Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) and Chris Rankin (Percy Weasley) recently sat down for an interview at the Leeds International Film Festival and spoke about the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I, which hits theaters on November 10th, 2010 – followed by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II on July 15th, 2011.

You can check out the transcript below, or head over to SnitchSeeker and watch their video interviews (they did a fantastic interview but the audio is pretty bad).

[Possible Spoilers Below]

SnitchSeeker: The first question I have to ask you is has the Ministry set changed since Order of the Phoenix,especially since Voldemort destroyed it?
Chris: It has to some extent, yeah, less because Voldemort destroyed it, more because of the change in Ministry of Magic. I don’t want to say an awful lot more than that ‘cause it took me by surprise the other day when I went on it. It is quite creepy, actually. It’s still pretty much the same building, but there’s little bits that are very, very different and it’s looking good.

SnitchSeeker: Do you feel that it encapsulates the feeling of the Wizarding World as it is stands in Deathly Hallows?
Chris: Yes! Definitely. There’s very obvious nods to periods in real world time and very much there’s quite a Leninist communist feeling to the place. It’s very creepy. Quite … I don’t know, I can’t obviously describe what’s there without getting in an awful lot of trouble for it. If you wanted to describe it using a colour, it’s kind of grey. Do you know what I mean? It’s very kind of grr and all, ‘Do as your told!’ It’s got that kind of feeling to it.

SnitchSeeker: What do you feel you’ve learned in terms of acting from Deathly Hallows, specifically since your character has changed so much since the previous films?
Chris: It’s been interesting on this one because Percy is such a different, changed character in this one. It’s been quite a trial for me and quite a test of my experiences ‘cause I’m trying to get that level of guilt, then remorse, then anger towards the end of the film, and trying to merge them all quite subtly from one to other without doing, ‘Oh dear, I’m sorry.’ And then ‘Grr.’ It’s been quite hard trying to follow that emotional journey – especially as it’s all being shot out of order, here, there and everywhere. Getting it exactly right’s quite good challenge for me. I’ve really, really enjoyed it. Not as much of challenge as getting the length of my stubble right, it has to be said.

SnitchSeeker: So obviously there’s a lot of new actors involved in Deathly Hallows, have you had a chance to work with anyone like Rhys Ifans or Ciaran Hinds?
Chris: I’ve worked with Ciaran, not Rhys Ifans, sadly. Although I worked with somebody … I don’t even know if I can tell you who this person is. I’ll tell you who it was and then if it’s not there you can cut the question. The guy who plays Dave Coaches in Gavin and Stacey plays Reg Cattermole [Steffan Rhodri] in the film and I have never been more star struck in my life. I don’t care about anybody else – Maggie Smith, Julie Walters – it’s Dave Coaches off Gavin and Stacey. I got very star struck when I found that out. But it was nice to see all these new characters ‘cause there’s a lot of new characters coming in on the last film. So it’s good to see some new talent. I didn’t think there were any actors left in Britain that we hadn’t used, to be honest, so it’s quite nice.

SnitchSeeker: How does it feel filming at Hogwarts in Deathly Hallows, Part Two compared to the previous six films?
Chris: It’s strange because it’s a very different Hogwarts. Obviously it’s under the rule of Snape, and then under the rule of McGonagall towards the end. There’s a massive battle, so there’s quite a lot of it knocked down. Some of it’s been burnt down in the film and in real life. It’s very strange. And it’s very strange being there and not being a student, I guess. That’s quite a weird strange – not being Percy the prefect.

SnitchSeeker: Were your expectations for filming Deathly Hallows much higher than the previous six films considering the scale of this?
Chris: I think we all knew this was, obviously being such a big book and being the final two movies, it had to be almost better than the others put together, really, to kind of finish with a bang. I think its living up to that, I have to say. There’s certainly a lot more being expected of us performance wise. We’re spending a lot more time discussing to quite fine detail exactly how something should be done and where the scene’s going emotionally, physically and everything else. There’s a lot more, though, and a lot more care being put into it to make sure it is as perfect as it can be, I guess.

