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Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis is Neville Longbottom no more

WE all remember him as the geeky dork from the Harry Potter films, but actor Matthew Lewis is a long way from Hogwarts these days.

Poor Neville Longbottom was always bullied by the likes of Draco Malfoy and his thugs.
Poor Neville Longbottom was always bullied by the likes of Draco Malfoy and his thugs.

HELLOOOOO, Neville Longbottom.

We all remember the geeky dork from Harry Potter who spent the whole time chasing after his pet toad Trevor, but actor Matthew Lewis is a long way from Hogwarts these days.

The now 25-year-old star has posed for Jon magazine, gracing the cover of the latest issue of the men’s fashion mag, and we’re loving the transformation from chubby-cheeked child star to hunky bearded cover guy.

Matthew Lewis played Neville in all eight Harry Potter films. Picture: Leigh Keily
Matthew Lewis played Neville in all eight Harry Potter films. Picture: Leigh Keily

Lewis, who celebrated his 25th birthday last week, has gone on to work in both theatre and on screen following the final Harry Potter film in 2011. He starred in the BBC One drama, The Syndicate, and has recently been in BBC TV series, Bluestone 42.

Of his role in The Syndicate he told the mag: “I was fortunate enough to play a role that was so far detached from Neville which was really cool. In fact, most of my roles since Neville, there was a film I did called The Rise, and then obviously with Bluestone 42, my roles have been very, very different from Neville.”

Lewis has come a long way from his role in Harry Potter. Picture: Leigh Keily
Lewis has come a long way from his role in Harry Potter. Picture: Leigh Keily

To play Neville in the hugely successful film adaptations to JK Rowling’s books, Lewis had to don yellow false teeth, shoes two sizes too big and even wore prosthetics behind his ears to make them stick out.

He spoke to the magazine about juggling schooling and filming: “Normally we would have to do tutoring for three hours a day, which was so difficult, when one minute you’re doing Defence Against the Dark Arts, and the wizard kind of thing and then you’ve got to do Chemistry and Geography.”

Matthew Lewis in a scene from film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2.
Matthew Lewis in a scene from film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2.

There’s no hint of Neville in these stylish black and white shots, but Lewis revealed he is a true geek at heart.

“I am a massive geek in terms of TV that I watch,” he said. “Well growing up I was a massive Star Wars fan. That was just my ultimate thing, I just wanted to be a Jedi ...”

He’s certainly not camera shy. Picture: Leigh Keily
He’s certainly not camera shy. Picture: Leigh Keily
Not bad for his first foray into fashion. Picture: Leigh Keily
Not bad for his first foray into fashion. Picture: Leigh Keily

The actor has amassed a fairly impressive fan base since his Harry Potter days, with over 700,000 followers on Twitter.

And it seems he’s quite fond of the odd selfie.

Lewis back in 2005.
Lewis back in 2005.
Blue Steel. Picture: Leigh Keily.
Blue Steel. Picture: Leigh Keily.

If only Luna Lovegood could see him now.

For more details, visit www.jonmag.com.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/books-magazines/magazines/harry-potter-star-matthew-lewis-is-neville-longbottom-no-more/news-story/c06636d2fb0c51b8934d727f2dfb6257