of time it took me to do it. I took 60 driving lessons.
How were you able to drive in the film without a license?
RG: Well, I was 16 at the time and I wasn’t allowed to because you have to be 17. We had some private roads and it was done quickly. We found a road in Scotland that was on a farm.
Where are you now with your career? Is this what you want to do for a living?
RG: I’m having a real good time doing movies. After the Harry Potter films, we’ll see what happens from then.
Do you think you will stay friends with Daniel and Emma once it’s over?
RG: I think so. We’ve been friends for six years now and have gotten to know each other quite well.
Was your real mother as religious as the character and how did that affect you once you moved out of the house?
JB: To the extent that this is a movie about friendship as well as being a movie about faith and the father articulated one particular point of view, which is the one I find more comfortable. Mom was even more angelical and evangelism has tended to be in my experience to be very constrained and that’s how I experienced it because it’s driven by what they tell you rather than what you think. The father’s son is the key in the movie for the son to make up his mind.
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3) MTV.com: 'Lessons' Learned
by Shawn Adler
As Ronald Weasley in the Harry Potter films, Rupert Grint has faced giant spiders, fire-breathing dragons and a three-headed dog.
He even stole a flying car and drove it to Hogwarts — he just didn't do it legally.
"I failed the first time [I went to get my driver's license]," Rupert admitted. "I failed one thing. I was reversing, doing a three-point turn, and I didn't look over my shoulder."
And why should he? Buoyed by a supporting role in what will ultimately be the most successful movie franchise in history, Rupert has a devoted fanbase and a meal ticket for life. In an industry that so often asks, "What have you done for me lately?," Rupert doesn't have to look over his shoulder, but can instead focus on finding new and different projects knowing "Potter" will be there when he gets back.
Enter "Driving Lessons." Directed by "Mrs. Brown" scribe Jeremy Brock, the flick is a coming-of-age story about a teenager raised by domineering parents who finds relief, and friendship, while working weekends for a retired actress (played by frequent co-star Julie Walters, Ron's mother Molly Weasley in the "Potter" films). It's Rupert's first leading role.
"I play a character called Ben. He's a bit of a loner, I suppose, [since] he hasn't got any friends, and he's from a religious family," Rupert explained. "His dad's a vicar and his mom's really strict and doesn't let him do anything. He has to get a Saturday job and learns a lot of important life lessons along the way from someone that maybe isn't a normal 17-year-old's best friend."
For Rupert, starring in "Driving Lessons" was not only a welcome change of pace after four straight stints as Ron Weasley, but also a chance to branch out into more adult-oriented fare.
"I was doing ['Goblet of Fire'] during the time I got this script and just really liked it," Rupert said. "It's a different character to play. These 'Harry Potter' films, they take, like, nine months to make and they take up most of your time. I wanted to do something different, and this was it, really.
"It's a bigger part and more of a grown-up film," he added. "There's swearing in it and stuff like that, so it is kind of scary — a new experience — but I enjoyed it."
Laura Linney, who co-stars as Rupert's mother in the film, described "Driving Lessons" as "a balance between the theatrical person who turns out to be the spiritual person and the spiritual person who turns out to be the theatrical person." To Linney, understanding and embracing that difference is part of growing up.
"When you grow up, you're led to believe 'This is what spirituality really is.' And then you get to a point where you go, 'No, no, it's not.' Or 'This is good parenting. I have a good parent,' " Linney said. "You get to a certain age and make [your] own decisions. Things start to shift in ways, and you don't have any control over it. It's just a part of growing up, becoming mature."
Linney relished the opportunity to work with Brock, whom she called "the best first-time director I've ever worked with," as well as the chance to act in Britain.
"I just love the Brits. I love being there, I love working with them," grinned Linney, who was one of the only Americans in the 2003 British romantic comedy "Love Actually." "You have to earn things there, and that's not so bad. You really have to earn things and prove things, and I don't think that is so bad."
Rupert has proven himself in the "Harry Potter" films and beyond and now he's earned something too — he finally got that driver's license on his second try.
Last edited by darcybennett : 10-12-2006 at 05:55 PM.
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