When we say “holidays” here in the US, we think of the ones we just had like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day…or at least I do. But when Harry Potter star Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) discusses his holidays with the Telegraph, he is referring to recent vacations and trips. ;) It was quite enlightening! Here is an excerpt:
What’s been your best holiday?
We went to the Isle of Wight as a family, three summers in a row. I’m the eldest of five children, but only James, now 19, and Georgina, now 16, were around then. We had a great time as there was so much to do there. We got up to a lot of mischief, exploring the caves and beaches. Our favourite attraction was a theme park called Blackgang Chine, which was set in a Victorian mansion and its estate grounds. It had ghosts and goblins, a Wild West section and a small train ride. You couldn’t ask for a better holiday for a kid.
And the best hotel you’ve stayed in?
Each year when the cast of Harry Potter stay in New York City for press interviews and the premieres, we stay at Essex House, an Art Deco hotel right on Central Park. My room had a great view of it. The first time we stayed there was not long after 9/11, so that was really eerie. The staff get to know us well because of our repeat visits and it’s a good location for sightseeing or shopping – not that our schedules allow for much downtime. For us, the best bit about our room is obviously the minibar.
What do you need for a perfect holiday?
Being ginger and pale-skinned, I don’t really get a tan, so sitting on the beach doesn’t do it for me. I like activity-based holidays where I’m not going to fry, which is why I’ve really got into rally car driving – my brother James is an aspiring driver. I recently went on holiday to Blackpool with Oliver Phelps, who plays one of the Weasley twins. We both play golf – I’ve got a handicap of 13, which is not bad – and there’s a really good golf course in the area. I think it was quite surreal for people to see two Harry Potter actors walking down the promenade – they kept stopping dead in their tracks to do a double take.
What do you always take with you?
I can’t live without my iPhone – it comes everywhere with me. It’s got so many applications on it it practically runs my life. And a couple of my favourite T-shirts. Apart from that, I’m a pretty light traveller.
Click here to read the complete interview.
Thanks to TLC and RG.net