SnitchSeeker: You’ve worked with a lot of great people over the years. Which one of your co-stars have you learned the most from, in terms of honing your acting skills?
Chris: Oooh, I don’t know. They’re all so good. I think I will say probably Julie Walters, simply because she’s such a versatile actress. There’s nothing she can’t do. She does serious. She does comedy. She’s constantly bringing something different every take, and she does it so seamlessly. Just her thought processes are amazing. Yeah, I’d say probably Julie. Mostly because she’s the one I’ve probably spent most time working with out of all the names, as it were.

SnitchSeeker: What do you hope the fans will get out of seeing the final two films in regards to fans’ expectations of what the films should be like?
Chris: It’s a hard one to answer because I know things they don’t know. I think they will be surprised – hopefully pleasantly surprised. I think at this stage, with it being seventh and eighth films, the fans understand and appreciate now that certain things have to stay and certain things have to go. Certain things have to be tweaked a little to make them work in a way that won’t make the film 17 hours long. So, I think we’ll be forgiven for the minor details that may not be quite exactly as they are in the books. But they’re done for the right reasons and they work very, very well actually. There was a few things when I read the script, I was like, ‘Well, that’s not in the book’ and ‘That’s different’ and ‘This is this.’ But then as get further through you, ‘Oh ok, well I see why they’ve done that’ and actually it’s not quite the same but for a film it works. In the book you’d think. ‘Well that’s ridiculous! Why would they take that out and put this in instead?’ But it’s exactly the same thing just done a different way that makes it a better storyline in a film rather than a book, if you see what I mean. So, I think they’ll be happy.

SnitchSeeker: Speaking of fans, can I ask why you joined Twitter and what you’ve gained from it in regards to reaching out to fans?
Chris: My housemate at uni had it. She was like, ‘You’ve gotta join Twitter, mate. It’s amazing.’ I joined originally just to look at what other people were doing. Then I started Tweeting a little bit here and there myself, mostly between my mates. Then someone picked up on it and I got up one morning and 300 people were following me. About a week later I had about 12,500. I went, ‘Whoa, hang on a minute. I don’t fully understand Twitter.’ I will be the first to admit I just put my random thoughts of life on there and people seem to enjoy it. I don’t quite get it, but I think it’s a very amazing and powerful thing. But I joined on a whim. I didn’t join thinking this will be great for my publicity. I joined because I wanted to see what Stephen Fry was up to.

SnitchSeeker: I think everyone follows Stephen Fry.
Chris: I think basically the world does. I enjoy it now. Now I’m getting the hang of it more and more. It’s a very powerful thing.

SnitchSeeker: Have you mentioned it to any of your co-stars and what do they have to say about it?
Chris: We all know about Twitter, obviously. There’s a lot of us who do Tweet. I think we all see for the same good that it is. It’s a good way of directly being able to communicate with people who love the films and love the books and, in some cases, probably just love the actors – like a lot of Tom’s fans I think do. It’s something that we’re all very aware of and it’s talked about on set. Even though Daniel Radcliffe doesn’t have a Twitter, he is aware of Twitter and he is aware of who has Twitters. So yeah, one day he’ll get there

SnitchSeeker: What do you think you’re going to miss the most about finishing the series of films?
Chris: Just the whole fact it’s always been there. There’s nothing worse as an actor than knowing that you don’t have a job to go to. You don’t know where your next pay cheques coming from. Whereas with Potter, for the last ten years we’ve always known it’s going to be there at some point, which is great for those of us who aren’t as after the top of the pay scale or at the top of the fame ladder, Whereby you know you don’t need another job or you’re so famous that a job just comes automatically. It’s been a good back up plan, but it’s also been a huge part of my life. I suppose the equivalent of what going to university would be for most 18-year-olds doing Harry Potter was for me. It made me grow up and become independent. When I started Potter, I’d never stayed away from home before. I’d never stayed at hotel either, I don’t think really. I had to do all these things on my own and learn how to deal with things without my mummy being there. So, it helped me grow up an awful lot. I think it’s been a very beneficial thing for all of us. I think we’ll miss it. But it will always be there. They’re still showing them ten years later so it will always be there.

