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Harry Potter’s Matthew Lewis explains why it’s "painful" to watch himself as Neville

Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images
Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images

From Good Housekeeping

Matthew Lewis has said it's "painful" to watch himself playing Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter film franchise, as he sees too much of himself in the character.

The 31-year-old actor admitted it was easier to play "someone completely different" to him, so that his own personality doesn't filter through, as he says it did with Neville.

"I find it quite difficult when too much of me starts to come through in a character," Matthew told The New York Times. "It's easier when I can play someone completely different, like a police officer in London or someone who's wealthy."

Photo credit: Warner Bros
Photo credit: Warner Bros

He explained: "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'."

Matthew played the wizard from the age of 11 to 21, growing up on set alongside the rest of the cast, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

On forever being linked to the film and known as Neville a decade on from the final instalment, he added to the i: "I am acutely aware that every opportunity that I’ve really had in the last 10 years, it’s all come about because of Harry Potter. And if that's the trade-off, there's a lot worse films that you could be forever attached to than some of the most successful films of all time."

The star most recently appeared in Channel 5's hit remake All Creatures Great and Small, and following the success of Harry Potter, featured in romantic tearjerker Me Before You. He's now starring in Kiwi comedy Baby Done opposite actress, writer and comedian Rose Matafeo, which is produced by Jojo Rabbit's Taika Waititi.


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