Harry Potter actor receives honorary award

Matthew, who was born and bred in Leeds and recently starred in the primetime BBC One series 'The Syndicate', alongside Timothy Spall and Joanna Page, was awarded an honorary Masters of the University on Tuesday 24 July for his significant contribution to the arts and charity work.

The graduation celebrations are taking place at University's Headingley Campus from Monday 18 to Saturday 23 July, where over 5,000 students will graduate over five days, alongside ten honorary degree recipients.

Speaking at his graduation, Matthew said: "It's a great honour to share this day with all the graduating students. Leeds is my home and this means an awful lot to me, I'm proud of the city and it's a real privilege to receive this award from Leeds Metropolitan University."

Others receiving honorary degrees from Leeds Metropolitan include England rugby union head coach Stuart Lancaster, Red or Dead designer Wayne Hemmingway, Olympic torch designer Edward Barber, Huddersfield Town chairman Dean Hoyle and Mumtaz Khan Akbar is the founder and owner of the Mumtaz Food Group.

Launching his career at the age of five on the small screen, Matthew starred in episodes of classic British television programmes such as Dalziel and Pascoe, Where the Heart is and Heartbeat whilst attending drama classes in Horsforth, Leeds. Matthew went on to beat 700 others at an audition at the Queens Hotel to win the part of Neville.
Filming Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone at the age of 11, Matthew was required to wear false buck teeth, shoes that were two sizes too big and plastic behind his ears to make them stick out but by 2011, the final film in the series saw Matthew with a very different, more mature look.

Matthew recently starred as Jamie Bradley in the BBC one series 'The Syndicate', alongside Timothy Spall and Joanna Page. This exciting drama, written by Leeds' own Kay Mellor of Band of Gold fame, revolves around five supermarket workers who enter into a syndicate and win the lottery. He has also recently completed filming on his next film role, a British heist movie called Wasteland which co-stars Timothy Spall and Vanessa Kirby, whilst he will make his West End debut later this year in Our Boys alongside Laurence Fox.

Born and bred in Leeds, Matthew has remained loyal to the city and holds a season ticket for the Leeds Rhinos.

In 2010, he helped to launch a new cancer-screening suite at St James's Hospital and last year he joined in the Walk of Smiles, an event organised by 12-year old Bethany Hare to raise money for Martin House Hospice. Still living in nearby Horsforth, Matthew is involved with various good causes including Yorkshire Kidney Research, Action for Children, the Leeds Rhinos Rugby Foundation and Bethany's Smile.