[leytongrl07]

aww i adore rupert. haha is funny that his parents pulled his name out of a hat.. literally :haha: i would expect the hp cast would still live with their parents... besides there are benefits when living with ur parents at that age. im going to college next yr. although i cant wait for the dorm room life. ill prob. go come occasionally. i hope emma stays until the end. they are aready more than half way. and only 2 movies left.. i think she should pursue college after the 7th movie is done. but its her decision.

[darcybennett]

Radio Times magazine have done an article featuring Rupert in their latest issue (Dec 16-22). It was done to coincide with Driving Lessons' television debut on ITV1, Sunday December 17th.



Driving Ahead
RT Exclusive

After four massively successful Harry Potter movies, teen star Rupert Grint tells Benji Wilson he's coming of age in more ways than one...

It's a pleasure to report that one of the three most famous teenagers in the world is as unaffected by Hollywood hoopla as your average paperboy. In fact, the problem with Rupert Grint - or Ron Weasley as he's better known to millions of Harry Potter fans - is that he's almost too much like a normal 18-year-old.

Communication, for example, is not a forte. Most of his sentences begin with a "Yeah, I dunno," then descend into a monotone mumble, before climaxing with another "Yeah" not dissimilar to the first. He doesn't like to catch your eye, and he's a little fidgety. But it should be said that all of this is endearing rather than exasperating, and that for a boy who's grown up in front of the cameras, tongue-tied is infinitely preferable to cocksure.

If his hesitance is nerves then it's understandable - when you've spent most of your adolescence starring in what will end up being one of the biggest motion picture franchises of all time, "what next?" is a question that must look like a gaping black hole. Grint isn't waiting for the end of the seven-book series to find out - in between filming Harry Potter, he took the lead role in a coming-of-age movie called Driving Lessons, released in September, and on ITV1 this Sunday. He play Ben, a gawky 17-year-old vicar's son who's told by his strict parents to find himself a Saturday job. Employment leads to an unlikely friendship with "this crazy retired actress, who drinks, steals things and swears," as Grint puts it.

A short, six week, shoot in London, a no-monsters guarantee, and a chance to ditch the "Ron looks petrified" face for a month meant that Driving Lessons was, says Grint, a perfect antidote to life at Hogwarts. "I was quite nervous because it's my first grown-up things outside of Harry Potter and it's a big part. It was quite scary and I really enjoyed it, although it was a very different experience. On the Harry Potter films we're based in massive studios with amazing sets, and we've all got our own dressing rooms, whereas here I just had a small trailer. Obviously the budget things plays a big part in it - there are no special effects, green screens or anything like that. And we were doing four scenes in one day for Driving Lessons. On Harry Potter, it can take four days for one scene."

It may have been a big step, but there was one link with the Potter films. In the wizardly world, Julie Walters plays his mum. Here she stars alongside Grint as his mentor, "the crazy retired actress." "I heard she was going to do it and that definitely made me want to do it more," he says, "She's really cool; nice and easy-going. I didn't know anyone else, so it was nice having a friendly face on set. Although it was quite weird hearing her swear - her character really does swear a lot."

Not only is this his first lead role outside of the Potter-go-round, but it also marks Grint's coming of age in another regard - that testing first love scene. Mention this and he goes all wriggly (unsurprising given he was with an actress, Michelle Duncan, nearly ten years his senior). "I was quite nervous about the kiss, but everything else was pretty subtle. You don't see anything and it's over quickly. We were on this tiny set with a whole crew watching us. And we did so many takes as well. By the fifteenth time I began to feel a bit more relaxed."

Having endured the awkwardness once, he was forced to relive it again at the premiere, this time in the company of family and friends. Emma Watson, who plays Hermione in the Potter films, turned up for support. She really liked the film, he says. And the love scene? "That was embarrassing. Although the worst part is watching it back with your Nan." And what did Nan make of his performance? "I didn't even ask."

While most teenagers don't have to get naked in front of millions of prying eyes, Grint still has several other rites of passage to go through. Like driving lessons for one: "Yeah, I've been driving for about three weeks. I"m gradually getting more confident. I passed on my second attempt. One thing failed me in my first I didn't look over my shoulder in my three-point turn. But I've passed it now, and I've got a little Mini Cooper. "So, there you are - every inch the normal teenager. Just with a slightly better car.


