'Harry Potter' Star Matthew Lewis Speaks Out On Child Star Pressures
Matthew Lewis opens up about the pressures of being a child actor and how the supportive 'Harry Potter' set helped him navigate early fame.
In a new candid interview, “Harry Potter” actor Matthew Lewis, known to millions as Neville Longbottom, opened up about his experiences working on one of cinema's most popular film franchises.
Looking back on his early days in the spotlight, Lewis dished on the tight-knit vibe on the “Harry Potter” set — something he says kept him and his co-stars from falling into the same traps that have tripped up so many child stars.
Matthew Lewis's remarks come right as Hollywood is taking a renewed look at the alleged toxic conditions young actors often endure in the industry.
Matthew Lewis Of ‘Harry Potter’ Talks Navigating The Transition From Child Star To Adult Actor
The “Harry Potter” films, which dominated a decade of production, launched Matthew Lewis and his young co-stars into instant fame—a spotlight that could have been overwhelming in different circumstances.
According to Lewis, now 34, the “Potter” set was a safe haven for its young cast. "We're very good at hiding all of those stories," he joked, per PEOPLE Magazine, before he seriously noted that "it was tricky" as his generation navigated the transition from child star to being an adult in Hollywood.
Lewis added that there "was absolutely a lot of trepidation" about whether he "was going to be able to hack it in that larger pool."
"Although, that said, I was very excited about the prospect. I have quite a short attention span, so that's probably why I've never chosen a real career," he continued. "[After] 10 years in 'Harry Potter,' I was ready to do something else and also was not keen to do anything that was going to lead to multiple series."
Matthew Lewis Reveals There Were ‘A Lot Of Fears’ Growing Up As A Child Actor
The “Harry Potter” actor added that, while it was “wonderful” and “lots of fun” working with his cast, there were also "a lot of the fears that we had were all shared, and the thing not really of anymore for anyone else in the world will never be able to understand really what we went through and how it affected our personal lives except each other."
"It's one of the things that I've carried with me is those friendships," he added. "I don't go back and read the books. One of the only things that I still kind of hold onto is those relationships that we forged throughout those films."
Matthew Lewis Opens Up About Life Beyond Hogwarts
Following his time at Wizarding school, Lewis said he "had no idea what was next" and "wasn't prepared at all” for what was to come. However, he specifically gave a shout-out to the “friendships” he built with his fellow young “Harry Potter” cast mates, saying those bonds played a huge role in keeping everyone grounded through the chaos.
"One of the questions that was asked earlier about the pitfalls of being a child actor that we seem to have avoided, I would posit that a large degree of that was because we were all there together," Lewis said during a solo panel at Rhode Island Comic Con on Sunday, November 3.
"Frequently, you hear many stories of how they were the sole actor in that movie and having to carry that movie on their own and all of the pressures and anxieties that come with that,” he admitted. “Whereas, we were all kind together."
'Harry Potter' To Be Rebooted Into A Television Show On MAX
In April 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed plans to reboot the "Harry Potter" series as a television adaptation for MAX, with a targeted premiere in 2026. Matthew Lewis previously told PEOPLE he’s “not in any rush to go back to the world.”
"It's not something I'm looking at or want to do but would not turn my nose up at," he added. "I'd be very interested to see if it was Neville as an adult — a whole different vibe. That could be interesting. I would certainly look at that and consider it."
Mark Mylod, known for his work on "Succession," will direct multiple episodes of the upcoming Harry Potter television series and serve as an executive producer, per Deadline.
More Child Stars Speak Out About Their Experience Growing Up In Hollywood
In the recent docuseries "Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV," former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell opened up about alleged sexual abuse by his former vocal coach, Brian Peck, during his time on the network.
Bell, who starred in "The Amanda Show" and "Drake & Josh," disclosed that the abuse began when he was 15, describing the experience as "extensive and brutal."
Other stars who have spoken out include Ariana Grande, Lori Beth Denberg, Alexa Nikolas, Matthew Underwood, and Angelique Bates.
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