Biography
Date of Birth
13 December 1989, London, England, UK
Birth Name
Harry Edward Melling
Height
5' 11" (1.8 m)
Mini Biography
Harry Melling started acting at the age of 10 in the Harry Potter films playing the role of Dudley Dursley.
In his mid-teens he joined the National Youth Theatre appearing in a number of shows including "The Master and Margarita".
Harry at the age of 18 attended the LAMDA (London Academy Of Music and Dramatic Art.) He left early when offered to join the company of "Mother Courage and her Children" at the National Theatre alongside on-screen mother Fiona Shaw.
This kick started a long series of theatre roles which included Harold Pinter's "The Hothouse," the Old Vic Theatre's, "King Lear" opposite Glenda Jackson, and the lead in the West End transfer of hit show, "Hand To God."
Harry in 2017 won the role in the new Coen Brother's film, "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs." This premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
Trivia
He is a member of the famous Troughton acting dynasty. His grandfather was Patrick Troughton, forever remembered for playing the Second Doctor in Doctor Who (1963). He is the nephew of actors David Troughton and Michael Troughton. He is also the first cousin of actor Sam Troughton and Warwickshire cricketer James "Jim" Troughton.
Harry Potter casting agents held auditions at Hendon School for the second movie, after being impressed by Harry's performance. No one from the school was cast.
Has a brother called Jack, who also attends Hendon School.
Attended the Millfield Theatre Youth Drama Group.
Attended The Sue Nieto Theatre School for Saturday morning classes.
He started putting on shows for his family when he was just four years old.
He left Hendon School in North West London in 2003. [September 2004]
In his second year at Hendon School in North West London. [December 2001]
Had lost so much weight during his one-year hiatus from the Harry Potter films that he had to wear special face prosthetics for his final appearance in the franchise.
His grandfather, Patrick Troughton, died before he was born.
Quotes
It doesn't have to be a problem for children to be fat, but it does affect you: you aren't as happy in that skin.
I am a really bad traveler, I hate traveling and I hate being late so I figure if I could just click my fingers and be somewhere then that would be great!
I am not sure how much Dudley will feature just because of the grand scale of the film and the fact that there are so many stories and characters to tie up. I haven't seen the film yet but I think it will be a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, but it was nice just to round it off and give it some closure.
I also started to eat sensibly. The weight just dropped off.
Toffee Crisp was my downfall. I once ate five at a sitting. Do you really need that third helping, Harry? My parents didn't overfeed me, nor did they make an issue of it. That's when things go wrong. It doesn't have to be a problem for children to be fat, but it does affect you: you aren't as happy in that skin.
I was doing a show at the National Youth Theatre, playing an old man. Before that I had played fat clowns and I thought, 'If I want to have the career I would like, I am going to have to lose weight.' I was just starting drama school, and found I was moving around a lot. I also started to eat sensibly. The weight just dropped off.
I do look a bit different because Dudley was a very piggish character and about three years ago I lost quite a considerable amount of weight. It means that I can lead a normal life without the baggage of people running after me and shouting things at me.
I am auditioning again - getting back to theatre would be amazing.
I can now shed the child-actor thing, like the fat, and start a new career, because no one sees me as Dudley.
I've also just finished filming the role of Robert Brown in 'Just William,' which is due to transmit on BBC One at Christmas.
