Leeds Today:
My Life as Bumbling Wizard Neville

He's only just starting to realise it, but 12-year-old Matthew Lewis's days as an ordinary, anonymous Leeds schoolboy are seriously numbered.

After Friday, November 16, people will be staring at him wherever he goes and asking: "Isn't that Neville Longbottom?"

As one of the stars of the most anticipated, most hyped — and in all likelihood, one of the biggest-earning — films of all time, Matthew is going to have to get used to signing a few autographs.

His part in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as a trainee wizard who's hopeless with his spells and on his broomstick could well be the launch pad for a high-flying acting career.

Matthew, from Horsforth, said: "It's unbelievable to think all those people are going to be watching me on the screen.

"I think it's really going to hit me when the film's out and people come up to me and say, 'I saw you in the Harry Potter film'. I suppose a lot of people are going to recognise me from now on."

Matthew, who goes to SCALA performing arts school in Horsforth, has had several TV acting roles since the age of five and his older brother, Anthony, is a familiar face to viewers of Emmerdale as Mark Reynolds.

Matthew spent six months up to March this year travelling around the country, including Goathland in North Yorkshire, filming scenes.

He met and worked with stars of the film such as Alan Rickman, Richard Harris, Dame Maggie Smith and Zoe Wanamaker.

He became pals with other young co-stars, including Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the lead role of Harry, and Emma Watson, who plays Hermione.

He said: "I loved everything about it, especially meeting all those famous actors. Everyone was great and really funny. I spoke to Maggie Smith and Zoe Wanamaker quite a lot, as I had scenes with them more than the others.

"I had a lot of lines to learn and I was doing scenes nearly every day. The most fun was when we went to Alnwick in Northumberland and I had a scene where Neville was flying into the air on a broomstick and didn't know how to control it. It was a bit scary but very exciting. I had to keep pinching myself all the time that I was involved in it all. I remember saying to my mum when I'd finished the book that if there was a film, I'd love to be in it.

"Then when I heard they were making one I thought, 'I've got to try and get into it'. There were so many people at the audition I thought I wouldn't have a chance, so when I got the part it was 'Wow!'

"It's been the most exciting thing to happen to me in my life."

Matthew and his family saw the film at the star-studded premiere in London's Leicester Square on Sunday.

Mum Lynda said: "The film is fantastic and the whole experience was unbelievable. Matthew and the other children were being interviewed by TV crews from all over the world. He was even asked if he had a message for his millions of fans in Japan.

"He was very excited but took it all in his stride. His dad Adrian and I were very proud and thrilled to see him up there on the screen."

Matthew's friends at St. Mary's High School in Menston have been naturally rather curious about their pal's new-found status as a film star.

He said: "Among the main questions I get are, 'How much are you getting paid?' and 'can you get me tickets to see the film?'

"I'm keeping quiet about the first one and I tell them I'll see what I can do about the tickets!"

Next week it will all start over again as Matthew heads off to start work on the second Harry Potter film, in which he will once again play the forgetful young wizard who gets his spells mixed up. He said: "My part is going to be a bit smaller in the next one but I don't mind — I'm just pleased to be in it."

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