Birth Name: Christopher William Rankin
Date of Birth: 8th November, 1983
Place of Birth: Auckland, New Zealand
Current Residence: Norfolk, UK.
Height: 5' 9.5"
Chris Rankin is recognized internationally for playing Percy Weasley in the film adaptations of the Harry Potter books. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He lived in Rothsay Bay, New Zealand for the first six years of his life before his parents decided to move to Norfolk, in the United Kingdom. For the past 12 years he has been living with his mum in a village just outside Norwich, where he attended Shipdown Primary School, then Northgate High School, followed by Dereham Sixth Form College. He is currently a member of Dereham Operatic Society Youth Theatre Company.
Chris first began acting in 1995 when he joined Northgate High School and the Dereham Youth Theatre. In the next seven years he has played lead roles in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Return to the Forbidden Planet, Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Lord of the Flies, Oliver, HONK!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Les Miserables.
Recently Chris has been working on some smaller projects guest starring as "Chris Haines", who is the lead character's boyfriend in a short science fiction film called "Explode", and filming two scenes as a doctor for a film project for Kings Lynn Arts Centre. He is currently working on a new satirical comedy sketch show from Sean Hardie and John Binkley and also in Wuthering Heights which has recently opened in Lincoln.
Trivia
- He worked at Norwich's UCI cinemas between the filming of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
- Chris set up Painted Horse Theatre Company with some friends in January 2004.
Interesting Facts
Chris enjoys watching films, going to the theatre, seeing his friends as much as he can, travelling to distant lands and singing loudly. His interests don’t end here, but include his love of playing musical instruments such as the violin and the piano, reading and surfing the internet too!
Fun Chris Facts
- He has three guinea pigs called Fred, George and Dumbledore.
- He has a hamster named Raymond.
- He is scared of spiders.
- He had a stunt double named "Jim" for the Harry Potter movies.
- His 'bed hair' in Harry Potter and the Chamber of secrets took about 2 minutes to create.
- He was terribly disappointed when Percy and Penelope's romance was cut from the third movie.
Chris' favourites
Bands: Presidents of the USA, Beatles, Aerosmith, Queen, REM, David Bowie and Tenacious D.
Films: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, With Nail and I, Donnie Darko, Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon, Moulin Rouge, Rocky Horror Picture Show.
About Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince
"I loved book 6. I'd have to say, I think it could possibly just overtake Chamber of Secrets as my favourite Harry Potter book to date. I was gripped. I had to read it. I did a review of it for the BBC Entertainment website. So, I had to read it as fast as I possibly could. I read it in about eleven hours, which is pretty good-going for me. And loved every second of it. I couldn't believe some of the things she did. I just couldn't believe it. I'd have to say that I was incredibly thrilled that Ginny and Harry got together. I think I foresaw the death of Dumbledore quite early on."
Filmography Movies
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [2007]
Explode, Chapter Two: Into the Fold [2006]
The Rotters' Club [2005](TV)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban [2004]
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets [2002]
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone [2001]
Stage
2005 Young Syrian Salome Painted Horse Theatre Company Jim Rymer
2004 Percy Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs Paul Holman Associates Gordon Jay
2004 Eilert Loevborg Hedda Gabler Painted Horse Theatre Company Jim Rymer
2004 Various Under Milk Wood New Fisher/Madder Market Andrew Selwyn Crome
2003 Percy Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs Paul Holman Associates Russel Lucas
2003 Geoff A Taste of Honey Sheringham Little Theatre Jim Rymer
2002 Percy Jack and the Beanstalk Norwich Thetare Royal Richard Gauntlet
TV
2005 Waring The Rotter's Club Company Pictures/BBC Tony Smith
Biography by
angeline_fire Contact Information
Chris Rankin
c/o Ken McReddie Ltd
21 Barrett Street
London
W1U 1BD
Or contact Chris on his Official site
ChrisRankin.com