When it was announced that Warner Bros. would be filming the popular "Harry Potter" series of books written by J.K. Rowling, Rupert Grint was determined to land the key role of the young wizard's best friend Ron Weasley. The redheaded Grint only had appeared in local theatricals, but he auditioned along with hundreds of others. When he did not hear anything after he had submitted himself for consideration, the determined youngster created his own show reel and even wrote a rap song explaining how much he wanted the role and why he should be cast. His confidence clearly paid off as he impressed the casting agents and landed the role in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001).
While he reprised the role in the sequels "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002) and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004), Grint also found himself in demand for other roles, including another stalwart pal part in "Thunderpants" (2002), as the best buddy of a flatulent young man. He again revived his role as Ron Weasley for “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” (2005), the first to be directed by a fellow Brit (Mike Newell), and was set to star in the fourth sequel, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (set to be released in 2007). Meanwhile, Grint continued to branch out, starring in “Driving Lessons” (2005), a British coming-of-age comedy about a shy teenage boy who tries to escape his domineering mother by working for a retired actress.