James Andrew Eric Phelps is an English actor best known for portraying Fred Weasley in all the film adaptations of the Harry Potter films. He also lent his voice to the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game). Born on 25 February 1986 in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, James grew up with a strong passion for acting, participating in various high school productions alongside his identical twin brother, Oliver Phelps, who portrayed George Weasley.
Personal life[]
James and Oliver Phelps as teenagers
James Phelps was born on 25 February 1986 in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, thirteen minutes after his twin brother, Oliver. They are the only children of Susan (née Spare) and Martyn Phelps and attended Little Sutton Primary School and Arthur Terry Secondary School, receiving on-set tutoring during the Harry Potter series.
In 2000, the twins skipped school to audition for the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, landing the roles of Fred and George Weasley. James played Fred, while Oliver played George. James also worked as a runner on the sets of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and The Da Vinci Code. They appeared as brothers in Kingdom and starred in the documentary A Mind's Eye. The twins participated in the Harry Potter: The Exhibition, promoting its opening in Chicago.
In January 2014, they attended the Harry Potter Celebration in Orlando and hosted a LiveCast for fans. James guest-starred in Silent Witness in 2015 and appeared in the film Cadia: The World Within in 2019 as associate producer. The twins launched a podcast in 2017, discussing their travels. The second season featured guest interviews, while the third, "Normal Not Normal", included structured discussions with celebrities.
James married Annika Ostle in 2016, and they have two dogs, Tonto and Jason. He and Oliver planted birch and ash trees in Leicestershire in 2003 and support various charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust. In 2023, James ran the London Marathon to raise awareness for endometriosis, finishing in 4:46:24.[1]
Facts[]
- James enjoys golfing, listening to rock music, playing Xbox and PlayStation, and acting.
- On a Harry Potter app for iPhone, James was sorted into Hufflepuff. On Pottermore, he remained in Hufflepuff, while Oliver was sorted into Gryffindor.
- James is naturally a brunette, not a redhead like his character in Harry Potter.
- To distinguish between him and Oliver, James has a smaller, rounder face, while Oliver's face is straighter and longer.
- While filming Fred's death scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, James fell asleep on the floor, and the rest of the cast left him there while they went off to lunch.
- James was reading the final Harry Potter book on a train in Japan. Upon reaching Fred's death scene, a ticket inspector asked for his ticket, to which James replied, “I just died mate, leave me alone!"[2]
- James and Oliver once swapped roles during a rehearsal.
- Rupert Grint, who portrayed Ronald Weasley, has felt like a real brother to him and Oliver since the start of filming.
Filmography[]
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) – Fred Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) – Fred Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) – Fred Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) – Fred Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) – Fred Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) – Fred Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) – Fred Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) – Fred Weasley
- Kingdom (2009) – Callum Anderson
- Australia's Funniest Home Videos (2011) – Himself
- Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking (2024) – Himself
External links[]
James and Oliver Phelps on Wikipedia- James Phelps at the Internet Movie Database
- James Phelps's X account
- James and Oliver Phelps's YouTube account
Notes and references[]
- ↑
James Phelps (actor) on Wikipedia
- ↑ Mentioned in ‘’radio interview