_____


Hi leytongrl07! Welcome to Rupert's Board! I hope to see you around the board often!

____

[leytongrl07]

Hi Darcy! i havent gone on ff for a while and it feels great to be back.

ah i really want to see Driving Lesson!!! i need to see if my city is showing the movie.

[ordinaryday]

Loved the interview and the new picture.

Although the worst part is watching it back with your Nan." And what did Nan make of his performance? "I didn't even ask."

Aw. Poor Rupert.

[Corrsfanre]

I can't believe how hot he looks on that pic!

[ordinaryday]

Some news from RG.Net:

Thanks to Vania for scanning and sending in this interview from her school's newspaper The Spectator. The interview took place back in October 2006 while in New York City with Jeremy Brock and Laura Linney. Featured are the basic Driving Lessons questions with some new quotes. You can read the interview here, and view the accompanying photo by clicking here.

The Spectator Interview



A Front-Seat Chat with the Drivers

Director Jeremy Brock's autobiographical film "Driving Lessons" premiered in select theaters on October 13. The movie stars Rupert Grint, widely known for his role as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movie series, as the film's protagonist Ben, and Laura Linney as his mother. The Spectator had a chance to sit down with Grint, Linney and Brock, who flew in to New York (Grint: "More people recognize me over here than they do back home.") for the film's national premiere.

The Spectator: What attracted you to this particular movie?
Rupert Grint: Well, this is the second movie I've done outside of Harry Potter. I really liked the script, and Jeremy was very nice over the phone conversations we had.
Laura Linney: Same for me. I loved the script and when I met Jeremy he was so welcoming. I just said, "Of course, I'll do your movie, you wonderful, wonderful man."

The Spectator: Rupert, was it tough to switch from a Hollywood blockbuster like "Harry Potter" to a low-budget indie film?
Rupert: The hardest part of it was the change in pace. For "Harry Potter", we take weeks to shoot a snippet of a scene, whereas for Driving Lessons, I was doing full scenes a day. It was really nerve-wracking, but other than that, the switch wasn't so bad.

The Spectator: Did it feel awkward working with Walters when she's not playing your mother?
Rupert: A little. Julie's absolutely hysterical in any role that she plays, and she's such a good actress. When she was playing Evie, I believed she was Evie so it wasn't a problem for me to adjust to that. During one of the scenes where I'm just talking about her though, I called her "mum".

The Spectator: Jeremy, what was it about these particular events in your life that made you want to write a movie about them? Did you just think they were amusing and fit for the screen?
Jeremy Brock: No, most of the comedic scenes are actually fantastical. There were two reasons for why I wanted to make these events into a film. First, my experience working for Dame Peggy Ashcroft was wonderful, and taught me a lot. I wanted to sort of cement that for the world to see. Second, my overly-religious mother and her affair were major events in my upbringing.

The Spectator: How did you cast the film's roles? Were you thinking of anyone in particular?
Jeremy: Not really. I saw Laura in several films, and she reminded me of my mother, whom the character is based on. The only concern I had about her was that she wouldn't have an English accent. When I met Laura, that concern went away. She's a genius. Also, I got Rupert through Walters, who plays Evie here and Mrs. Weasley in the Harry Potter films.

[darcybennett]

Thanks for letting us know about this article, Jenn! It's great having something 'new' eventhough it isn't really all that new!!

I hope you'll forgive me for editing in the pic and the article's transcript to your post 'cause it makes it easier to link to and have it 'archived' when I'll add it to the first post. Unfortunately, when I was transcribing it I noticed that part of it was cut off and missing probably due to the scanning of it. Oh, well... what there is, is better than nothing, I guess.

[L i N d $ @ y]

nice interview. very Rupert. i like it. thanks for posting it, Jenn!

[cgold]

I absolutely love Rupert. I hope we get some more news about him soon. I especially want to know if he has anything new lined up.

[ordinaryday]

Well this is the perfect thread for you to find out!

[L i N d $ @ y]

book 7 to be released on July 21!!!!!!!!!!!! :woot; i CANNOT wait!!!!!

[ordinaryday]

From RG.net:
The Feburary/March issue of the Saddle Club magazine has a new interview with Rupert where he talks about souvenirs, the sixth film and life:

Do people come up to you and ask about Harry Potter all the time? The films are quite big now, and I do get recognised but it's something that you don't ever really get used to. It's quite strange, but people are always really nice and usually like the films. How has your life changed? I suppose the biggest thing is getting recognised. But it's changed for the best really, I've gotten to go to places like New York, so I'm pretty grateful for that sort of thing. It's been pretty good. Look at Orlando Bloom who's done Rings and then Pirates."

