Harry Potter fans have had a love-hate relationship with the character ‘Neville Longbottom’. He first appears as a hapless, blundering young boy with a tragic past – his parents were tortured into insanity – and, in the beginning, the focus is only placed on his many, many disastrous moments in the films. However, as time wore on, Neville became an important catalyst in the Battle of Hogwarts. Having his appearance made increasingly more important in the films, the actor who plays Neville – English actor Matthew David Lewis – also seems to share the same love-hate relationship with the character that catapulted him to fame.
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In a recent interview with The New York Times, the 31-year-old actor shared that he had a hard time watching himself play the introvert-turned-hero character. Seeing as to how Lewis carried the character of Neville through all eight films, this was an interesting fact. After all, while some actors have previously expressed their dislike for watching themselves in movies (Johnny Depp famously, rarely watches his own movies), Lewis’ reasoning is a rather different one. He explained:
“I find it quite difficult when too much of me starts to come through in a character. It’s easier when I can play someone completely different, like a police officer in London or someone who’s wealthy… At times it’s painful how much of me there is in Neville. When I’m watching, I’m like, ‘That’s not Neville; that’s you.’”
Ironically – and maybe, simply adding more weight to what Lewis has said – as Neville transitions into becoming a key player in the movie (he carries on Harry’s legacy at Hogwarts and ultimately helps destroy the final Horcrux), Lewis also went through his own transformation. David Yates, director of the final four films, spoke to the newspaper about the likeness between Matthew and his character, sharing:
“[Matthew] became more confident, more curious, more present as the films progressed. And more ambitious.”
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Lewis started acting at the age of 5 and starred in the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise from around the age of 11 up until the age of 22. For over a decade, his role as Neville saw him growing up in front of the screen and through the character he played. Would he take back his time on the franchise, with how difficult it was? The actor says:
“If there’s something people remember you by, there are worse things than the Harry Potter franchise. It opened so many doors for me when I otherwise wouldn’t even have gotten in the room.”
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With ‘Harry Potter’ being one of the most successful and popular franchises of all time, Lewis – along with the likes of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson – will have to be reminded of his character for as long as the franchise retains its loyal fanbase. And seeing as to how the stories seem to transcend generations – it looks like the actors won’t be able to shake off their iconic roles anytime soon. But, at least they have each other to lean on!
*Cover image credits: @harrypotterfilm / @mattdavelewis for @interviewmag
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