For years, audiences knew Harry Melling as Dudley Dursley, Harry Potter’s spoiled, bullying cousin. But rather than let that role define him, Melling has quietly built one of the most adventurous acting careers of his generation. From The Ballad of Buster Scruggs to The Devil All the Time, he’s embraced darker, more complex characters—none more so than Edgar Allan Poe in The Pale Blue Eye.
“This was an opportunity to challenge the perception of Poe,” Melling says. “We always think of him as this dark, brooding figure, but what was he before that?”
The film, set in the frozen landscapes of 1830s America, is a gothic murder mystery where Poe, a young West Point cadet, is drawn into solving a series of gruesome deaths alongside Christian Bale’s retired detective. Shot in Pittsburgh’s unforgiving winter, the film leans into its eerie, atmospheric setting.
“Poe was obsessed with death and the supernatural,” Melling explains. “I spent time in cemeteries reading his work just to absorb the world he lived in.”
Melling’s performance brings out a side of Poe rarely seen on screen—awkward yet charming, deeply intelligent but still searching for belonging. His chemistry with Bale provides the film’s emotional core, and their method of working together was refreshingly organic.
“There wasn’t much discussion beforehand,” Melling says. “We just let the scenes reveal themselves. Christian is incredibly present, and it lifts you up to that level.”
While Harry Potter will always be part of his story, Melling has worked hard to carve out a space beyond it. “We’re all proud of being part of something so significant,” he says. “But at the same time, you have to move on and pursue what excites you.”
What excites him lately? The UK’s post-punk resurgence. “There’s something happening with punk in the UK again—it feels chaotic in the best way,” he says, naming Squid and Black Midi as recent favorites.
With The Pale Blue Eye, Melling continues to prove he’s far from the one-note villain many first knew him as. Whether channeling Poe’s poetic madness or diving into unpredictable indie roles, one thing is clear—he’s not afraid to take risks.
Watch the interview above and then check out the trailer below.
