Navigating fame was a greater challenge for the Harry Potter stars than fighting a Dementor. Thrust into the spotlight at the tender age of 10, the three main actors admitted to struggling mightily at dodging intense public scrutiny and the relentless pursuit of scandal by the paparazzi. Sharing his bit of experience, Rupert Grint highlighted the harsh realities of fame.
Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in the Harry Potter franchise | Warner Bros.
Addressing how the Harry Potter franchise, while establishing his acting career, also created a turbulent environment, Rupert Grint noted how often he struggled to transition from normal human to global celebrity from time to time. Meanwhile, although misery is not a competition, we can surely say that Emma Watson had it worse with her fame, with the relentless glare of public attention.
Rupert Grint’s Rise to Fame Was Fraught with Difficulties
The role of Harry Potter might be too overachieving for us, but who wouldn’t want to play his smirking, flame-haired sidekick Ron Weasley? Potterheads would kill to appear in the iconic franchise that became a timeless classic after it left a glitter in the eyes of the audiences, with its phenomenal tale and magical beasts.
But before you proceed to dream any further of being a part of the wizarding world, Ron Weasley actor Rupert Grint has some warnings, you don’t wanna miss. After creating a legacy that transcended boundaries, Grint spoke candidly about the difficulties he faced while navigating through the fame of Harry Potter.
Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley | Warner Bros.
Speaking with The Independent, Rupert Grint described his fame as a nearly dehumanizing experience, while shedding light on the darker side of celebrity life. Recalling his share of unsettling experiences, Grint mentioned the difficulties of being constantly scrutinized by the paparazzi and fans.
It’s almost like having a split personality. Sometimes it can be quite dehumanising to have people just taking pictures of you when you’re out. To them, you are just this one thing. It’s a weird existence. But that’s my life. I can’t really remember life before it. In a weird way, you become blasé about it. It becomes normal and you adapt.
Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley | Warner Bros
Revealing how the relentless attention from the media made him feel as though he had a split personality, Rupert Grint reflected on how people often clamored for a picture with him at every opportunity. No matter whether he was walking down a street or shopping at a store, Grint revealed how people would turn invasive just for a photo or an autograph.
Emma Watson Suffered Traumatic Experiences with Her Fame
Eventually, despite these challenges, Rupert Grint somehow adapted to this unusual lifestyle, acknowledging that it gradually became the new normal. But while the actor struggled and found his way out of the magical mess called fame, Hermione Granger actress Emma Watson was severely traumatized by her celebrity life.
In contrast to Rupert Grint’s experience, Emma Watson endured an even more invasive situation that left her traumatized for life. On her 18th birthday, a moment that should have been a joyous milestone, Watson was subjected to a distressing invasion of privacy for the sake of “candid” pictures. According to the actress, the paparazzi took advantage of her transition into adulthood and clicked pictured up her skirt, by lying on the pavement.
Emma Watson as Hermione Granger | Warner Bros.
Reflecting on this harrowing episode in 2016, at a HeForShe launch event, Emma Watson noted how her 18th birthday thus turned into a scarring event as the paparazzi exploited the legal loopholes. But eventually, this experience along with other mistreatments she suffered as a woman led her to become more vocal about feminist ideals, representation of gender equality, and equal pay.
I mean, I was obviously a child actress who is still making a transition, and I remember on my 18th birthday, I came out of my 18th birthday party and photographers lay down on the pavement and took photographs up my skirt, which were then published on the front of the English tabloids the next morning. If they published the photographs 24 hours earlier they would have been illegal but, because I turned 18, they were legal.
Watson and Grint in a still from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 | Warner Bros.
In the end, both Rupert Grint and Emma Watson’s stories underscore the significant challenges faced by child stars as they navigate through fame in the entertainment industry. Their experiences, while highlighting the severe impact of media exploitation on young celebrities, also serve as a powerful reminder of the need for respect and consideration in the treatment of public figures.
Harry Potter films are available on Max.
