Rupert Grint jokes Ed Sheeran is his alter ego

Rupert Grint has joked that Ed Sheeran is his alter ego.

The ‘Harry Potter’ actor is frequently mistaken for the chart-topping singer-songwriter and, in a new spoof video, Rupert has quipped that the pressure of moonlighting as Ed has become too much for him to handle.

In the video clip, Rupert is preparing himself to sing when he breaks away and admits: "The truth is, Ed isn’t real!"

The 28-year-old actor subsequently rips open his blue plaid shirt – which has become synonymous with the real-life Ed – and reveals a Gryffindor top from the ‘Harry Potter’ series.

The flame-haired star explains: "My name is Rupert Grint. After Potter all I wanted to do was stretch myself … create some real magic.

"So I created a character. He had the voice of an angel … and possible wispy facial hair, a guitar, a bunch of flannel. I call him Ed. Ed Sheeran. Such a weird name, right?"

Rupert’s on-stage antics are met with screams of denial from the watching audience.

But the actor continues: "I didn’t expect everyone to think he was real. He became my best achievement and bane of my existence."

Then, the show’s host asks Rupert: "Was anything real? The adorable klutziness, cat photos?"

And the British actor responds: "I hate cats! I can’t balance it anymore. Ed is no more!"

Earlier this month, Rupert – who starred in the video for Ed’s 2011 single ‘Lego House’ – admitted being mistaken for the ‘Shape of You’ hitmaker has become part and parcel of his everyday life.

The actor – who played the role of Ron Weasley in the ‘Harry Potter’ movies – said: "It’s kind of 50/50 now. It’s like if someone stops me, it could go either way. I could be Ed or I could be me."