A HARRY Potter star has been spotted looking unrecognisable with a huge beard 11 years after the final film hit screens.

The actor – known for playing one of the iconic roles in the series of fantasy films – blended in with the crowd as he headed to watch the Christmas lights in London yesterday.

The Harry Potter star looked very different in the new snapCredit: Alamy

Rupert Grint looked very different in new snapsCredit: Eroteme

Rupert Grint, who is best known for playing Ron Weasley in the iconic films, smiled for the camera as he turned on the Christmas lights.

The actor took to the stage at the festive event to announce the lights being turned on, before joining the crowd to pose for selfies.

Rupert, 34, was first seen on screen as Ron in 2001, alongside Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger.

Rupert played Ron in all the films until the last one hit the cinemas in 2011 after being cast at the age of eleven for the role.

The fresh-faced child actor is now all grown up, and looking completely different with a full ginger beard.

He looked worlds away from his black and white wizard uniform as he attended a London event last night, wrapping up in a black coat.

He wore a black baseball cap to keep warm as he announced the lights in Highgate being turned on, using a magic wand.

Rupert smiled for photos with fans, as he hid his lengthy hair underneath his hat.

It comes after Rupert revealed that he almost QUIT the iconic franchise after struggling with becoming famous as a child.

He joined Daniel and Emma in speaking out about the behind-the-scenes of the film to celebrate its 20th anniversary last year.

The success after Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2001 meant the famous trio had to deal with fame before they were teenagers.

Emma, 31, admitted she did a lot of journaling at the time as “the fame thing had finally hit home in a big way.

Rupert added: “I also had sort of similar feelings to Emma, contemplating what life would be like if I called it a day.

“We never really spoke about it. I guess we were just going through it at our own pace, we were kind of in the moment at the time.

“It just didn’t really occur to us that we were all probably kind of having similar feelings.”

Elsewhere, earlier this month it was revealed that Rupert is trying to build his very own Hogsmeade on the site of his £5.4million mansion.

Neighbours hit back that the “groundbreaking” eco-friendly plans for six luxury apartments, five detached houses and four “affordable” terraced houses will badly affect them and the environment.

Villagers say there will be traffic chaos on the narrow, winding one-track roads around the Grange in rural Hertfordshire.

A neighbour believes up to 50 trees will have to be chopped down in an area of outstanding beauty.

Millionaire Rupert bought the 18th century Grange, which boasts two swimming pools and a private cinema, for £5.4m in 2009.

Rupert smiled for photos with fans at the eventCredit: Eroteme

Rupert was seen lighting up the Christmas lights with a magic wandCredit: Eroteme