The child actors who starred in the Harry Potter films became stars by the time the eighth and final film was released. Now, the path to becoming a star is never easy, and it was no different for these child stars including Matthew Lewis who portrayed the wizard Neville Longbottom in all the films.
Lewis’s character was not a typical hero with the perfect looks and skills nor was he the Boy Who Lived. Nevertheless, he was a hero, and in the last film, he lived up to his reputation by delivering an inspiring speech and ultimately killing Voldemort’s most loyal ally, Nagini. However, in a candid interview, Lewis revealed that his experience post the release of this movie was the most daunting.
Matthew Lewis on How the Last Film’s Release Was Not a Very Happy Experience for Him
Matthew Lewis was just 5 when he began acting. He made his professional TV debut in Kay Mellor’s film, Some Kind of Life. He went on to star in two ITV series after making a guest appearance on BBC One’s crime drama Dalziel and Pascoe.
Being a fan of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novel series, he attended an open audition when castings were held all across the UK for the movie in 1999. A screen test later, he was chosen for the role of Neville Longbottom. Little did he know at the time that this would become the turning point of his career.
Throughout the series, Neville’s character goes through a lot of development, especially in the last movie. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Neville not only stands up to Voldemort when the Dark Lord asks them to hand over Harry but also delivers an inspiring speech when Harry is seemingly dead.
These things catapulted Lewis’ reputation to new heights, but the actor was not very happy about how things played out for him in the real world. In an interview with The Telegraph, he said:
It was very, very weird, and I suddenly felt very exposed. People started focusing on my appearance rather than my work, and I was uncomfortable with it. It was all very nice things they were saying, very flattering and humbling, but it was very odd. I just wanted to get back to [my hometown] Leeds and focus on work.
This kind of reaction mostly came from the public because he had finally caught their attention and they began noticing that he looked nothing like his character in the movies. So, it was a new experience for him and not the best either.
Matthew Lewis on the Moment He Realized That He Was a Part of Something This Big
In the years since the film series came to an end, Lewis has starred in the crime dramas Ripper Street and Happy Valley which show his range as an actor. Besides these, he has also starred in the TV series, All Things Small and Great, which earned critical praise.
The Me Before You actor also opened up to The Telegraph about when he first became aware of the great cultural phenomenon he had become a part of.
The first time I thought, “This is big” was when I arrived at the first premiere in Leicester Square. The film hadn’t been released and, as far as I was aware, nobody knew who I was. But there were all these people shouting, “Matthew! Matthew!” I was an 11-year-old kid, and I was thinking, “How do they know who I am?” It really scared me.
Achieving this kind of fame at such a young age can indeed be scary when there is no one to tell them that it is going to be alright. Luckily, these young stars managed to get through it. That said, Lewis also mentioned that he always wanted to be in the big magazines in America and that happened after he grew out of his side character phase in the last film.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Matthew Lewis call the release of the final Harry Potter film an agonizing experience?
In an interview with The Telegraph, Lewis said the attention after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 made him feel very exposed. He explained that people began focusing on his changed appearance rather than his acting work, which he found uncomfortable. He said he just wanted to get back to his hometown of Leeds and focus on his craft.
Who did Matthew Lewis play in the Harry Potter films?
Matthew Lewis played Neville Longbottom across the Harry Potter film series. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, his character has a standout moment, defiantly facing Voldemort with an inspiring speech when Harry appears to be dead and then killing the snake Nagini, which the article credits as stealing the show.
What has Matthew Lewis done since the Harry Potter films?
Since the series ended, Lewis has appeared in the BBC crime dramas Ripper Street and Happy Valley, as well as the film Me Before You, in which he played Patrick. According to the article, he began acting at age five and was cast as Neville after an open audition held in the UK in 1999.
