Meg – Page 79 – Matthew-Lewis.com

July 30, 2012

Happy Birthday, Neville Longbottom!!

Today, July 30th, marks Neville Longbottom’s 32nd birthday! As we all know Neville was a key player in the defeat of the Dark Lord in 1998. Neville lead the rebellion of the students in his Seventh year at Hogwarts and pulled Gryffindor’s Sword from the Sorting Hat to behead Voldemort’s Final horcrux, Nagini. After the Battle of Hogwarts, Neville became an Auror for a short time.

Currently Neville is married to Hannah Abbott (of Hufflepuff) and is the Herbology Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Neville’s creator, J.K. Rowling has this to say:

I love Neville. I love Neville so much. Always loved Neville. And I always had big plans for Neville, you know? And he really was The Boy It Could’ve Been, because as you know, as I made clear, he was born hours before Harry, he was born on the 30th of July, Voldemort singled him out as the other possibility. But the great thing about Neville’s story for me, the over-arching story about Neville, is that he proves himself to be a boy who could’ve done it too. Yeah, Harry had the scar and arguably, Harry had an edge more talent because Harry– he has an extraordinary instinct for the right thing to do. He’s just got the right instinct, and that’s what would make him, in due course, a phenomenal Auror. But Neville was, I think, amazing in the final battle, and proved himself a hundred times over worthy of being a Gryffindor, his parents’ son, despite the very difficult childhood he had in the hands of his very pushy grandmother, and I know, she loves him and he loves her, but she’s not an easy person to be raised by. So yeah, so that for me, was the big thing about Neville. x

July 25, 2012July 25, 2012

Video: Matthew Lewis Accepts Honorary Degree with Speech

Thanks to SnitchSeeker and Lauren D. we now have a video of Matthew receiving his Honorary Master of the Arts degree from Leeds Metropolitan University. In the video he accepts his awards with a speech.

They have also kindly transcribed his speech:

Thank you for that very kind introduction. You made me sound almost like a saint, thank you. I’m really not, I assure you. I guess you’re all rather bored now, and ready for pub, so I’ll try and keep this brief.

To say this award came as a bit of a shock is quite the understatement. I initially didn’t know where to begin with this speech. Being only 23, I’ve been trying to think of something to say that wouldn’t come across as necessarily condescending. I know how much you all put into these degrees. My girlfriend’s sat in the front row, and actually graduated from her four-year classes this morning, and you wouldn’t have thought much of her face a few days ago when I told her I’d be graduating on the same day. (audience laughter).

So after much deliberation, I decided to exercise caution and stay away from the patronizing advice. I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for allowing me to share this day with all of you. It’s a real honor for me. I actually applied to Leeds Metropolitan University many years ago – and I did get accepted – but unfortunately I was away filming in London and it was just going to be too impractical.

It was something that I actually to this day regretted, having seen many of my friends pass through these halls with their degrees. So it’s a real pleasure for me to count myself as an alumni, albeit a slightly cheesy one. It’s still a tremendous privilege. So thanks again for letting me be here today. Leeds is my home, and this means an awful lot to me, more than I could ever convey in words. Finally, congratulations to all of you, sincerely. My best wishes, all the best for the future, and I look forward very much to seeing what we’ll achieve from here in. Thank you.

July 25, 2012July 25, 2012

Videos & More Photos: Matthew Lewis Receiving Honorary Degree From Leeds-Met

Leeds Metropolitan University has released some more photos of Matthew Lewis receiving his honorary degree, those photos may be seen in the gallery. They have also posted a video of Matthew from the day where he talks about the honor, his girlfriend also graduating, Harry Potter, living in Leeds and more.

Additionally, the Yorkshire Evening Post has released another video of Matthew at the ceremony. In this video he talks about many of the same topics as well as his schooling and his life after Potter. You also get to see him preparing for the ceremony and getting his photo taken after and there is a particularly amusing shot of Matt running.

Hopefully a video of his speech will be released and, if so, it will be posted here!

July 24, 2012

Matthew Lewis Receives Honorary Degree from Leeds Metropolitan University

Today Matthew Lewis received an honorary degree from Leeds Metropolitan University. He received a Master of the Arts degree for his contribution to the arts and his charity work. Some photos from the day have made their way online and may be seen in the gallery. Of the honor Matthew stated, humble as always:

Big thanks to Leeds Metropolitan University for today. Everybody was charming. Congrats to all graduates who actually deserve their degrees!

According to BBC, at the ceremony he said: “I still live in Leeds and to be acknowledged in this way is quite overwhelming.”

July 24, 2012

First In-Costume Photo of Matthew Lewis for ‘Our Boys’

As we posted earlier this month, Matthew Lewis will appear in the new West End play, Our Boys. The Official Twitter account for Our Boys released a couple behind the scenes shots from their cast photoshoots and one includes Matthew. You can see the photo in the gallery.

Matt will be playing the role of Mick in the play which starts previews September 26 at the Duchess Theatre. A press opening will be held on October 3rd and the play runs until December 15th. Ticketing information may be found here. A description of the play is as follows:

OUR BOYS is both searingly honest and explosively funny. Five young soldiers are killing nothing but time as they recover from injuries incurred in the line of duty. Suddenly, their daily routine of TV, lonely hearts ads and banter is shattered by the arrival of a young officer.

The camaraderie of this unlikely band of brothers is soon jeopardised by a dangerous incident and an act of betrayal. With charges of misconduct looming, accusations fly – and the fighting really starts.

Additionally, What’s On Stage has an exclusive offer that may interest many of you:

Exclusively as part of the Whatsonstage.com Group, you’ll get your top-price ticket to OUR BOYS, a FREE folio poster and access to our EXCLUSIVE post-show Q&A with cast and creatives* – as well as all the usual theatregoer mixing and mingling opportunities! That’s all for only £30.00!!!! (Normally £45 for ticket alone.)

This Outing package is exclusive to members of our Group for the 7.45pm performance on Tuesday 9 October 2012 at the West End’s intimate Duchess Theatre, 3-5 Catherine St, London WC2B 5LA (Closest Tube: Tottenham Court Road).