Rupert Grint has likened JK Rowling to an auntie and admits that he doesn't agree with everything the director says.
The now 33-year-old was cast in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone aged just 11.
He then went on to star as Ron Weasley in all eight films, which ranged from 2001 to 2011.
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The actor told The Sunday Times: "I liken JK Rowling to an auntie. I don’t necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she’s still my auntie. It’s a tricky one."
Grint also confessed that he felt a 'disconnect' between his friends when starting the franchise.
He added: "I definitely felt a disconnect between me and my mates when I started Harry Potter. I suddenly left such a crucial part of my schooling, just when I’d started secondary school and developed a group of friends. At that time, we didn’t know it was going to be eight films and what a sacrifice that would be. Going back to school for exams was the weirdest thing. I’d been in this very adult working environment. It was a very different way of growing up. But there are no regrets."
Grint recently featured in HBO Max's Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts and his comments towards fellow co-star Emma Watson had her welling up with tears before breaking the tension with a joke.
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In a touching moment, Grint said: “We’re family, we always will be.
“It’s a strong bond, we’ll always be part of each other’s lives.”
Then, after a heartfelt embrace, he added: “I love you.”
After a short pause, he then added: “As friends.”
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Watson, who, of course, plays Hermione Granger told Vogue: “When Rupert says things, he really means them. I was taken aback by how vulnerable and kind he was deciding to be so publicly.”
The special, which also aired Sky, saw many of the old HP stars alongside one another again.
Both Grint and Watson remarked about how they struggled through some of the films, even harbouring thoughts of quitting at times.
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Watson said: “It was around the time of Order of the Phoenix when things started getting spicy for all of us.”
Grint added: “I also had sort of similar feelings to Emma, contemplating what life would be like if I called it a day.
“We never really spoke about it.
“I guess we were just going through it at our own pace, we were kind of in the moment at the time.
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“It just didn’t really occur to us that we were all probably kind of having similar feelings.”
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Harry Potter