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Videos: Matthew Lewis receives & talks about Leeds Metro University honorary degree
Matthew Lewis, for his significant contribution to the arts and his charity work, received an honorary Master of Arts degree from Leeds Metropolitan University on Tuesday, and made a speech on stage during the ceremony, which was captured by SnitchSeeker correspondent Lauren D., who was on hand to attend the ceremony. That clip, as well as an interview where the former Harry Potter actor discussed how he was approached to receive the honour, can be viewed below.
Matthew Lewis: Thank you for that very kind introduction. You made me sound almost like a saint, thank you. I’m really not, I assure you.
I guess you’re all rather bored now, and ready for pub, so I’ll try and keep this brief.
To say this award came as a bit of a shock is quite the understatement. I initially didn’t know where to begin with this speech. Being only 23, I’ve been trying to think of something to say that wouldn’t come across as necessarily condescending. I know how much you all put into these degrees. My girlfriend’s sat in the front row, and actually graduated from her four-year classes this morning, and you wouldn’t have thought much of her face a few days ago when I told her I’d be graduating on the same day. (audience laughter).
So after much deliberation, I decided to exercise caution and stay away from the patronizing advice. I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for allowing me to share this day with all of you. It’s a real honor for me. I actually applied to Leeds Metropolitan University many years ago – and I did get accepted – but unfortunately I was away filming in London and it was just going to be too impractical.
It was something that I actually to this day regretted, having seen many of my friends pass through these halls with their degrees. So it’s a real pleasure for me to count myself as an alumni, albeit a slightly cheesy one. It’s still a tremendous privilege. So thanks again for letting me be here today. Leeds is my home, and this means an awful lot to me, more than I could ever convey in words. Finally, congratulations to all of you, sincerely. My best wishes, all the best for the future, and I look forward very much to seeing what we'll achieve from here in. Thank you.
On the degree:
Matthew Lewis: It was so unexpected. When I first heard about it I thought it must just be some kind of end-of-year award they hand out to local people or something. I didn’t really appreciate the gravitas of all of it. But now that I’m here and aware of it, it’s really humbling. I can think of lots of words – I feel honored, I feel privileged – but all of them don’t seem to grasp quite how I feel. I just feel elated, really.
His girlfriend’s reaction:
Matthew: My girlfriend graduated at 11 o’clock this morning. She’s getting a primary education degree so she’s been here for four years. (laughs) Not so impressed that I was just gonna waltz in and grab one on this end day, but she is pleased. She just told me, ‘Despite the fact that I’ve worked for it and you haven’t, I am still proud of you.’
On living in Leeds:
Matthew: The thing about being in a film like Harry Potter, which was the biggest film series of all time, as just a kid, it was a very surreal world that you were in – film premieres and award ceremonies. It’s a very bizarre world, and I think it’s one that, as a child, you can become lost in – and that’s a real danger. Whereas Leeds, for me, is just that bit of me that I had before Harry Potter, and I love coming back because it just keeps me grounded. I grew up enjoying going to the football, to the rugby, I like going to the pub with my friends. I don’t see why, just because you’re an actor doing films, you should ever change who you are.
That’s what I enjoy, and Leeds allows me to come back and do that. The thing about Yorkshire people is they don’t really care that much, which is great. Harry Potter obviously is a big thing, but people around here just shrug their shoulders and get on with it – and I love that. I love being able to go out and just get on with stuff. That’s brilliant. I love it around here.
I like his speech. He was honored yet acknowledged he didn't do the hard work than the students had to do over the 3-4 years at the college. He's one classy and cool guy. Congrats Matt.
Actually, Matt, I don't shrug my shoulders at Harry Potter, I EXPLODE!!
I loved all the cheering as well when they were talking about Neville helping Harry defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
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Videos: Matthew Lewis receives & talks about Leeds Metro University honorary degree 
Congrats Matt.
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