Film star Matthew ‘pathetic’ at snooker

HARRY POTTER star Matthew Lewis is thankful he cut it as an actor because he admits to being “pathetic” when it comes to another great passion.

Leeds-born Lewis, who played gawky Neville Longbottom in the witchcraft and wizardry hit franchise, is on tenterhooks for news from studios after the recent US television pilot season.

But he is about to be distracted by the start of snooker’s World Championship in Sheffield, a tournament he has visited regularly in recent years, fulfilling a childhood dream.

Lewis knew from an early stage he would never make the grade as a professional cueman. “I’m pathetic, I’m a terrible, terrible snooker player. I maybe once got a break in the thirties by pure fluke, but I’m so bad,” said the 27-year-old.

“I go and play with my dad sometimes, and my dad’s 74-years-old and he beats me. We’re down at our local club and even he gives me a pasting.”

Lewis joked he was a sporting snob in his days on the Harry Potter set, when he would spend time with Rupert Grint – Ron Weasley in the series inspired by JK Rowling’s books. “Rupert used to have a pool table in his room but I used to sit in the corner tutting. It’s not snooker, is it?” Lewis said.

Lewis is not alone in being a celebrity fan of the World Championship, which has attracted a number of music stars, including Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, Muse frontman Matt Bellamy and former Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker.

This year’s tournament, which begins tomorrow, marks the 40th anniversary of the event being staged at the Crucible Theatre.