Daniel Fredrick has portrayed Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway for so long that the two are almost indistinguishable. When he joins our video call from his dressing room at the Lyric Theatre, he's sucking on a lollipop he may as well have picked up at Honeydukes between shows. A self-proclaimed Ravenclaw, Fredrick's Hogwarts house is the only difference he can point to between himself and his character. The actor's sense of humor and loyalty to his loved ones shine through as he details his journey from a 10-year-old Harry Potter fan to a Cursed Child audition reader before ultimately landing the role.
What was your relationship to the Harry Potter universe before joining the production?
Very close. I always loved Harry Potter. I was 10 years old when I read the first book. I devoured it. I think I read it in a day. I feel like I grew up along with the characters because when I started reading them, that's the age that I was. I enjoyed the movies, but I was really a books kid when it came to Harry Potter. It was very special to come to the play later in life. …