Harry Melling is the actor who plays Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter films. This page contains facts about Harry as well as links to further Harry Melling information.

It comes as no surprise that acting is Harry Melling's main love; it is most definitely in the genes. His grandfather was Patrick Troughton famed for his role as Dr. Who, his uncle is David Troughton a lead actor with the RSC, his cousin Sam is an actor with the National Theatre and his other uncle is Michael Troughton famed for his portrayal of Piers Fletcher. His mother is a children's book illustrator and his father (also an illustrator) has worked on animated films.

It was his mother, Joanna Melling, who first picked up the Harry Potter series. "I just thought they were wonderful," she said. "When I heard they were doing a film I knew they would be needing a lot of children so I sent a photo to the casting director." A year passed and Harry Melling had all but given up hope when the call came. "It was brilliant, just the greatest feeling," he recalls. Harry auditioned three times with Daniel Radcliffe, who stars as junior magician Harry Potter himself, before winning the role as his Muggle (human) cousin.

The hardest part, says Harry, was the read-through with the entire cast and author J.K. Rowling herself. The pedigree of co-stars John Cleese, Dame Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Robbie Coltrane and Alan Rickman to name but a few might have terrified some actors, but Harry, despite his age and relative inexperience, thrived alongside the other youngsters. Harry says his character Dudley is a selfish, spoiled, nasty little brat, "It was fun playing the baddie though, and more challenging."

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