As an example of what would be on display in this exhibit, they brought out two of Lewis’s costumes, his Hogwarts uniform from the first movie (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) and the outfit he wears in the upcoming movie (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1) during the ride to Hogwarts on the Hogwarts Express.

“It’s hard to believe I was that small,” Lewis said. Lewis also remarked that he’s spent nearly half his life in these types of costumes. When Lewis was asked about his favorite parts of the exhibit he said that the exhibit was “mad.” He couldn’t believe how many props and costumes they could take around with this exhibit.

As an aside he also told reporters about how the kids in the film were not allowed to play contact sports during filming, and how even though he wasn’t playing a contact sport he managed to still sprain his ankle playing badminton as a result he couldn’t shoot for a week.

Lewis went on to say those traits of Neville were more in the earlier films and that Neville has grown to be more courageous and “has got this amazing loyalty and big heart” which are traits he likes to believe he possesses, but he said “when push comes to shove I would probably run away.”

Finally he said if there was one prop that he could keep from the exhibit he said he would want his uniform robe from the very first film.

Fan: [In your opinion] which is better, the books or the movies?
Matt: Oh. That’s not a fair question! There are pros and cons to both! The books are amazing. Then again, some people like the movies more. Like my dad, he’s more for the movies rather than reading. I just hope we’ve done the best to convey the story. For me, the books are brilliant. And the movies! [laughs]

Fan: Do we get to see Neville’s nan? Do you cut off the serpent’s head, as in the book?
Matt: [pauses] [laughs] Well. There is a lady who has been cast as his nan. [pauses again] I have met her on set. [laughs] That’s all I can say. As for the snake, all I can say is that we’ve stuck to the book as much as possible! [grin]

Fan: Who [of the cast] has the craziest ideas?
Matt: What, like pranks? Well, James, Oliver and Rupert had a game – although I don’t think Rupert liked it much – and once you’re involved, you’re involved forever. They’ll probably kill me for telling you [laughs] They take an object and hit it into the groin as hard as they can – anything from bottles of water, oranges [etc]! Now, you’re a woman so the amount of sheer pain it causes probably wouldn’t be the same – trust me, it hurts. As for me, I’ve only been a part for a brief time before I backed out, but they’ve been playing it for years! It’ horrible! [laughs]

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.”

An extra magical touch helped to unveil cancer-fighting equipment at a Leeds hospital. The new £3.5m scanning suite was launched by Horsforth-born Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films, at St James’s Hospital. The PET CT Centre, the largest of its kind in the north, houses a new research scanner and diagnostic imaging scanner to replace the mobile unit at Seacroft Hospital. The scanner takes images of the structures of the body and can help diagnose cancer and even show whether a lump is cancerous.

Matthew said: “I don’t think there is anyone in the country that knows anyone who hasn’t been affected by cancer. This great city is on the front line of that war.”

Matthew finished filming his last scenes in the final instalment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last week. The film of the final book marks the end of his Hogwarts journey. It has been filmed intwo parts and the first is out at the end of the year.

Matthew told the YEP: “It’s not sunk in yet and I don’t think it will until the last film is out in July 2011. It has been great. I played a character I thought was brilliant to begin with and it was good to play an endearing person that people really relate to – I related to him when I read the books. It has been more of a challenge each year to bring a little bit more as Neville’s character grows. He has become a reckless resistance leader with no concerns for his own safety. He wants to do the right thing.”

Matthew has just finished an indie film called Sweet Shop with Gemma Atkinson, who was in teen soap Hollyoaks, which will be released at the end of the year. He added: “Until then I am just looking for some more work really.”
Sir Jimmy Savile also attended the launch to present a cheque to fund a research fellowship into the capabilities of the scanner