Harry Potter lives on through generations, meaning the Dudley Dursley actor will be known to many fans globally. And to celebrate his 33rd birthday we’re taking a closer look into his life.
As Harry Melling turns 33, we’re taking a look into his interesting life including his major transformation.
Now, calling all Wizarding World fans, who could forget the foul family member of Harry’s, Dudley Dursley? Not us, that’s for sure!
The bully was played by Harry, who you may not even recognise now due to his shocking post-Potter transformation.
Harry portrayed Harry Potter’s horrible cousin Dudley in the film franchise and since then he has continued to pursue a successful acting career and gone through a huge weight loss journey.
Let’s take a closer look at his post-Potter life…
Shining career
(Image: Netflix)
In 2014, he made his playwrighting debut at HighTide Festival with his one-man show Peddling and four years late, he starred alongside Liam Neeson in the Coen brothers’ Western The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
After seeing his face now though, it might jig a chess piece-shaped spot in your subconsciousness as Harry starred in Netflix’s smash hit series The Queen’s Gambit, which was released in October 2020.
Alongside the highly-accoladed Netflix series, which was awarded multiple Golden Globes, Harry has also played Sergeant Smythe in The Keeper.
Famous family
(Image: PA)
Harry had a famous grandfather, British actor Patrick Troughton.
He was classically trained for the stage but became most widely known for his roles in TV and film.
Patrick also played the second incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running British sci-fi series Doctor Who from 1966 to 1969 and then later reprised the role in 1972–1973 and between 1983 and 1985..
Major transformation
In October 2009, it was unveiled that the actor had dropped so much weight since his last appearance in Harry Potter that he was seen as “unrecognisable”.
According to reports, the role of Dudley was nearly recast for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, but Harry was able to reprise the part by putting on a fat suit.
At the time, the star spoke about this and said: “I can now shed the child actor thing like the fat and start a new career because no one sees me as Dudley.”
He also spoke about his transformation in another interview with People and explained: “I went to drama school when I was 18, and that’s kind of where the weight shifted.
“Not for any sort of major need on my side, but it’s just something that just happened.”
Private life
(Image: Getty Images for BFI)
Hollywood actor Harry prefers to keep his private life away from the spotlight and doesn’t share the ins and outs of his life with the press.
The actor has only a social media presence on Twitter, although it is only used to promote his new projects.
It is unclear whether he is dating, as he’s been able to keep it all under wraps.
Can’t re-watch Potter
(Image: Warner Bros.Pictures)
He has also revealed that he prefers not to rewatch Harry Potter for his own “sanity”.
While he reflects fondly on his time on the saga, Harry has been happy to shake free from Dudley.
Harry told the Radio Times: “Looking back at those films, it feels like watching old VHS tapes, like family videos.”
“It’s a really interesting relationship I have with the Potters because I’m immensely proud of being in something as gigantic as that. But at the same time, I feel like, for my sanity, I have to try not to look back, and to just keep moving forward.”
(Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for BFI)
In another interview, Harry claimed that he was eager to move on from the character as he loves “changing up genre and characters”.
He explained: “I always enjoy playing roles that have an element of transformation to them. I enjoy the challenge of that.
“Trying to transform yourself into qualities of yourself that aren’t necessarily on display, I always knew were things I wanted to play with.”
Happy Birthday, Harry!
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
