Harry Melling (actor)
| Harry Melling | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Harry Edward Melling 17 March 1989 London, England |
| Education |
Hendon School Mill Hill School |
| Alma mater | London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Parent(s) | Joanna Troughton |
| Relatives |
Patrick Troughton (grandfather) David Troughton (uncle) Michael Troughton (uncle) Jim Troughton (cousin) Sam Troughton (cousin) |
Harry Edward Melling (born 17 March 1989)[1] is an English actor, best known for playing Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter films.
Early life
Melling attended Hendon School and then Mill Hill School. He was a member of the National Youth Theatre. He trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and starred in productions such as The Provoked Wife, King John, Antigone, Plenty and Sisterhood.
Career
Melling appeared in five of the Harry Potter films as Harry Potter's bullying and spoiled cousin Dudley Dursley. In 2009, Melling made his stage debut in a revival of Mother Courage and her Children at the Royal National Theatre. He appeared in an episode of the BBC series Merlin entitled "The Sorcerer's Shadow", playing a young warlock named Gilli who intends to use magic to help him win Camelot's legendary tournament. Melling also played Robert Brown in the BBC series Just William.
In October 2009, it was announced that Melling had lost so much weight since his last appearance in Harry Potter that he was now "unrecognisable". His role as Dudley Dursley was almost recast for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, but Melling reprised the role by wearing a fat suit. He commented positively about the change: "I can now shed the child actor thing, like the fat, and start a new career, because no one sees me as Dudley."[2]
Personal life
Melling comes from an athletic and theatrical family: he is the grandson of Patrick Troughton (through his daughter Joanna), best known as the Second Doctor in the science fiction series Doctor Who, thus nephew of distinguished siblings David Troughton and Michael Troughton, and the first cousin of cricketer Jim Troughton and actor Sam Troughton.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | Dudley Dursley |
| 2002 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | Dudley Dursley |
| 2004 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Dudley Dursley |
| 2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Dudley Dursley |
| 2010 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 | Dudley Dursley |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Friends and Crocodiles | Young Oliver | |
| 2010 | Merlin | Gilli | Episode: "The Sorcerer's Shadow" |
| 2010 | Just William | Robert | |
| 2011 | Garrow's Law | George Pinnock | Series 3 |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Mother Courage and her Children | Swiss Cheese | Royal National Theatre |
| 2010 | Bedroom, Dens and Other Forms of Magic | Theatre 503 | |
| 2010 | Women Beware Women | Young Ward | Royal National Theatre |
| 2011 | The School for Scandal | Sir Benjamin Backbite | Barbican Centre |
| 2011 | When Did You Last See My Mother? | Ian | Trafalgar Studios |
| 2012 | I Am a Camera | Christopher Isherwood | Southwark Playhouse |
| 2013 | Smack Family Robinson | Sean Robinson | Rose Theatre, Kingston |
| 2013 | The Hothouse | Lamb | Trafalgar Studios |
| 2013 | King Lear | Fool | Minerva Theatre, Chichester |
| 2014 | King Lear | Fool | Brooklyn Academy of Music |
| 2014 | Peddling | Boy | HighTide Festival/59E59 |
| 2014 | The Angry Brigade | Morris/Commander/Prophet/Snitch/Manager/Jim | Theatre Royal, Plymouth / Oxford Playhouse / Warwick Arts Centre / Watford Palace Theatre |
| 2016 | Hand To God (play) | Jason / Tyrone | Vaudeville Theatre, London |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Dudley Dursley | Voice |