Category: Film

In a new interview with the NZ Herald News, Matthew Lewis mentions filming Deathly Hallows and how they did it Lord of the Rings style as well as Helena Bonham Carter’s Bellatrix.

Similarly, to ensure cinematic continuity, director David Yates – who previously helmed Half-Blood Prince and Order of the Phoenix – was re-enlisted for both parts of Deathly Hallows. That decision became a life-saver during filming, says Matt Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom.

“Not only was it a really long shoot, it was also really tricky because we didn’t film them back to back,” he reveals. “We shot them simultaneously, like Lord of the Rings, so it got really confusing. If we didn’t have such a good crew and David directing us, it could have got completely out of control because the schedule for the last year was crazy. I literally don’t know what film each scene was in, or how they fit together. But we all just buckled down because it’s the last one and we wanted to make it as memorable and epic as possible.”

“She really enjoys getting into her part,” smirks Lewis, recalling a scene he shared with her in Order of the Phoenix. “She was holding me hostage and I remember she turned to the director and said; ‘Wouldn’t it be quite fitting – and sinister – if she started to really enjoy torturing him?’ Then she started playing with her wand, before sticking the tip in my ear, teasingly. There were lots of explosions going off around us and somehow it suddenly went straight into my ear, about an inch! It actually ruptured my eardrum and hurt like hell – I couldn’t hear a thing for a week – but it looked great on camera!”

Matthew has answered another fan question as part of their countdown to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Time for Friday fun with another of our Fan Q&As! Could it be your question which is answered today?
“If you could have befriended one character in real life, who would it have been?” After some thought,
Matthew Lewis: “Probably Ron Weasley. He’s a funny guy who always has a laugh and says it like it is. A bit like Rupert Grint!”

As part of their Deathly Hallows set report, Coming Soon have posted an interview with Matthew.  You can see the interview here in the press archive or at the first link.

Q: What kind of action do you get to do?
Lewis: There’s a whole lot this year. We’ve just been rehearsing some stunts we’re doing next week. There’s an amazing bridge sequence that I don’t want to talk too much about, but there’s going to be some cool stuff in that and that’s going to be stunts of all kinds. We’ve got lots of running. I don’t know if you can see, but I fell over last week and have a scab on my knee there. Lots of running, lots of falling, lots of firing the wands off, lots of explosions and sometimes when you lose the wands, it’s more physical and that’s good. It’s just a bit of everything. It really feels like war.

Q: Why is it so bittersweet for you that this series is coming to an end?
Lewis: You lose the security of having “Harry Potter.” I hate auditioning. Auditions are the worst thing in the world. I can sit around the table and talk to you, but you ask me to do an audition. I go to pieces. I can’t do it. I’ve always known that when I go for an audition I still have “Harry Potter” so if I don’t get it then it’s fine and I’ll go back to work on Monday for “Harry Potter.” Now, that safety net is gone and I’ll have to pull my finger out and do some work. So that’s going to be a sad thing, but it’s also like a meeting place. It’s like a school common room like in “Harry Potter” where you can come and see all of your friends. You come in and sit around the breakfast table in the morning and you chat with each other about what you’ve been up to. That’s not going to be there anymore, but at the same time I’m looking forward to getting out there and doing some other stuff.

Q: What’s your tattoo of?
Lewis: It’s number 11. It’s my lucky number. I’ll always wear it for a sport or whatever I need to wear a number for.