Matthew Lewis, best known to fans as portraying Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films, will be receiving an honorary degree from Leeds Metropolitan University as part of their forthcoming graduation ceremonies, set to take place on July 24th. Matt will receive an honorary Master of Arts degree.

Harry Potter actor to receive honorary award

Matthew Lewis, the actor portraying loveable northerner Neville Longbottom in all eight Harry Potter films, is to receive an honorary degree from Leeds Metropolitan University as part of their forthcoming graduation ceremonies.

Matthew, who was born and bred in Leeds and recently starred in the primetime BBC One series ‘The Syndicate’, alongside Timothy Spall and Joanna Page, will awarded an honorary Masters of the University on Tuesday 24 July for his significant contribution to the arts and charity work.

The graduation celebrations are taking place at University’s Headingley Campus from Monday 18 to Saturday 23 July, where over 5,000 students will graduate over five days, alongside ten honorary degree recipients.

Others receiving honorary degrees from Leeds Metropolitan include England rugby union head coach Stuart Lancaster, Red or Dead designer Wayne Hemmingway, Olympic torch designer Edward Barber, Huddersfield Town chairman Dean Hoyle and Mumtaz Kahn Akbar is the founder and owner of the Mumtaz Food Group.

Launching his career at the age of five on the small screen, Matthew starred in episodes of classic British television programmes such as Dalziel and Pascoe, Where the Heart is and Heartbeat whilst attending drama classes in Horsforth, Leeds. Matthew went on to beat 700 others at an audition at the Queens Hotel to win the part of Neville.

Filming Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone at the age of 11, Matthew was required to wear false buck teeth, shoes that were two sizes too big and plastic behind his ears to make them stick out but by 2011, the final film in the series saw Matthew with a very different, more mature look.

Matthew has remained loyal to the city of Leeds and holds season tickets for both Leeds Rhinos and Leeds United. In 2010, he helped to launch a new cancer screening suite at St James’s Hospital and last year he joined in the Leeds 10k walk for local charity, Martin House Hospice. Still living in nearby Horsforth, Matthew is involved with various good causes including Yorkshire Kidney Research, Action for Children, the Leeds Rhinos Rugby Foundation and Bethany’s Smile.

Matthew recently completed filming a British heist movie, shot in and around Yorkshire, co-starring Timothy Spall, Vanessa Kirby and Iwan Rheon. He will also make his West End debut in Our Boys at the Duchess Theatre alongside Laurence Fox later this year.