Harry Potter Star Matthew Lewis Reveals That It Is ‘Painful’ To Re-Watch Himself

Published on January 21, 2021.

Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection | Press Association

Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis has admitted that he doesn’t enjoy re-watching himself in the Harry Potter films.

Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom in the J.K. Rowling series from 2001 to 2011, opened up about how re-watching the films is “painful” for him. “I find it quite difficult when too much of me starts to come through in a character,” he told The New York Times.

He continued by explaining that the character is actually quite similar to himself which is why it hits close to home. He explained, “It’s easier when I can play someone completely different, like a police officer in London or someone who’s wealthy.”

“At times it’s painful how much of me there is in Neville,” the star told the outlet. “When I’m watching, I’m like, ‘That’s not Neville; that’s you.'”

Harry Potter director David Yates, the mastermind behind the final four films, has also talked about the similarities between Lewis and his Harry Potter character. “[Matthew] became more confident, more curious, more present as the films progressed. And more ambitious,” told the Times.

Despite having discomfort watching the series, however, Lewis admitted he wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. “If there’s something people remember you by, there are worse things than the Harry Potter franchise,” he said.

Lewis added, “It opened so many doors for me when I otherwise wouldn’t even have gotten in the room.”