The Emmerdale star related to a Harry Potter legend – but do you see the resemblance?

FORMER Emmerdale star Anthony Lewis has a surprising connection to Harry Potter's Neville Longbottom.

Anthony - who played Marc Reynolds on the ITV soap from 1999 to 2002 - is the brother of Matthew Lewis.

Matthew played the bumbling and disorganised character in J. K. Rowling's wizardry series.

He later turns into a more competent wizard and eventually destroys the final Horcrux, which allows Harry to defeat The Dark Lord once and for all.

Matthew has also enjoyed Hollywood success in hit films like Me Before You, Terminal and Baby Done.

His brother Anthony also enjoyed soap stardom, he arrived in Emmerdale with his dad Sean Reynolds, mum Angie and younger sister Ollie.

Marc and Ollie began attending school in Hotton and befriended fellow students Andy and Robert Sugden, and Donna Windsor. 

He went on to be involved in plenty of storylines, including a romance with Donna.

He was also sent to prison for a year for causing death by dangerous driving when he ran over their head-teacher, who died instantly.

Upon his release from prison Marc disapproved of his mother's relationship with Cain Dingle. 

When Angie later died in a car accident Marc left the village to live with his father -  but did make a reappearance in 2007 for the funeral of Marc’s grandfather.

Anthony has also landed roles in Heartbeat, Casualty, Torchwood and Ackley Bridge.

Interestingly, he also provides the continuity announcements for BBC One and BBC Two between programmes.

They also have another brother Chris, who has enjoyed success in the film industry as a film editor - working on shows like First Dates, Celebs Go Dating and The Masked Dancer UK.

Meanwhile, Harry Potter fans were shocked to see Anthony's magical transformation when he appeared on This Morning in 2006.

Viewers were swooning over his chiselled good looks during his interview on the show with many branding him a "hottie".

One even expressed her surprise that she is attracted to the formerly geeky Neville Longbottom.

A particularly enamoured female fan tweeted: "Jeez proper fancy Neville Longbottom , aka Matthew Lewis, now he's older and lovely lookin..."

Another viewers wasn't even sure it was the same actor, writing: "@itvthismorning @matthew-breennews-co-uktdavelewis @RuthieeL @EamonnHolmes is that Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter?"

One called him a "hottie" and another wrote: ";I always forget how fit Matthew Lewis is."