Harry Edward Melling (born 17 March 1989) is an English actor, known for playing

Dudley Dursley The following are supporting characters in the ''Harry Potter'' series written by J. K. Rowling. For members of the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore's Army, Hogwarts staff, Ministry of Magic, or for Death Eaters, see the respective articles. ...

in five ''Harry Potter'' films, and for his role as Harry Beltik in ''The Queen's Gambit''. His grandfather was actor

Patrick Troughton Patrick George Troughton (; 25 March 1920 – 28 March 1987) was an English actor who was classically trained for the stage but became known for his roles in television and film. His work included appearances in several fantasy, science fiction ...

Early life

Harry Melling was born 17 March 1989 in London, England. He studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Career

In his early career, Harry Melling performed in stage productions of ''

The Provoked Wife ''The Provoked Wife'' (1697) is the second original comedy written by John Vanbrugh. It made its first appearance in Lincoln's Inn Fields in May, 1697. The often-repeated claim that Vanbrugh wrote part of his comedy ''The Provoked Wife'' in th ...

'', '' King John'', ''

Antigone In Greek mythology, Antigone ( ; Ancient Greek: Ἀντιγόνη) is the daughter of Oedipus and either his mother Jocasta or, in another variation of the myth, Euryganeia. She is a sister of Polynices, Eteocles, and Ismene.Roman, L., & R ...

'', and '' Plenty''. He appeared in five of the ''Harry Potter'' films as Harry Potter's spoiled cousin,

. He was first cast in the role at age 10, in 1999 and would play the character until 2010 and his appearance in

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1'' is a 2010 fantasy film directed by David Yates from a screenplay by Steve Kloves. The film is the first of two cinematic parts based on the 2007 novel ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow ...

. In 2009, he starred in a revival of ''

Mother Courage and her Children ''Mother Courage and Her Children'' (german: Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder, links=no) is a play written in 1939 by the German dramatist and poet Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956), with significant contributions from Margarete Steffin. Four theatrica ...

'' at the Royal National Theatre. He appeared in "The Sorcerer's Shadow", an episode of the BBC television series '' Merlin'', playing a young warlock named Gilli who intends to use magic to help him win Camelot's legendary tournament. He also played Robert Brown in the BBC television series ''

Just William ''Just William'' is the first book of children's short stories about the young school boy William Brown, written by Richmal Crompton, and published in 1922. The book was the first in the series of William Brown books which was the basis for ...

''. 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". The role of Dudley was almost recast for ''

'', but Melling was able to reprise the part 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." In 2014, Melling made his playwrighting debut at HighTide Festival with his one-man show ''Peddling''. In 2018, Melling played alongside

Liam Neeson William John Neeson (born 7 June 1952) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Tony Awards. In 2020, he was placed 7th on ''The I ...

in the

Coen brothers Joel Daniel Coen (born November 29, 1954) and Ethan Jesse Coen (born September 21, 1957),State of Minnesota. ''Minnesota Birth Index, 1935–2002''. Minnesota Department of Health. collectively known as the Coen brothers (), are American film ...

' Western ''

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs ''The Ballad of Buster Scruggs'' is a 2018 American Western anthology film written, directed, and produced by the Coen brothers. It had a limited theatrical release, being primarily intended for Netflix television. It stars Tim Blake Nelson, ...

''. Of Melling's performance, ''

New Yorker New Yorker or ''variant'' primarily refers to: * A resident of the State of New York ** Demographics of New York (state) * A resident of New York City ** List of people from New York City * ''The New Yorker'', a magazine founded in 1925 * '' The ...

'' film critic

Anthony Lane Anthony Lane is a British journalist who is a film critic for ''The New Yorker'' magazine. Career Education and early career Lane attended Sherborne School and graduated with a degree in English from Trinity College, Cambridge, where he also ...

wrote:

came away haunted by a scattering of sights and sounds--above all, by the recitations of the limbless man, which thrum with genuine yearning. He is beautifully played, with a little help from C.G.I., by Harry Melling, who was once the odious Dudley Dursley in the ''Harry Potter'' films. Funny how people grow up.

In 2020, Melling played evangelical preacher Roy Laferty in the Netflix thriller '' The Devil All The Time''. That same year, he appeared in the Netflix series drama '' The Queen's Gambit'' in which he plays Harry Beltik, a chessplayer, friend and one of Beth's competitors in Kentucky. Melling appeared in a Coen brothers film for a second time, when in 2021, he performed the role of Malcolm, the elder son of the Scottish King in the

The Tragedy of Macbeth ''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those wh ...

. In 2022, he played a young

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wid ...

in the 2022 film ''

The Pale Blue Eye ''The Pale Blue Eye'' is a 2022 American mystery thriller film written and directed by Scott Cooper, adapted from the 2003 novel of the same name by Louis Bayard. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Christian Bale, Harry Melli ...

''.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

Video games

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Melling, Harry Male actors from London Alumni of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art English male child actors English male film actors English male stage actors English male television actors Living people National Youth Theatre members People educated at Mill Hill School 21st-century English male actors Troughton family Year of birth missing (living people)