Rupert Grint has recently revealed the reason why he didn't attend Robbie Coltrane's funeral last year.
In a new interview with GQ, the former Harry Potter star, best known for his portrayal of Ronald Weasley, gave the outlet an intimate look into his life, delving into topics such as fame, family, and the franchise as a whole.
After discussing what it means to have such an influence on shaping movie fantasy culture, Grint talked about what one of the most difficult things about being a child star was: Loss.
Between the years 2002 and 2022, Richard Harris (Albus Dumbledore) Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), and Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid) all, unfortunately, passed away.
"I was 13, in a hotel promoting the second movie, when I was told [of Harris' death]. It was a hard thing to contemplate," the actor said, explaining that it was his first proper experience of loss.
He described them as family, saying: "Not parents, but uncles or grandparents. They all had this kind of subconscious presence in my life."
When the 34-year-old made his Broadway debut in 2014, in a production of the comedy It’s Only A Play, Rickman was in the audience.
And when speaking of Coltrane - who died on October 14, 2022, after suffering organ failure - Grint said "losing him was particularly tough. He really was the most wonderful being."
However, he admitted that he did not attend his friend's funeral as he "[doesn't] claim to know him outside work."
At the time of his death, Grint took to Instagram to post a tribute to the late star, stating that he was "heartbroken to hear that Robbie is gone."
He continued: "I’ll never forget the smell of cigars and beard glue - a wonderful combination. No one else on this planet could of played Hagrid, only Robbie. Just as Hagrid was in the books and films Robbie was in life- warm, compassionate and hilarious.
"A giant hearted man who was still looking out for us even decades later. Sending love to his family. See you on the other side Bobser."
Elsewhere in the interview, Grint also talked about how it feels to rewatch himself back in the Harry Potter films, comparing the experience to a "home movie."
"The only one I’ve ever rewatched is Philosopher’s Stone. And I enjoyed it. I felt detached enough, because it was so long ago."
He then describes it as "watching a home movie," adding that it was his "childhood after all."
"I didn’t go to school," he continued. "I lost touch with a lot of old friends. I missed out on a lot of shared experiences.”
Despite this though, he's still got a "close" relationship with many of the other cast members.
"We’re still trying to figure out what life looks like on the other side of this massive cultural thing," Grint said.
