The role of Dudley was almost recast for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, but Melling was able to reprise the part by wearing a fat suit. 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".
#HARRY POTTER DUDLEY SERIES#
He also played Robert Brown in the BBC television series Just William. 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. In 2009, he starred in a revival of Mother Courage and her Children at the Royal National Theatre. He appeared in five of the Harry Potter films as Harry Potter's spoiled cousin Dudley Dursley. During his eleventh birthday, he screamed when he received one fewer gift than he had the previous year, making his parents promise to buy him two more.ĭudley had a very bad habit of bullying kids who were weaker and as much as five years younger than he was, callously insulted his aunt, uncle and cousins in any way possible, even jeering at Harry about his obviously disturbing nightmares.In his early career, Melling performed in stage productions of The Provoked Wife, King John, Antigone, and Plenty. His parents spoiled him to the point of becoming a grossly obese, demanding, selfish, spoiled brat, and manipulative, but most of all, he was extremely ungrateful. This may have had something to do with his weight problem.ĭudley was an unpleasant and spoiled child. Dudley mostly ate junk food and hated exercise and often played video games. Harry, when they met, often thought Dudley looked like a pig in a wig. Unfortunately for him, no matter how large a tantrum, he could not get out of it as his maternal grandmother - whom Petunia wanted her son to have contact with - was there.ĭudley had watery blue eyes and thick blond hair. Satisfied with this, Dudley did not throw a fit.Įvery year of his life, he went with his family for at least one visit to the Potter Family, even if Dudley did loathe the visits. Before he could have a tantrum, Petunia promised that when the family went out, she would buy him two additional presents so he would have more than last year. When Dudley counted his presents, he was mortified that he had two fewer than his last birthday he was slightly cheered up when his mother showed him the present from his Aunt Marge, but then he realized he still had one less present than last year. His presents included a new computer, a second television, a remote control aeroplane, sixteen new computer games, a gold wristwatch, a video recorder, a cine-camera, and a racing bicycle - which was odd, as Dudley hated exercise. He is the nephew of Marjorie Dursley and the son of Vernon Dursley and Petunia Dursley.ĭudley was pampered, spoiled and indulged on every occasion and by the time he was three, he was overweight and wearing clothes meant for a five year old.Īt school Dudley's size meant he could beat up people who he did not like.ĭudley celebrated his eleventh birthday on 23 June 1991 and his weight had reached an all time high. Dudley was born on 23 June 1980 about five weeks before his cousin Harry.