Biography for Oliver and James Phelps (Fred & George Weasley)

In the Harry Potter film adaptations, Fred and George are played by real-life twins James and Oliver Phelps. While the Phelps twins are quite tall and lanky, the twins are described in the books as short and stocky. The actors are also not natural redheads and have their hair dyed for the films.

Oliver Martyn John Phelps and  James Andrew Eric Phelps were born in Sutton Coldfield on the 25^th of February 1986, Birmingham, England, UK. Oliver was born about 13 minutes before James and raised in Sutton Coldfield, where they attended The Arthur Terry School. They left in 2004 having taken A-level exams.

Both showed a special interest in acting at an early age as they performed side by side in several school drama productions. In 2000 the twins were cast as Fred and George Weasley in the movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher'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." They have so far appeared in each screen installment of the Harry Potter' series.

Both of the twins are 6'3" and they have no other brothers or sisters. While at school they often play pranks on their teachers and fellow students by switching names. They can be told apart by the mole on the right side of Oliver's neck, or the scar on James' right cheek.

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. 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.

In May 2006 they took part in a celebrity football tournament called Celebrity World Cup Soccer Six. One way to tell James and Oliver apart is by the mole on the right side of Oliver's neck - James doesn't have one.

Oliver switched places with his brother on set once. Only to be caught and forced to redo all the scenes over again.