Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis has surprising response to JK Rowling controversy as she reignites Emma Watson feud
The row between JK Rowling and Emma Watson is showing no sign of slowing down, and now another former Harry Potter star has shared his thoughts on the controversy.
Matthew Lewis, who shot to fame playing Neville Longbottom in the franchise, is starring in a new TV show called ‘Murder Before Evensong' which starts next week.
In an interview to promote the new show, he was asked his thoughts about the ongoing furore surrounding Harry Potter author Rowling and some of his former co-stars.
Rowling, who has been extremely outspoken on her views on the transgender community, has this week named both Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe in a new statement, where she said that the cast 'have every right to embrace gender identity ideology'.
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She said: "Such beliefs are legally protected, and I wouldn't want to see any of them threatened with loss of work, or violence, or death, because of them. However, Emma and Dan in particular have both made it clear over the last few years that they think our former professional association gives them a particular right - nay, obligation - to critique me and my views in public.
"Years after they finished acting in Potter, they continue to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the world I created," and now Neville star Lewis has shared his thoughts, too.
This comes shortly after Watson spoke of Rowling in a recent podcast appearance, saying that despite having different opinions to the author, that doesn't mean 'that I can't and don't treasure Jo and the person that I had personal experiences with'.
Back in 2021, Lewis told The i Paper that he believes everyone is 'entitled to be whoever they want to be', but acknowledged the conversation as 'very emotive', saying he is 'acutely aware that every opportunity that I’ve really had in the last 10 years, it’s all come about because of Harry Potter'.
He added: "I just don’t know if this conversation needs yet another opinion from a white man telling either a) the trans community or b) women what to think, what to feel, what to say."
Now, in 2025, Leiws has been asked by The Independent if he would ever work with Rowling again, in light of what has happened with his co-stars.
He replied: “I think that it would largely depend on what the project is, I guess that every case has to be taken on its merits.”
Lewis avoids social media, so he said he's not up to speed with everything that has gone on: “I’d have to have a conversation about the things that you’re referring to, and I’d want to make sure I was totally comfortable squaring it with my own beliefs and opinions before moving forward.”
Despite his fame, he's keen not to be portrayed as a 'role model' with his words taken as gospel.
Lewis explains: "I don’t think I should be a role model for anyone, frankly, but I am aware that, for better or worse, people may see me as that, and so I don’t think it’s unfair to ask these questions.”
As for the next Harry Potter cohort who will be thrown into the spotlight with the TV show, he was asked how he feels about the new Neville, played by 10-year-old Rory Wilmot.
"I haven’t really thought about the series as a whole at all, really, and I’ll probably have to pay my therapist for a double session when I finally do think about it,” he laughed.
Lewis hasn't reached out to Rory, even though he's pleased he's from the same region as him.
“I feel quite humbled in that Neville is now canon Yorkshire," he insisted.
"Whether that’s a tribute to me or not, I don’t know, I’m gonna say that it is. But the last thing [the new cast] needs is for has-beens wading in, just let them cook."
Topics: Harry Potter, JK Rowling, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Entertainment, Celebrity, TV And Film
Jen Thomas