The Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling that became hugely popular with kids and young adults all over the world, gained iconic status when they were adapted into films. The blockbuster movies also made Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson huge stars and gave them their first foothold into the industry.
The three young actors who shared screen space together in 8 films, also formed a really close bond together over the years. In fact, Rupert Grint’s friendship with Emma Watson was so deep that the actor found it immensely difficult to find a romantic connection between his character Ron and Watson’s Hermione in their famous kissing scene.
Why Did Rupert Grint Cringe During His Kissing Scene With Emma Watson?
While the Harry Potter films followed the central protagonist and his legacy as a wizard, the narratives also dealt with many pivotal relationships between various characters. The heart of the story revolved around the close friendship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione played by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.
The romantic undertones between Ron and Hermione which were evident through the course of the events in the books, finally culminated in a much awaited kiss between the two characters in the 7th novel which was seen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. This scene was highly anticipated by fans mainly for the chemistry between Grint and Watson.
“I don’t see myself as having stepped away from acting”: Emma Watson Reveals Her Future in Hollywood
But Watson fans might be a bit peeved to hear that for Grint, ‘one take was enough’ as this scene had nothing to do with chemistry. The British star spoke to People Magazine (via Teen Vogue) on the reasons behind why he felt that he couldn’t get through this scene with his co-star whom he knew since the inception of the franchise.
“I’ve known Emma since she was literally 9 years old and we had this very brother-sister relationship. And it just felt very surreal. I have a memory of her face getting closer and closer. Like, ‘Oh my God.’ I can’t really remember anything apart from that.”
While hardcore Harry Potter fans may now look at this scene very differently following Grint’s revelation, the fact remains that the two actors who are thorough professionals, ultimately made the kiss touch a chord with people all over the world.
Playing Hermione Affected Emma Watson’s Personal Life
Harry Potter star Emma Watson spent a large part of her formative years essaying the role of the clever Hermione Granger in the film series. While she is regarded as the perfect choice for the part, it wasn’t until much later that she was actually able to embrace the character and relate to Hermione fully.
The reason for this was due to the fact that Watson was struggling to be a normal young kid like anyone else while trying to juggle the demands of being in the limelight. As a result, she was caught in a precarious and confusing emotional situation. Speaking to Paper (via Radio Times), the celebrity revealed the challenges she went through and said,
“It was such a delicate time – I was 10 or 11 when the first movie came out – I was trying to figure out what my own identity was, but I didn’t really have one yet.”
Due to this, Watson tried to unconsciously distance herself from her character Hermione who is seen as a serious, nerdy, and uptight young girl who did not fit into the norms of what a typical teenager was supposed to be. Speaking of her struggles to adhere to a certain type of image, she said,
“I watch interviews that I did when the first movie came out and I was so lost! I would think, ‘What do young girls talk about? What do they say?’ ‘I like going shopping and I have a crush on Brad Pitt.’ And I had no idea who Brad Pitt really was. It makes me sad because I see this girl trying so much to fit in.”
But the tricky phase soon passed. Over her extended stint in 8 Harry Potter films, Watson became one with her character and embraced all the wonderful qualities of Hermione which she later realized, mirrored many aspects of her personality that she was proud of.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 can be streamed on Max.