SnitchSeeker: Do you feel as though your character’s missed out because obviously characters like Percy and Neville don’t have any love interests? Do you feel like your character’s missed out because of that?
Chris: I’ve had a love interest. I had Penelope on the second film. Bless her! Who actually went to University in Leeds, as I seem to remember. But. I don’t think Percy needed a love interest, really. Although its probably in no way, shape or form an official pairing, but there’s the Neville/Luna thing. They kind of sit well together, as you know they’re not a couple but they are a couple at the same time because everybody else is sort of paired off. But no, I don’t think Percy having a girlfriend all the way through would have added anything at all. I think it would have made him even more of a prat.

SnitchSeeker: Do you have any idea when you’re going to be finished with the filming?
Chris: Well I was supposed to be finished in March. It’s now April. From what I can gather, I’ve still got another few scenes to shoot that will probably end up being in May at this rate. We’ll see. I reckon by the end of May, I’ll be pretty much finished. So, it’s winding up. I mean the last couple of weeks we’ve been shooting big, big scenes. People have been finishing. We’ve been saying goodbye to people who have been there for ten years. There’s very much a sense now that it’s coming to an end and that time is limited, which is sad.

SnitchSeeker: If you could say anything to the fans who have followed the films for ten years what would it be?
Chris: Well done! No, I think the Harry Potter fans deserve a huge, huge thank you. They’re not just Harry Potter fans. They’re Lord of the Rings fans. They’re Twilight … probably not Twilight fans. Actually, not many Harry Potter fans are Twilight fans. I take that back. But there’s this cross-section of fandom from everywhere that’s loved Harry Potter and maybe they even start with Harry Potter and gone on to other things. I think it’s been wonderful. It will always be a wonderful place for people to meet people and have friendships. Places like SnitchSeeker and Leaky and Mugglenet, and these conventions and film festivals. They bring people together, and without Harry Potter they wouldn’t exist. So, it’s done a wonderful thing.

SnitchSeeker: Ok so what have you learned in terms of acting in Deathly Hallows compared to your character in the previous six films?
Matt: Ooh, that’s a good one. Well, Neville’s really, really come on a lot this year. While Harry, Ron and Hermione have been out of school, Neville’s assumed Harry’s position of leader of Dumbledore’s Army. It’s literally all that training that Neville’s been through throughout the last couple of years. It all leads up to this point. Neville’s taken on a much bigger role this year and it’s been so much fun to do. I’ve had a lot more scenes to do, and tougher scenes as well. Not just physically. Some of the stuff stunt-wise and the physicality of some of the bigger action sequences are tough, but I’ve enjoyed that, but then also the more subtle stuff. ‘Cause at the end of the day, as much fun as all that is, there’s also the idea that it is a war going on and people are dying. Neville, though he’s very adrenalized – he’s just really reckless in this film – he’s not immune to the death and destruction around him. A lot of it’s really sad. We’re seeing the destruction of these sets, these buildings that have been with us since the beginning. The Great Hall, the courtyards and stuff, and they’re all getting wrecked. So it’s quite it’s been quite interesting as an actor to take all that on board. It’s quite good it’s the last film as well because it really helps you when you’re acting to think, ‘This is the last one’ and literally its all coming to this one point. But it’s been cool. There’s a lot of adult guys in this … David Thewlis and Alan Rickman. They’re all in quite a lot so it’s been great working with them again.

SnitchSeeker: So do you feel like with the sets like being destroyed around you, that’s changed your confines as an actor in regards to the character because of the surroundings and everything?
Matt: Well yeah definitely. The one thing we’ve always been really lucky with at Harry Potter is not only is the story so well established and vivid but also we’ve got such an amazing costume department, and the set design, the props, everything puts you into that world. So as an actor there’s not much that you have to do really. But this year with everything being destroyed and it all coming down around us, we’ve had to evolve our acting. But it’s been good. The guys have done a great job again. All the crew worked really hard and it just helps us all out on the acting front.