Rest of the interview here.

[darcybennett]

Thanks for posting that, Jenn!

It's not anything we didn't already know or had read before, but it's still cool to have a new interview in this very slow news period for Rupes.

[darcybennett]

New interview!

Rupert was interviewed for the launch of a new comic book magazine called BeanoMAX, for their premiere issue which came out yesterday, Feb. 15th.

Scan 1
Scan 2
Scans courtesy of RG.N


We get nosey with Weasley!

Red-headed Rupert Grint may be a superstar but he still takes time to make money for Comic Relief and stick a red nose on his hooter! We managed to grab him between filming for the next Harry Potter film to find out what he's got planned to raise money this year and of course get all the juicy gossip from the set!

Last Comic Relief you ran around the National Portrait Gallery shouting "bogies" to raise money. Did you get any funny looks?

It was great! One guy got really angry and said it was "disgusting behavior at a portrait gallery", so we decided to leave rather quickly!!!

What are you doing this year to help raise money?

Dressing up in big clothes and getting sponsored!!

You are mega famous now after being in Harry Potter, have you had any weird fan mail?

Lots - I got sent some SpongeBob SquarePants underwear with matching pyjamas and some paper folded swans!

What was the most embarrassing scene to film in HP?

It's got to be dancing with Professor McGonagall. It was so embarrassing!

Do you ever play pranks on the set?

I once set up a spy camera disguised as a cigarette packet in the make-up room!!

What would you do if you really had magic powers?

I'd make my car fly and talk. It'd be cool to be able to shrink really small so I could swim in a bowl of Corn Flakes link in 'Honey, I shrunk the kids'.

Tell us a funny secret about a cast member...

Robbie Coltrane actually has no arms and legs and eats bone china for breakfast.

Who parps the most on set?

No one ever owns up to it but definitely not me...

That dress robe they made you wear in the Goblet of Fire was a rotter. What's the dodgiest outfit hiding at the bottom of your own wardrobe?

How dare you! The dress robe was actually mine and I lent it to Ron for the part.

Do you get to do your own stunts?

Yeah some. I was once dragged up a hill on a piece of cable by a guy in a blue jumpsuit.

Embarrassing moments with another star - what's your worst ever?

Once on set filming the Chamber of Secrets I did a doodle cartoon of Alan Rickman (Prof. Snape) not realising he was right behind me watching me!!! Ouch!

So you're a dab hand at caricatures. Do you fancy a job as a cartoonist after HP?

That or possibly an ice cream man would be my ideal job.

When did you last do a moonie?

At my nan's birthday party.

What's your bogey picking style?

The classic traditional finger scoop up, out and away.

What is the craziest rumor you've ever heard about yourself?

That I was going to be an oompa lumpa in the recent remake of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.

What's been your best blag?

Whilst out in my car I ran out of fuel and managed to get a lift from a police officer by telling him it was an emergency as I was pregnant and in labor at the time.

Who's your favorite character in The Beano and why?

Plug - he's got really cool ears.

Dennis can burp up to M in the alphabet, which letter can you make it up to?

I'm not very good. I can only get to C.

What's the longest you've ever worn the same socks?

I was born wearing socks and I've never changed them since.

Have you been given any nicknames?

Yes, poopmaster, poopermarket, rupe the poop, poop, poopy rube, ruby and sometimes Steve.

Did You Know?

• One of Rupert's favorite hobbies is sleeping!
• Just like his character Ron, he is petrified of spiders.
• He supports Spurs.
• During filming for Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets he had a pool table in his dressing room!
• He hates vegetables.
• For his 14th birthday he got a unicycle and he's been trying to use it ever since!
• When they were on set for The Prisoner of Azkaban, Rupert and Daniel Radcliffe made a mini golf course on set entirely out of cardboard!

[ordinaryday]

Thanks for the interview Darcy.

One of Rupert's favorite hobbies is sleeping!

It's of my favorite hobbies too.

When they were on set for The Prisoner of Azkaban, Rupert and Daniel Radcliffe made a mini golf course on set entirely out of cardboard!

That's awesome. I could never do that.