Harry Potter actor Robbie Coltrane was taken to hospital after suffering “flu-like” symptoms on board a flight to Florida.

The Scottish star, who played Rubeus Hagrid in the big-screen adaptations of JK Rowling’s books, fell ill while travelling on the British Airways flight from London to Orlando. He was on his way to a Harry Potter convention at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park with co-star Michael Gambon, who played Dumbledore.

Robbie Coltrane
(Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

The actor’s spokesman told TMZ.com that he was met by paramedics at the gate and rushed to hospital, where he would remain overnight for treatment.

His British agent Belinda Wright later told the BBC that he was “resting” and would “be fine”, but that more information on his condition was not yet available.

She also said reports that he was seen drinking heavily in a Heathrow Airport lounge before boarding his flight were “not correct” and “completely untrue”.

Robbie Coltrane with his Harry Potter co-stars - Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint
Robbie with his Harry Potter co-stars – Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint (Yui Mok/PA)

Robbie, whose real name is Anthony Robert McMillan, has been working in film and television for over 30 years and is best known for playing Hogwarts gamekeeper Hagrid and starring as criminal psychologist Dr Eddie ‘Fitz’ Fitzgerald in ITV’s crime drama Cracker.

The father-of-two, who was given an OBE in 2006, has also starred in the James Bond films GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough.