Harry Melling, known as Dudley Dursley, spills on his BDSM transformation for the romcom 'Pillion,' where he plays a submissive traffic warden. Alongside co-star Alexander Skarsgård and director Harry Lighton, he discusses intense research, adapting a transgressive novella, and the film's unapologetic celebration of the kink community.
Actor Harry Melling, famously known as Dudley Dursley from the Harry Potter films, reveals his surprising preparation for his role as Colin, a timid submissive traffic warden, in the new BDSM romcom 'Pillion,' stating, "You want to give a decent, satisfying, sexy lick." Melling, alongside co-star Alexander Skarsgård (who plays the taciturn biker dom, Ray) and writer-director Harry Lighton, discusses the film's unconventional journey and its embrace of kink culture. The trio delves into their research, which included Melling practicing boot-licking and Lighton spending a weekend with the Gay Bikers Motorcycle Club (GBMCC) and the broader kink community. Skarsgård, in contrast, adopted a minimalist approach to developing his enigmatic character, Ray, leading to unexpected on-screen chemistry that even surprised Melling. Lighton explains the film's adaptation from Adam Mars-Jones's transgressive novella 'Box Hill,' detailing significant changes. While the book featured an 18-year-old closeted virgin Colin who is raped by Ray, the film updates Colin to an out, 30-something man and, crucially, removes the rape, emphasizing explicit consent in the first sexual encounter. Lighton also shares his circuitous writing process, including abandoned concepts like ancient Rome or a cruise ship setting, and his decision to keep Ray alive in the film, unlike the book. He aimed to shift Colin's self-hatred to self-doubt, making his journey a positive catalyst. The article highlights 'Pillion' as a "feelgood" movie that confidently embraces the kink community without shame or judgment, challenging the "No Kink at Pride" discourse. Lighton expresses pride in making a film that celebrates marginalized people with empathy. Skarsgård adds that the film, while not pandering to straight audiences, is "confidently warts-and-all" and enjoyable for a broad audience. The interview also touches upon Lighton's personal history, including his relationship with his twin brother and the family baronetcy, which subtly influences his storytelling. 'Pillion' is set to release in UK cinemas from November 28, US cinemas on February 6, and Australian cinemas on February 19.
