Oliver Martyn John Phelps and James Andrew Eric Phelps (born February 25, 1986) are identical twin English actors. They are known for playing Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter film series. The Weasley twins are two brothers of Ron Weasley. They have a significant role in the fifth story[citation needed], Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the film version of which they began working on in February 2006.
The two were born and raised in Sutton Coldfield, where they attended The Arthur Terry School. They left in 2004 having taken A-level exams. The two enjoy golf, rock music, Xbox, PlayStation, and acting.[citation needed]
This article does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. (help, get involved!)
Any material not supported by sources may be challenged and removed at any time.
This article has been tagged since June 2007.
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please discuss this issue on the talk page or replace this tag with a more specific message.
This article has been tagged since June 2007.
James Phelps was born on February 25th 1986 in Sutton Coldfield, England. He has always loved acting and appeared in several school plays. In 2000 he and his identical twin brother, (who is about 13 minutes older) Oliver Phelps were chosen to play Fred and George Weasley in the movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. They are currently attending Arthur Terry School 6th form, where they will stay until they graduate, this year. They don't know just yet what they're going to do with their lives, be it going into movies full time or going to college.
Both of the twins are 6'3" and they have no other brothers or sisters. Both the twins love rock music and James Phelps' favorite bands include Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Eagles, and Queen. He rates the Prisoner of Azkaban as his favorite Harry Potter book and his favorite film is Pearl Harbor. The twins are divided when it comes to their football allegiances, James supporting Birmingham City while Oliver supports Birmingham's other team Aston Villa.
The twins are both keen golfers, James' handicap being an 17. James Phelps also lists playing computer games and watching films amongst his preferred pastimes. His favorite school subject is English. While at school they often play pranks on their teachers and fellow students by switching names.
James Phelps' best friends in the Harry Potter cast are Devon Murray (who plays Seamus Finnegan) and Matthew Lewis (who plays Neville Longbottom). James says his best "fan moment" was when two dozen girls wanted a kiss at an event. While his scariest fan moment was when some girls gave him a bra stuffed with potatoes, "I still haven't figured out what that was about!" James says his one wish for his future is to play a bad guy in a James Bond movie or play James Bond himself.
Outside of the Harry Potter films, James has worked as a runner on other film productions, such as The Da Vinci Code. He aspires to work behind the camera in the future. In May 2006 they took part in a celebrity football tournament called Celebrity World Cup Soccer Six.
Oliver Phelps was born on February 25th 1986 in Sutton Coldfield, about 13 minutes before his twin brother James Phelps. Both showed a special interest in acting at an early age as they performed side by side in several high school drama productions at Sutton Coldfield's Arthur Terry School. In 2000 they were again to act together, but on a much bigger stage, when Oliver Phelps and his brother were picked to play Fred and George Weasly in Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. "Our Mum had heard open auditions for the characters were being held in Leeds. We were seen by the casting director, Janet Hircheson. We were asked to meet the Director, Producer and Writer. That happened about six times including the screen test. Then we were told we had the parts."
Both Oliver Phelps and his brother James are huge music fans and enjoy going to concerts and festivals, they recently attended the V Music Festival, where some of their favorite music artists like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Foo Fighters, David Gray, and Feeder were playing. Sport is another one of their passions, they say that what little sibling rivalry that exists between them is mainly caused by them supporting rival football teams. Oliver supports Aston Villa and James supports Birmingham City. Their rivalry also spills onto the golf course, with both of them boasting low handicaps although James insists that he's the better golfer.
Being identical twins, they are often mistaken for each other. However, you can tell them apart if you look closely: Oliver Phelps has a mole at the top of his nose and James has a scar on his right cheek. Recently the twins planted trees at the National Forest, in Leicestershire. Oddly enough, the wood that helped make the Harry Potter broomsticks were replanted by the boys, the trees being birch and ash.
Asked if their lives had changed much since starring in the films Oliver Phelps said, "Yes, almost everyone knows who we are! But we still go about our day-to-day lives like any other teenagers. We still go out with friends and hang around with the same people." Yet not everyone knows who they are. On a recent holiday they were swimming in a pool and someone remarked about their red hair, jokingly saying they could be Fred & George Weasley, not realising they do in fact play their characters. When asked if they are like the red-headed twins they portray, Oliver Phelps said, "No, not really, we like a good laugh but we don't get up to as much mischief!"
One way to tell them apart is by the mole on the right side of Oliver's neck.
