Skip to content

MuggleNet

  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • HP Cast / News

Matthew Lewis on Acting and What Happened to That Mustache

by Alison Siggard · June 14, 2017

Ask any Potter fan what their favorite character outside of the main trio is, and you’re likely to find someone who will sing praises to lovable, accident-prone, and ultimately heroic Horcrux destroyer and leader Neville Longbottom. But ask actor Matthew Lewis what it was like to play Neville, and you’ll find a  similar transformation:

I felt like a kid who got lucky and was doing an acting gig … Now I feel like an actor.

In a new interview, Lewis discussed his career since Potter and how his recent roles have influenced his view on the acting world. Like Emma Watson and other young Potter actors, Lewis admits that he considered giving up acting after completing his time as Neville. Lewis says he began to feel limited in his role, and he longed to stretch his acting muscles. “I was sick of playing this character over and over again” by the end of the series, he said.

In the years since, however, Lewis says he has rediscovered his passion for his profession. As one of his recent roles – playing Sergeant Samuel Drummond on BBC’s Ripper Street – comes to a close, Lewis reflected on his time since Neville and what he’s learned in that time. “I’ve been really fortunate that people have allowed me to keep working as a variety of characters,” he said. “It’s really opened my eyes to the industry.”

Still, Lewis says when he reflects back on his time as Neville, he has a greater appreciation than he did before.

People who were inspired by him. I didn’t think about all that. I wish I’d been a bit more grateful perhaps.

We certainly are grateful that Lewis brought such a beloved character to perfect life on our screens!

And as for that distinctive mustache: Lewis says he shaved it the day he wrapped on Ripper Street, which means a great source of facial hair humor is now gone.

The final season of Ripper Street premieres on BBC Two on June 19, 2017.

Social:

  • Next story Tips and Tricks for Cosplaying at MuggleNet Live!
  • Previous story “Endelig!” European Quidditch Games Headed to Oslo!

MuggleNet Archive

Important Dates

June 2025

Thu, Jun 12

Last day of filming on Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Recurs yearly

2010

Luke Youngblood's birthday
Recurs yearly

Lee Jordan

Fri, Jun 13

Moaning Myrtle is killed by Basilisk
Recurs yearly

1943

Sun, Jun 15

Kat Miller's birthday
Recurs yearly

Creative & Marketing Director

Tue, Jun 17

Umbridge sacks Hagrid; McGonagall is stunned and sent to St. Mungo's
Recurs yearly

1996

Wed, Jun 18

Battle of the Department of Mysteries
Recurs yearly

1996

Sirius is murdered by Bellatrix
Recurs yearly

1996

WWoHP Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando's anniversary
Recurs yearly

2010

MuggleNet podcasts are sponsored in part by Secretlab.

Thanks to its research-backed ergonomic design, including a proprietary 4-way adaptive lumbar support system, the Secretlab TITAN Evo Harry Potter Edition will comfortably support you even when you’re up to no good.

Did You Know

Quidditch started in the 11th century at a place called Queerditch Marsh, which is not marked on Muggle maps because wizards have made the place unplottable. Originally, it was quite a crude game played on broomsticks with just the Quaffle.

Potter History

December 6, 2013 – Bloomsbury UK announces Jim Kay as the new illustrator of the Harry Potter series.

Potter Quote

“Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff house. He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about. […] Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort.”

MuggleNet is an unofficial Harry Potter fansite.
Please email us if you have any questions or concerns.
© 1999–2025 MuggleNet.com. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | COPPA Policy | Terms of Use | Feedback


MuggleNet is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Bookshop.org's affiliate program, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and bookshop.org.