The Vine Interviews Matthew Lewis and Evanna Lynch

Is there such a thing as too much Harry Potter? Not that I’m aware of! With that agreed upon, we have a short interview with Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood (née Matthew Lewis and Evanna Lynch) for you, supplied in conjunction with the forthcoming release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 on DVD and Blu-Ray. Discussed below is the final battle scene, Ralph Fiennes embodying evil, leaving the sets behind, and which props they most wanted to hold on to.

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We’ve seen a lot of battles over the course of the series. How did the final battle scene feel different both in terms of the narrative and just as an actor?

Matthew Lewis: It’s just that this one’s really no holds barred. There’s not just one big death to speak of in this one. Anyone could go at any minute. It seems much more dangerous. There’s no security whatsoever. People are literally dropping like flies, and you don’t know who’s gonna be next. It’s quite harrowing in some parts because the Death Eaters and the Snatchers are really quite brutal. On the other hand, I had a crazy amount of fun doing it, with the make-up, all the blood and stuff and then the sword of Gryffindor, all the running and the explosions. It was great fun.

Matthew, you had a very intense scene with Ralph Fiennes. How did that go?

Matthew Lewis: I remember reading it in the book and then in the script and it starts to get a bit more real each time. I thought “Wow, I’m actually gonna have to do this at some point.” We did a rehearsal for it and even in rehearsal Ralph was pretty intimidating. I thought ‘I don’t know how I’m going to do this when we get around to it tomorrow.’ He came on to set and he’s got the make-up on and the clothes; he’s just so good at what he does. He gets into Voldemort, he just encompasses everything evil. It’s so amazing to watch his charisma as he moves around the set. He just floats and glides around the set and it helps me as an actor unbelievably. Really got my adrenaline going. It was quite a privilege to work with him. He’s a really nice guy too, when he’s not being Voldemort.

You are in quite a unique position in that these sets that you’ve been working on for so many years must almost feel like home. How was it to see them all being destroyed in front of you?

Evanna Lynch: Yeah, I didn’t like that one bit. So sad when you think it’s forever. Even places like our dressing room and they’re all being cleared out; the tutoring corridor, that was very sad. All the books going and everything.

Matthew Lewis: I thought that was great.

Evanna Lynch: I don’t know what they’re gonna do with it. I’ve heard rumors that they’ll do a museum and stuff. I think it’d be sad to completely get rid of the Harry Potter stuff. But then again, there’s the park. They have the theme park and you can go back and you’ll see authentic props.

If you could take one prop as a souvenir away from Leavesden what would it be and why?

Matthew Lewis: Definitely without a doubt the sword of Gryffindor. Two reasons, one because I’m a man and just having the sword is really cool, and two I spent a lot of time with it this year. It was quite integral in Neville’s story. It’s the sword that he pulls from the hat. I thought it’d be a very nice memento of the last year at Hogwarts.

Evanna Lynch: I’d like a Quibbler. I think they are fun. They look a bit whacky and they’re the first thing you see Luna with. She has it upside down. I remember when I was young I used to make my own versions of Quibblers, it was cool having that. They all have text inside and puzzles to do. It’s quite entertaining actually. I’d like one.