The cast of the Harry Potter films are responsible for bringing the characters from J.K. Rowling’s beloved novels to life on screen. But for Matthew Lewis — who played Neville Longbottom in the franchise — acting in the series apparently made it more difficult to enjoy — that is, until he saw the Cursed Child play.
The 27-year-old actor took to Instagram Saturday to share a photo of himself with several of the stars of the two-part West End production, expressing his gratitude to them for helping to renew his love for the wizarding world.
To be in the movies was a dream come true but it became work and I forgot what it was to be a fan a long time ago. However, over the last two nights I was able to enjoy the world of Harry Potter once again. To lose myself in a story so rich and so powerful and, more importantly, that I had nothing to do with was truly magical. I felt like I was nine years old again, discovering it all for the first time and it is very, very special.
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Write to Megan McCluskey at megan.mccluskey@time.com