Matthew Lewis Fondly Recalls Alan Rickman: 'All The Happy Memories Came Flooding Back'

Matthew Lewis is opening up his life after Harry Potter in Fault Magazine.

The 26-year-old actor talked about moving on from Neville Longbottom, saying goodbye to Alan Rickman and more. Check it:

On being a “sex symbol”: “Oh come on, that’s just a lot of make-up and good lighting. I’m not a sex symbol, Jesus, no.”

On Alan Rickman’s legacy: “I [remember I] was at Leavesden Studios the other day, visiting the set of Fantastic Beasts and I was with the producer who did all the Harry Potter films. He was taking me around the studio when the news came through. We were both just completely stunned. But also, to be in the studio when that came through, suddenly every room that I went into, every corridor that I walked down on, I suddenly remembered a story or an image of Alan. It got a bit odd. It was quite surreal. But also, powerfully moving as well. It was quite nice to be there. All those happy memories came flooding back and I got quite nostalgic actually. I went back home last night and just watched loads of interviews with him. It’s hard to describe. On his last day, I had a cup of tea with him in his trailer and we just sat and chatted about the future of my career and what I should do. He just offered me advice in where I should go and he said some things to me that filled me with a lot of confidence. And when you hear those sorts of things from someone of his stature, his ability, it means a lot.”

On moving on from Neville Longbottom quickly: “The first thing after Harry Potter, I played a guy who was not very nice. He wasn’t exactly a desirable character. And then I did a film where I was rough and ready; I was capable of throwing my muscle and weight around a little, completely unlike Neville. I don’t really get offered those types of roles anymore. The lovable, vulnerable, cheeky, Neville-type roles. They just never come up, it’s not like I’m getting them and turning them down.”