Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Interview with Matthew Lewis

I did the best I could translating this, if you can do better send it in, here is the original article. (I italicized the worst parts of the translation)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Interview with Matthew Lewis

Before the premiere of the new Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix we talked to Matthew Lewis who plays Neville Longbottom. Matthew told us about how it is growing up with Harry Potter and how he accustoms himself to filming.

LOVEFiLM: How much can you identify you with the character you play?

Matthew Lewis: I have never become nervous on or messed up in front of teachers in the school but I remember that when I where twelve, thirteen years, and we played football in the school and I always messed up when the teacher looked my direction. But as soon as he disappeared I was able to do it and I didn’t understand why I could never do it when he was there. Those types of things I can relate to. Playing Neville the last years has helped me overcome those types of obstacles. One sh eep not let it to influence it. You should believe in your own abilities and know that it doesn’t matter what others think. Do your best like Neville does.

LF: Do you think that it is good to change directors so often as you have done during the last films?

ML: Yes, absolutely. When you do this type of film where every year goes back to the same characters and school I think it is good to get in a new director in order to inject something new. You remember everything the previous directors has done, and new directors keep it feeling fresh. If you see the films after each other you see the different styles and I think it is really cool.

LF: How does it feel to be a celebrity and to be recognized all the time?

ML: Honestly it is quite awkward. Visiting Sweden and being recognized and doing interviews and staying in hotels is entirely fantastic. Therefore, it is nice to come home to all my friends because they care about me and not those things. They ensure that I keep my feet on the ground. If I stayed in this hotel, in the big rooms, I would become really egotistical.

I have two lives, one where I am a celebrity, doing interviews and acting in films and one where I’m just a common guy who plays football and  goes to parties. I actually need to go home in order to be reminded about who I am because it is too easy to get used to first class vacations and luxury hotels. It is easy to lose yourself and I can understand how people become arrogant. You must remind yourself that it only is a job, a very wonderful job that I would want to do the rest of my life, but it is only a job.

LF: Which roles want to you to have in the future?

ML: I want to make people laugh. It is the comic side I like most about Neville. This year I also do more sentimental scenes. I did a scene with Dan where Neville tells him about his parents and it was such a challenge because it was an important and crucial scene.

In the book, there are several chapters to explain things, but in the film everything needs to be reduced to fit a scene in two minutes. I knew that it was important so I worked hard with the director David Yates and Daniel Radcliffe in order to make it perfect.  I was very nervous the day we did the scene, but each take I felt more comfortable. It is cool to be a character with a lot of feelings and actually to work hard in order to get the right feeling.

LF: Do you always agree with what the scriptwriter chooses to do with the films?

ML: I am a big admirer of the books so sometimes I think it is a giant sin that certain scenes are missing in the manuscript. But you must also realize the massive work that the scriptwriters do. I mean, they must convert a giant thick book to a film that is two hours and it is not possible to keep everything. How they succeed with it I have no idea.

LF: How is it working with so big movie stars as you have done?

ML: I have acted since I was five years old and I have seen many with films. Being able to say that I have worked with actors I have grown up seeing on television feels totally fantastic. Meeting your idols is big, but to film together and to see how they work feels hugely special. It is one of the high points with being in Harry Potter.

To see how they prepare themselves, how they focus and deliver their lines is actually sudden. Particularly between takes when they are themselves. Helena Bonham Carter was so funny as entire pcs during the production. It is something I will never forget.

LF: Do you think you have changed a lot as person with this experience?

ML: Yes, I believe that my self-confidence has to grown a lot. I did my first interview when I where eleven and had got the role as Neville. I was home by myself and I had no idea what I would say. I replied only yes or no to the questions. I was a journalists nightmare, but over time I have become more self-confident. Since I play a correct corny character I can go from the role to myself, which feels hugely comfortable. I have not been changed so that I have become arrogant, but like I said earlier I understand why it easy can become so.

LF: Are you friend with your colleagues outside the production?

ML: No, we hate each other. [laughs]

LF: I intended well it.

ML: No, we actually enjoy each other. Now that we have driving licenses and living near one another we drive to see each other. Most of us live in London and Katie Leung has actually moved there from Scotland. Oliver Phelps, Devon Murray and I know each other very well because we have lived on same hotel together. I also talk to Rupert Grint, we have been to several musical festivals, and soon everyone will celebrate Daniel’s birthday.

LF: What is that most common thing you hear from people on the street?

ML: Everyone I have met has been very polite. Some people come forward and say that Neville has helped them to overcome their problems and improved their self-confidence. When people say that the films changed their lives in one way or another feels it very special and it makes me to want to continue with acting. It is not only about the character Neville of course,  that the film has that ability to help people to get themselves through certain situations in the life. So it is actually like I’m consulting the fan. Another thing people say is that they have seen me grow up in the films, like in The Truman show.

LF: How is the atmosphere when you work on the films?

ML: We have fun during the productions and we laugh all the time. The films take nine months to make but I believe that if we didn’t joke so much would they come out quicker. All directors have had this atmosphere and I believe that it is visible in the film that everyone involved actually enjoyed making the films