In a new interview with The Press Association, Matthew Lewis talks about Neville’s appearance in the Harry Potter films.
The 21-year-old was almost unrecognisable as himself as he donned yellowed crooked false teeth and a fatsuit and had plastic bits placed behind his ears to make them stick out to portray Neville Longbottom, but got to lose them in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows. “The teeth and the ears were the first to go, and then the fatsuit came shortly after – I look a lot more like him in the new film,” he revealed. “I didn’t mind wearing all those things because it was appropriate for the character. He’s been a bit more bloody and battered as he’s been living underground so we’ve made him slim out.”
In the two-part finale of the wizarding films, the first to be released in November, Neville leads Dumbledore’s Army in Harry’s (Daniel Radcliffe) absence. Matthew – an ambassador and judge for Bafta’s Young Game Designers competition – said: “It’s been a great evolution of the character. Having started when I was 11 years old, Neville was shy and vulnerable, who was pushed around, bullied and was very nervous. Over the years, he has more depth and can stand up more for himself. In the seventh one, he’s almost a completely changed man. He’s a reckless resistance leader who wants to go and fight, and do the right thing. He’s become more heroic, he’s got heart, courage and loyalty. He’s still not perfect, but he comes through where it counts.”
