Rupert Grint still finds it “very difficult” to “break away” from Ron Weasley.

The 33-year-old actor portrayed Harry Potter’s best friend in eight films between 2001 and 2011 and admitted that his character became a big part of him and made him the person he is today.

He said: “I measure my life by the Harry Potter films. They are so deeply ingrained in me. It is very difficult for me to detach myself from my role as Ron – we have merged into the same person. I can’t believe this started 20 years ago. It has definitely shaped who I am.”

“I’ve pushed it out of my mind, even though I’m constantly confronted with it – there’s the play, the theme park and it’s always on TV. I don’t see Dan and Emma as often as you’d expect, so the reunion was very nostalgic.”

Rupert was just 11 years old when he started working on the film series and admitted it made him feel “alienated” from his friends because his formative years were so different to theirs. However, he has no regrets about being part of such a huge franchise.

He said: “When I started Harry Potter, I definitely felt a disconnect between myself and my friends. I was suddenly leaving such an important part of my school life, just as I had started secondary school and had built up a circle of friends.”

“We didn’t know then that it would be eight films and what a sacrifice that would be. Going back to school for the exams was the strangest thing. I was in this very adult work environment. It was a very different way of growing up. But I don’t regret anything.”

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has been demonised and branded transphobic for her beliefs in biological sex, and Rupert compared his relationship with the writer to that of an “aunt” with whom he still has a close bond, even if he does not share her views.

He told the Times magazine: “I compare JK Rowling to an aunt. I don’t necessarily agree with everything my aunt says, but she’s still my aunt. It’s a tricky thing.”