Matthew Lewis

Matthew David Lewis is an English actor known worldwide for his portrayal of the character Neville Longbottom in all eight films of the Harry Potter series. His performance chronicled the character's entire journey from a timid, accident-prone boy into a courageous and pivotal hero of the Second Wizarding War.

Lewis was cast as Neville Longbottom at the age of eleven, having attended an open audition in his home city of Leeds. He is one of a small group of actors to have appeared in every film in the series, beginning with `Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)` in 2001 and concluding with `Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (film)` in 2011. Over the decade of filming, Lewis's real-life physical maturation became a notable feature of his role. As the character of Neville evolved and grew more confident in the story, Lewis's on-screen appearance was adjusted accordingly, creating a strong parallel between the actor's and the character's development.

To more closely resemble Neville Longbottom's description in the early books, Lewis was required to wear several prosthetics and cosmetic alterations during the production of the first few films (film). These included:

• A fat suit to create a plumper physique.
• Prosthetic, crooked false teeth.
• Small plastic pieces placed behind his ears to make them protrude.
• Shoes that were two sizes too large to encourage a clumsy walk.

These elements were gradually removed in the later films as Neville's character arc progressed, allowing Lewis's natural appearance to align with the character's transformation into a confident and heroic figure. His performance in the final film was particularly praised, especially during Neville's defiant stand against Lord Voldemort at the Battle of Hogwarts.

• During the filming of the Department of Mysteries battle in `Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)`, actress Helena Bonham Carter (who played Bellatrix Lestrange) accidentally ruptured Lewis's eardrum with her wand. He temporarily lost hearing in that ear but suffered no permanent damage (film).
• J.K. Rowling has spoken highly of Lewis's performance and his physical transformation over the years, noting in an interview that he “got hot” and perfectly embodied Neville's journey of “growing into his skin” (J.K. Rowling interview).
• Lewis is a devoted fan of the Leeds Rhinos rugby league team. His contract for the Harry Potter films reportedly included a clause forbidding him from playing rugby to prevent injuries that could delay production (interview).
• He shares a close relationship with the Harry Potter fandom and has frequently appeared at conventions and official Wizarding World events since the film series concluded.