Harry Melling Embraces Eccentric Roles on Path to Leading Man

Harry Melling, known for his early standout as Dudley Dursley and later enigmatic turns in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and The Pale Blue Eye, talks with IndieWire about his desire to keep working in eccentric, nuanced parts as he moves toward leading-man status. In the BDSM-themed comedy Pillion, directed by Harry Lighton, he stars opposite Alexander Skarsgård as Colin, a man navigating a new dominant-submissive dynamic that blends humor with emotional stakes. Melling credits his career arc to embracing a character-actor ethos—pursuing interesting, sensitive roles—while noting the warmth of family moments in the story to balance the film’s edge. Pillion hits theaters February 6, 2026.