SnitchSeeker: What’s it been like to film there on Deathly Hallows Part Two? How has it been different compared to the previous six films?
Matt: It’s been long. It’s been really long and there’s been a lot more outdoors stuff this year. A lot more location stuff which we’ve not had in the last few films. But I’ve quite enjoyed that, I’ve quite enjoyed the change of getting out and doing stuff. But just in terms of the sheer amount we’re trying to achieve this year, it’s not like the previous ones. The previous ones have had a formula: You go to school, bad things happen and he [Harry] sorts it out and jobs a good en’ nice ending. But in this year it’s all completely different. They’re [the trio] not in the school for a start and, literally, it’s such an epic battle. It’s like something from the Lord of the Rings. And David [Yates, director] as well and Steve Kloves [screenwriter] haven’t shied away from the more severe stuff in it that was in the book. It’s bloody and it’s gory and it’s very real. But it’s been cool and it’s not like anything I’ve had to do before. So I think you’re going to enjoy it.

SnitchSeeker: You’ve worked with a lot of great people over the years, obviously. Which one of your co-stars would you say you have learnt the most from in terms of acting and how so?
Matt: Alan Rickman, I think I’d have to say, without a doubt. The man’s a chameleon. It’s so like that (clicks fingers). He can be in lunch one day dressed all as Snape and be the nicest man in the world, full of smiles. Then as soon as he’s on set it’s just like: Snape (clicks fingers again). It’s amazing just to watch him do it. It’s pretty special. Even though Snape’s got this very long drawn out way of saying things. and normally you’d think it’d get quite boring doing that again and again, but with him there’s just something quite magnetic about it and hypnotic. You think, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’ I went and spoke to him actually last week ‘cause he’s winding down now and finishing up. So I just went and had a chat with him and said it’s been amazing working with you all this time. He’s like, ‘Come in, come in.’ I went into his trailer and we had this chat. He gave me some pointers for future saying, ‘How about this? Have you thought about doing theatre?’ It was just really cool to sit and pick his brains for a few minutes. I enjoyed that.

SnitchSeeker: Do you feel your character’s missed out in anyway because he’s not had an on screen love interest?
Matt: No. No, I watch them all doing it. Alfie had a kiss with Bonnie. Dan’s already had one and Rupert’s had it, and I just think I don’t wanna do that. That’s really stressful. You see them before they go on and it’s just too nerve wracking. I don’t think I’d enjoy that very much. Also, I think Neville’s too scared of girls anyway. So it’s probably better that he doesn’t have to do it.

SnitchSeeker: What do you hope the fans will get out seeing the final two films?
Matt: Closure, definitely. It’s something that we’ve not tried before. We’re trying to keep as much stuff as they can from the book in the film. We want to hit all the points and no one’s making it into a good film everyone enjoys – we’re going to stick to the book and we’re gonna say, ‘Look, some of it is quite harrowing, some of its quite serious. People do die and you’re just gonna have to …’ It’s not sugar-coated. It’s right there, it’s quite raw and all the performances have had to step up. I think they have done accordingly and Ii think they’re gonna like it. Tom Felton keeps using the word ‘epic’ and I think I’m gonna use it again. Yeah, that’s what its gonna be.

SnitchSeeker: So you think the fans will like it then?
Matt: Definitely, I think the fans will really enjoy it. It being split into two parts means we can get so much more in there. It means there’s so much more we can do in the fight, which is gonna be really cool. Some of that’s spectacular. I don’t think there’s going to be many people leaving the cinema unhappy. It’s pretty cool.

SnitchSeeker: Just touching on fans for a second, obviously you’re on Twitter. Can I ask why you joined Twitter and what you feel you’ve gained in regards to reaching out to your fans through Twitter?
Matt: Why did I join Twitter? I joined Twitter for a very stupid reason actually …because me and my friend Chris Cousins, who lives ‘round here somewhere. We decided to have a bit of a competition to see who would get the most followers on Twitter. He’s a student in Leeds. We thought it would be quite funny. So we did it. We joined up and then suddenly it just sort of took off really. ‘Cause I never told any of the fan sites or any of the fans that I was on there. It was just something I did with my mates. We had to blag followers wherever we could. I wasn’t allowed to use the Harry Potter connection to get the followers. I can’t remember who got wind of first but somebody did, and it just sort of domino affect. It became ‘Matty Lewis’ Twitter Account.’ So it was a bizarre reason to get into it, but it’s cool. I like it. I’m trying not go on there as much in recent weeks because I just talk rubbish. No one deserves to hear what goes on inside my head all the time … some of it’s absolute nonsense.

