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Emma Watson says filming ‘incest’ Harry Potter scene was ‘most horrifying thing’ as everyone wanted to see it

Home> Entertainment> Film

Published 10:47 1 Jun 2025 GMT+1

Emma Watson says filming ‘incest’ Harry Potter scene was ‘most horrifying thing’ as everyone wanted to see it

The film star described her smooch with Rupert Grint as the 'most horrible thing' she has ever had to do

Olivia Burke

Olivia Burke

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As well as giving us an insight into the comings and goings of the wizarding world, the Harry Potter franchise also taught us a lot about love.

It's presented to viewers as the most powerful magic of all, and not just in the romantic sense. But obviously, there are a few love stories which develop throughout the eight films, such as the relationship between Harry and Ginny Weasley.

Still, it's her brother Ron's budding romance with Hermione Granger which fans of Harry Potter lapped up, as the pair finally act on their feelings in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

Although it had been a long time coming for viewers, it turns out that both of the actors didn't actually enjoy shooting the highly-anticipated moment where they locked lips.

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The fact their smooch took multiple takes didn't help matters, but the main gripe Emma Watson, 35, and Rupert Grint, 36, had was that it all felt a bit like 'incest'.

What happens during the kissing scene?

So, let's set the scene for you folks...the Battle of Hogwarts is unfolding in the final film, and Ron and Hermione embark on a do-or-die mission.

Their tasked with heading into the Chamber of Secrets - where Harry memorably fought the giant serpent known as the Basilisk - to destroy one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes: the Hufflepuff cup.

Long story short, the duo get the job done and in wake of all the commotion, emotions are running high.

Ron then suggests that they head to warn the house-elves in the kitchen of all the chaos which is unfolding, so that they can escape.

Apparently, this kind of valiant behaviour is what gets Hermione going, as she finally plants a kiss on her long-time pal and they share a passionate smooch.

The magical moment is quickly shattered though when Harry, who has watched the whole thing, dryly asks: "Is this really the moment?"

Watson and Grint's characters finally act on their feelings in the final Harry Potter film (Warner Brothers)
Watson and Grint's characters finally act on their feelings in the final Harry Potter film (Warner Brothers)

What has Emma Watson said about the kissing scene?

Watson previously described this moment in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 as the 'most horrible thing' she has ever had to do.

During an appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross in July 2009, the Little Women star explained why playing tonsil tennis with Grint wasn't great for her.

She said: "Not because Rupert isn't lovely, and there are millions of girls out there who would probably chop their left arm off to kiss him, but it just felt like incest. That's the only way I can describe it. The great thing about kissing is that you close your eyes, so it was fine when I was actually kissing him because I had my eyes closed.

"I could not think about the fact that it was him. The worst bit is when we had to open our eyes and look at each other because then it was just like, and then we couldn’t keep going."

Watson also later revealed that 'everyone wanted to be on set' to watch the pair film their kiss, as the crew had 'been waiting for it for 10 years', just like fans.

The actress also addressed what locking lips with Daniel Radcliffe, the protagonist of the film series, was like while also further discussing her snog with Grint during a press conference in 2011.

Watson said her 'passionate' kiss with Radcliffe was 'pretty awkward', especially because she was 'half-naked and covered in silver paint' at the time.

The trio say they have a sibling-like relationship after growing up together (D Dipasupil/FilmMagic)
The trio say they have a sibling-like relationship after growing up together (D Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

"Kissing Rupert, also awkward," she continued. "We'd just been soaked by an enormous bucket of water which was sort of perched...which we had to pretend we didn't know was going to hit us, but we knew was coming.

"That was also equally awkward and weird, so both strange situations to be in.

"Both were complete gentlemen and, er...it's obviously hard to put our personal history to one side, considering that we did grow up together."

Watson also clarified her previous comments about canoodling with Grint during an interview with Movies Ireland in 2009.

She explained that her remarks on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross had been 'really badly misinterpreted' and insisted she thought her co-star was 'very handsome'.

"It sounds as if I'm saying it's horrible because it's Rupert," she said. "Of course, he's gorgeous looking, there are a million girls who would do anything to kiss him - it's purely the fact that he's like my brother.

"We were both totally in the same boat, I'm sure he will tell you exactly the same thing. It was very strange and very weird."

What has Rupert Grint said about the kissing scene?

The co-stars both agree that their kiss felt 'unnatural' (HBO Max)
The co-stars both agree that their kiss felt 'unnatural' (HBO Max)

Watson really wasn't kidding about them being on the same page about their highly-anticipated kiss, as Grint didn't enjoy it much either.

He opened up about the experience during a chat with Attitude back in 2011, explaining although he anticipated it to be seriously awkward, it was actually 'fine'.

Still, the Snatch star agrees that kissing Watson did seem 'unnatural', given their extensive history.

"The kissing scene... was actually fine," Grint said. "It seemed like the most unnatural thing to do, to kiss this person I'd known since she was nine. It took a while to get into it and put our friendship aside."

Describing the intimate moment, he said: "It's quite full-on, a proper snog. We're soaking wet as well - they dumped gallons of water on us and then we just went for it.

"We laughed a lot and it took us a while to concentrate. We did it about four times."

In the HBO reunion special, Return To Hogwarts - which aired a decade after the film's release - Grint revealed he 'kind of blacked out' during the smooch.

"I don’t really remember it, I was so nervous," he confessed. "It’s weird kissing someone you’ve known since you were nine.”

Remember how all the crew wanted to watch it too? Well, so did Radcliffe - as he apologised for being a bit of a 'd**k' about the whole thing in Return To Hogwarts.

He laughed: "I did not make this better, because I've been told significantly that I was just being an absolute d**k about this and was like, 'I'm gonna come on set and watch you guys kiss'. I'm sorry about that, guys!"

Featured Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation

Topics: Harry Potter, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Celebrity, TV and Film

Olivia Burke
Olivia Burke

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

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@livburke_

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