Rupert Grint plays Ron for the last time in Deathly Hallows 2

MANILA, Philippines - As Rupert Grint says goodbye to playing Ron Weasley, the young actor shares what transpired during the last shooting day of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, as well as his plans post-Potter. 

Did the cast and crew do anything special on the last day of shooting?

“Yeah, they played a video. We did this thing called the Golden Board. Have to have Dan (Radcliffe) explain that, but it’s basically a big count-down. This film was like 260 days or something. Every day we had this board, like ‘day one,’ ‘day two’ and each time it would be a silly saying and stuff. They kind of edited all that together and it was just really nice to see that. It was actually quite emotional, too.”

We heard your birthday happened during shooting? Tell us about that.

“It was cool. It was my Golden Board. They set up a piñata in the Weasley house and I was trying to hit it and, yeah, that was quite good.”

Within this family of Harry Potter, you also have the Weasleys. Do you guys feel a certain bond in terms of this being your on-screen family that will always be close?

“Yeah. Definitely. We have Julie Walters, ‘cause I’ve worked with her before outside of Potter, and she, naturally, is quite a motherly type and she’s seen us grow up as well. And she really kind of cares about us. The twins as well. I’m really good friends with them. I see them quite regularly, yeah, so we’ll always kind of see each other.” 

Is there any particular scene in all the films that you wish you could have been in, even as a different character?

“I think, in the sixth film, I really liked the scene with Harry and Dumbledore in the boat. That was really cool.” 

You’ve had quite a variety of roles in 10 years, between Harry Potter and some of the other films you’ve done. 

“I’m quite keen. I’m always going to miss Harry Potter, but it’s the right time to move on and I’m ready to do different things.”

You’ve bought some outrageous things in the past. You mentioned a mini-ice rink? What’s some of the items you may have purchased that are not sort of everyday items?

“I supposed I’ve got some weird things. The latest thing is we’ve got miniature donkeys. They’re just like normal donkeys, but kind of half the size.” 

How many and what are their names?

“Just two. Shakespeare and Pandora. (Laughs)”

For breeding purposes or just as pets?

“Just as pets, yeah. I’ve got miniature pigs as well, and miniature hedgehogs.” 

How many different animals do you have? I mean, your entire family?

“We’ve obviously got dogs and cats and a parrot and peacocks.”

You’ve got a zoo! What size of place do you have to have all these things?

“I live in the country, really. Just outside London. There’s a few acres, yeah. They’ve got some good space.”

(Distributed by Warner Bros., Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 will be released in Philippine theaters and IMAX, in 3D and 2D, beginning July 14.)