English actor Harry Melling stepped onto the red carpet at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2026, for the world premiere of his new film Stuffed. The project opened the festival’s prestigious Discovery section at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Melling joined co-star Jodie Comer and director Theo Rhys to present the dark musical comedy, which emerged as one of the most talked-about indie titles of the festival.
In Stuffed, Melling stars as Bernie, a solitary and lonely man who willingly offers himself as a human subject to a passionate taxidermist named Araminta, played by Comer. The unconventional plot weaves together macabre romance, dark comedy, and original musical numbers. Melling's nuanced performance captures the delicate balance between eccentric humor and poignant emotional vulnerability, earning early praise from festival critics and international buyers.
First coming to global attention as a child actor playing Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter film franchise, Melling has successfully built an extensive career across theater, film, and television. He earned critical acclaim for his transformative performance as Harrison in the Joel and Ethan Coen anthology film The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. He subsequently starred alongside Anya Taylor-Joy in the global Netflix miniseries hit The Queen's Gambit, playing chess grandmaster Harry Beltik.
His impressive body of film work includes leading and supporting roles in Scott Cooper's Gothic mystery film The Pale Blue Eye, where he portrayed a young Edgar Allan Poe opposite Christian Bale, as well as roles in The Devil All the Time and Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth. Melling has also maintained an active stage career in London's West End, appearing in productions of King Lear and Hand to God.
Following its successful launch at the Toronto International Film Festival, Stuffed is poised for an international theatrical release. Melling’s performance in the film highlights his continued reputation for choosing daring, character-driven projects. The actor is set to appear in several upcoming independent feature films currently scheduled for release over the coming year.