SnitchSeeker: I think everyone talks nonsense on there.
Matt: I don’t know, it’s quite weird. .ts quite an arrogant thing to tell people what you’re thinking all the time. What you’re doing. I don’t think anyone really cares, but it’s also a good way to let people know about stuff, like the projects you might be doing. ‘Cause, obviously, if you’re following people, you’re interested in that kind of thing.

SnitchSeeker: Do you follow Stephen Fry?
Matt: I do follow Stephen Fry.

SnitchSeeker: I think EVERYONE follows Stephen Fry.
Matt: I think it’s a universal thing, you have to. It’s like Tom on MySpace. Everyone has to be following Stephen Fry. It’s pretty cool and I like it. There’s some real gems you get out of people. Like Ross Noble, for example. The man talks rubbish like absolute nonsense, but obviously his comedy and some of the things he comes out with are just priceless. So I quite enjoy it for that. If people enjoy the rubbish I go on about, then good. I’m quite a sports fanatic as well. I dictate on a lot of sports … I should probably cut down on that as well. The thing is I’ve become quite good friends with some of the Leeds’ Rhinos and I always get terrified that if I go on there and say, ‘Oh you’re playing rubbish’ they’re all gonna call me up on it. So I’m a bit more mellow.

SnitchSeeker: I think everything I’ve learnt from sport this year, I’ve learned from reading your Tweets on Twitter.
Matt: Oh good…well at least we’re reaching people. That’s good.

SnitchSeeker: Have you mentioned it to any of your co-stars and what are their opinions on it?
Matt: Tom Felton was on it long before I was. He’s got a massive, massive following – ‘cause of his music stuff as well. And he’s a terribly good looking chap, so he’s got a big following on there. And he is funny – I like some of the stuff he comes out with – and always has good pictures. So I’ve chatted with Tom about it. I know James and Oliver Phelps are on there now, too. It’s a weird thing ‘cause we communicate on there and say, ‘Oh what are up to? Blah, blah, blah’ and then we never talk about it at work. It just never comes up. So It’s a really weird separate thing. But yeah, there’s a couple of us on there.

SnitchSeeker: What are your thoughts on the film coming to an end?
Matt: It’s gonna be sad, obviously. A few people have had their last days and said bye to them. We’ll see them again at premieres or whatever, but it’s coming to an end. We’ve always known this time of year, when its winding down, we’ve always known that we were coming back. So it’s quite odd to think we’re not. But at the same time I’m quite excited. A bit ambivalent, really, because obviously I’m quite nervous about it and going out into the real world. I’ve had this gig for a long time and now I’ve gotta get another job. But I hate auditions, though. I hate them. I wish someone would just give me a job and I’ll just do it – just on the faith that I’ll do a good job.

SnitchSeeker: You could go into sports commentating!
Matt: Oh no, they’d never have me. I’d be too opinionated. But yeah, I’m quite nervous but at the same time I’m excited to get out there and do some more stuff.

SnitchSeeker: So just talking about the next step, do you have anything else lined up at the moment? Any acting opportunities?
Matt: No ‘cause we don’t really know when we’re gonna be finishing. I think it’s around June but it was supposed to be April. So it’s like bleurgh. But no, nothing planned as yet. But hopefully afterwards I’ll go on to do something else. Acting’s all I’ve ever done since I was 5. It’s all I’ve wanted to do. So I’ll just do my best and see where we go.

SnitchSeeker: If you could give any message to the Harry Potter fans that have followed the films over the ten years what would it be?
Matt: A massive thanks, really. I think we’ve got the best fans in the world and I really mean that. It’s as I was saying to you earlier, when we’re at the premieres and stuff they’re all there. They’ve been queuing for hours, and some of them from the night before – and it’s raining. We got out the car and it threw it down. The rain was horrendous. We were all like, ‘Oh, it’s a disgrace. I’m covered in rain. Rah, rah, rah.’ We were in it for half an hour and they were out there for hours. So those fans really are the best. They’re all so lovely, as well. I’ve never met a fan that I’ve been like, ‘Oh, he wasn’t very nice.’ They’re all just so lovely and everyone has a great appreciation for the books, for the films. I just hope the next two we can repay your faith over all these years with a couple of stonking good films.

SnitchSeeker: I’m sure you will.
Matt: Thank you.