Oliver Martyn John Phelps is an English actor best known for portraying George 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, Oliver grew up with a strong passion for acting, participating in various high school productions alongside his identical twin brother, James Phelps, who portrayed Fred Weasley.
Personal life[]
James and Oliver Phelps as teenagers
In 2000, Oliver and James Phelps skipped school to audition for the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, despite having no acting experience. After about six auditions, they were cast as Fred and George Weasley, with Oliver taking on the role of George and James playing Fred.
In 2009, the twins appeared as brothers in the fifth episode of the third season of Kingdom and starred in the 2012 short documentary A Mind's Eye, based on Plato's philosophical ideas. They were also involved in the Harry Potter: The Exhibition, attending its 2009 opening in Chicago and touring various cities to promote it.
In January 2014, they participated in the Harry Potter Celebration in Orlando, Florida, alongside Evanna Lynch, Matthew Lewis, and Devon Murray, where they hosted a LiveCast to engage with fans about the expansion at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Oliver made his stage debut in 2018 in The Case of the Frightened Lady at the Grand Opera House in York, sharing the stage with Deborah Grant.
Oliver and James launched a podcast in 2017 on YouTube and various streaming platforms. The first season featured discussions about their travels, while the second, released in 2020 during quarantine, included guest interviews and personal stories. The third season, titled "Normal Not Normal", premiered in 2021, focusing on the concept of normality and featuring guests like Sasha Banks, Tom Hopper, and former co-stars Katie Leung, Evanna Lynch, and Alfred Enoch.[1]
Facts[]
- Oliver enjoys golfing, listening to rock music, playing Xbox and PlayStation, and acting.
- On a Harry Potter app for iPhone, Oliver was sorted into Gryffindor. However, on Pottermore, he was sorted into Gryffindor, while James remained a Hufflepuff.
- Oliver is naturally a brunette, not a redhead like his character in Harry Potter.
- To distinguish between him and James, Oliver has a mole on the side of his neck, while James has a smaller, rounder face, and Oliver's face is straighter and longer.
- James and Oliver once swapped roles during a rehearsal.
- Rupert Grint, who portrayed Ronald Weasley, has felt like a real brother to them since the start of filming.
Filmography[]
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) – George Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) – George Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) – George Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) – George Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) – George Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) – George Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) – George Weasley
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) – George Weasley
- Kingdom (2009) – Finlay Anderson
- Australia's Funniest Home Videos (2011) – Himself
- Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking (2024) – Himself
External links[]
James and Oliver Phelps on Wikipedia- Oliver Phelps at the Internet Movie Database
- Oliver Phelps's X account
- James and Oliver Phelps's YouTube account
