Matthew Lewis: ‘I’ve never considered myself good-looking’
By Will Stroude
A couple of weeks back we debuted our latest cover guy – Harry Potter star turned total heart throb Matthew Lewis. Suffice to say, you guys were pretty keen on seeing Matthew in this brand new light (even if Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling was less than thrilled).
Since then, we’ve brought you a super-hot behind the scenes video of Matthew on set at the shoot – but we thought we’d bring you another treat today, with another stunning shot from his spread and some new snippets from our interview. Check him out:
Obviously over the last couple of years everyone’s been talking about your physical transformation, it’s been inescapable. How’s that felt? Was it something you consciously decided to do, having played this gawky character for most of your life?
I guess it was, sort of. Having had to wear a fat suit for so long, and not a lot of people knew it was a fat suit.
I had no idea!
That was the point! And I wasn’t allowed to have braces on my teeth, which was shit! So I first got braces when I wrapped on the last Potter film.
Your teeth are great I must say.
[laughs] Thanks man! Whenever I go back to Leeds or see people I went to school with they always talk about my veneers. I’m like, ‘I haven’t got veneers, these are my actual teeth!’ If I can’t fucking convince people I went to school with how am I going to convince anyone else! I had these braces – which were fucking painful by the way – for six months, and then it was kind of a weird thing, I was excited I guess to go on the red carpet on the release of the last film and be me, and not to have to have the fat suit under my t-shirt. It was quite an exciting buzz. I was 21, I was like ‘yeah, this’ll be cool!’ It was never meant to be a ‘hey everyone, look at me!’ but it was nice to be able to go and be myself. And then obviously a lot of attention focused on it, which I didn’t expect at all. I’ve never considered myself to be good-looking at all. Just average.
Well I think it’s safe to say there are a lot of people who disagree…
Well they’re very kind. And they’re all mad. [laughs] But yeah it was a complete surprise to me, and I didn’t really know how to deal with it at all. But it was amazing, I mean who’s going to complain when people say nice things? I’m not going to sit here and say ‘Oh it was dreadful, it was terrible’.
It must have been hard as an adolescent though. I mean, it’s an awkward time for anyone, but having that onscreen persona and being held back by the braces and the fat suit, did any insecurities stem from it?
Yeah definitely. Around 15 or 16 it was kind of shitty, but I just had to look in the mirror and go ‘stop being a prick – you’re an actor, this is your profession and if this is what you want to do for your career then these are the things you have to do.’ So it wasn’t a long period of bother for me, but puberty’s a weird age for anyone. It was right for Neville, it worked, and I was happy to do it. But it was nice after 10 years not to have to! And I’ve always been a massive sports fan, but it’s never been ‘I want to be on a red carpet looking good.’ It’s for myself, because I like being in the gym, or if it’s for the role.
Like what you see? Why not head over and give Matthew – or any of your favourite guys, for that matter – a vote in our Hot 100 Poll.
Also in this issue:
Marina and the Diamonds talks new music, her gay fans, and being making her own way in the music industry.
Vicious stars Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi tell us what to expect from series two of the controversy-baiting ITV sitcom.
We delve into the story of gay footballer Liam Davis – the UK’s only out semi-professional footballer.
We bring you a massive 25 pages of swimwear and underwear in our stunning new fashion shoot from the beaches of Brazil (featuring six rather lovely Brazilian guys).
You can read all that plus more in the new June issue of Attitude, which is available to download to your mobile, iPad or tablet device now at Pocketmags.com/Attitude.
The issue is in shops now, and you can also have it delivered directly to your door at newsstand.co.uk.
