The lessons of Neville Longbottom

CNN) - Actor Matthew Lewis, who has spent the past 10 years to portray Neville Longbottom, a clumsy, braking to a friend trio of students at the center of the Harry Potter films, goes further. As the last of eight films based on the books by JK Rowling hits movie screens across America, Lewis spoke with CNN about his trip, as Neville and it is not only affected him, but prepared him for an acting career. CNN: Neville Longbottom begins as a fairly psychologically wounded character, and you were able to depict the journey of personal growth. Most people pay a lot of money to psychologists to make a trip like this. What life lessons did you learn from Neville? Lewis: Oh, wow. The great thing about Neville - what message it sends, that JK Rowling wrote for him - was that you could have a deficiency at the beginning of your life, and it does not define you. You can still go on to be who you want to be. As long as you have friends around you, and you have faith in doing the right thing, you can go on to be a hero. It does not matter what you've come a modest beginning. I think it's really inspiring.I think that's a really good life lesson. CNN: Do you think the fans like most about Neville? That they identify with? Lewis: That's really weak story all this success. Everyone loves the underdog, but most importantly, it is reported that many people may have a pretty lousy time at school. Many people struggle in their younger years, and I think people can relate to that. And Neville shows that it will not all end all. You can still continue to do great things in your life. What I gathered from the fan mail and meeting people that it's very inspiring, and it helps some people to cope with bullying at school or something complicated problems that they are having in life. As an actor, it's the most beautiful thing in the world to think that what you are doing, what your job is to inspire people. CNN: Is there a difference between the UK and the U.S. reaction to Neville's fans? Lewis: You know, this is very similar reaction only things are different in terms of - how do you explain this? - I think Americans are generally a lot louder. But the answers are the same, with varying degrees of excitement. CNN: A lot of people are likely to surprise the man you became. Your brake to watch in the movies, even your slightly crooked teeth, have been very nice to fans, and you look completely different now. What comes out the other end of Harry Potter was like for you personally and professionally? Lewis: Well, it's really exciting time to be honest with you. When I finished the film is clearly the degree of sadness about it all coming to an end. Having something that you loved so much for so long, it will obviously be sad when it comes to the end. But it's also an exciting time, because for the first time in the last ten years, I do not know what will happen next. And indeed, it is an opportunity now for me to show that I'm not just Neville Longbottom, there's more that I can do, and I really just want to kind of push myself. This is a transitional period at the moment, and we have to see what happens next. CNN: Do you like fantasy, as an actor, or is there another genre that inspires you? Lewis: Genre is not something I particularly look. I just want to be an actor - in theater, television and cinema. I like the idea of ​​being able to become someone else, and it's like being a kid and never grow up. I can dress up in costumes and play pretend, as work and people pay me to do it. It's fantastic. I'll never grow old. But I wanted to do something grittier. I would like to make a kind of war, a picture or a movie gangster or something much more real life. But I do not envy the fantasy genre. I am a huge fan of "Lord of the Rings," "Harry Potter" and "Star Wars" science fiction, that kind of stuff. CNN: What is your favorite memory from your overall experience of Harry Potter? Lewis: I have two. One Harry Potter-related, and one definitely not, but this was due to Harry Potter. First, a Harry Potter was my first week at work. It was at Annick Cathlin in Northumberland, England, and it was a lesson when her broom Neville Longbottom gets a broom and fly around and crash into the wall. I just know that so scared the whole process of staying in this great, great film. And then they told me, Christopher Columbus, the first scene that I will do everything for me, and I will work with a team of stunt. He was very nervous, but he put me at rest, and made me relax, and it ended up the most fantastic week. I remember that I am very excited for the next six months or so. Little did I know that it will continue for another decade. And one more thing that I would never, ever forget this opportunity to meet Sir Paul McCartney, who definitely has arisen because of Harry Potter, and I will never forget. It's personal hero of mine. What a fantastic night. CNN: Has J.K. Rowling you know what she was thinking about how you brought her character to life? Lewis: Yes. And it's obviously something I was very worried. J.K. Rowling is simply the most incredible writer and I loved her stories since I was a boy of 9 years. I was so focused on the fact that it is exactly as it currently is in the head. And a couple of times I spoke to her at the premiere and she went into the studio and said, you know, I'm doing it right. That's exactly how she wanted it. And, as a compliment, you can not get much better than this. To have J.K. Rowling said that it was just the most amazing feeling. And she was so beautiful. She noted it on the red carpet, as well as on [last] Thursday in London, and it's a good thing to hear. It's great for the fans to love what we do, but for JK Rowling to enjoy it too, it just means so much.