It would seem that British actor Matthew Lewis would prefer an invisibility cloak over watching his performance in the films, according to People online.
The actor, 31, starred in the role of the harmless and somewhat clumsy Neville Longbottom in the film series adapted from the J.K. Rowling’s hit novels.
Just as the three top stars, Lewis appeared in all the films, playing Neville Longbottom for 10 years, beginning with “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” in 2001. Lewis, age 12 at the time the film was released, had to wear a set of false teeth, shoes two sizes too big, a fat suit, and ear prosthetics.
His performance in the final film “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” (2011) garnered him critical praise.
However, Lewis has recently revealed that when he “re-watches” the films, it is “painful” for him. “I find it quite difficult when too much of me starts to come through in a character,” he told The New York Times.
Lewis’s portrayal of Neville, he said, hit a little too close to home. He added, “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,” he said. “When I’m watching, I’m like, ‘That’s not Neville; that’s you.’”
David Yates, director of the final four Harry Potter films, spoke about the similarities between Lewis and his Harry Potter character to the N.Y. Times, saying “[Matthew] became more confident, more curious, more present as the films progressed. And more ambitious.”
Yates, 57, referenced one scene he specifically wrote for Lewis that wasn’t in the books. In “Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” he had Neville blow up the bridge to Hogwarts to slow down Lord Voldemort’s army. “It captured the charms of Neville and Matthew’s everyman quality,” the director said. “He had a modesty and an honesty that was hard to ignore.”
Despite having discomfort watching himself, Lewis realizes:
“If ‘former Harry Potter actor’ is the label that follows him for the rest of his career, well, Lewis said, that would be OK with him. ‘If there’s something people remember you by, there are worse things than the Harry Potter franchise,’ he said. ‘It opened so many doors for me when I otherwise wouldn’t even have gotten in the room.’"
The role of Neville was not Lewis’ first role. He starting acting at age 5. After the last Harry Potter film, he has appeared in six films and quite a few TV series, including “Bluestone 42,” “Ripper Street” and “Happy Valley.”
Since 2020, Lewis has starred in “All Creatures Great and Small” to critical praise. It started airing this month on PBS as part of “Masterpiece Classic.”
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