In a candid and wide-ranging interview, actor Tom Felton has opened up about his iconic role as Draco Malfoy, his surprising outdoor passions, and memorable on-screen fights. The star, best known for the Harry Potter franchise, shared his thoughts on everything from bullies to Barbie's famous mantra.
Compassion for Draco and Favourite Fictional Bullies
When asked about his favourite fictional school bully, Felton expressed deep sympathy for his own character, Draco Malfoy. He attributed Draco's behaviour to "piss-poor parenting on his father's side", showing a nuanced understanding of the Slytherin student's motivations. Despite knowing James Buckley from The Inbetweeners well, Felton, a lifelong fan, ultimately chose Nelson Muntz from The Simpsons as his top pick.
Fishing, Family, and a Lifelong Passion
Revealing a lesser-known side, Felton discussed his love for fishing, sparked by his older brother Chris, who acted as his chaperone on the Harry Potter set. He recounted catching a massive 37lb 4oz common carp on New York's St Lawrence river fifteen years ago. His brother's chaperoning style was unconventional; they would often finish filming at 6pm, drive two hours home to Surrey, fish all night, sleep briefly in a tent, and return to Hogwarts by 6am. "It was a great introduction to a lifelong passion of being outdoors," Felton said.
He also shared a charming anecdote about his grandfather, who chaperoned the second film. Director Chris Columbus was so taken by his wizardly appearance that he cast him as an extra at the teachers' table next to Dumbledore.
Blonde Ambition and On-Screen Battles
On the topic of his signature platinum hair, Felton joked about the disadvantages of dyeing it every nine days for the films, calling it a "remarkable" feat that he still has any hair left. For the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, he now wears a wig, which he says immediately puts him in a "Malfoy mood". He also quipped, "I do agree with Barbie: blondes have more fun."
The conversation turned to his physical role in the 2016 thriller Message from the King, where he acted alongside the late Chadwick Boseman. Felton compared Boseman's intense professionalism to that of Andy Serkis, noting how both actors transformed when the camera rolled. "The ferocity with which Chadwick threw me into a car! There was very little acting needed, because he delightfully beat the shit out of me," he recalled.
Draco's Redemption and Future Projects
Felton also weighed in on a popular fan theory: whether Draco could have found redemption by fighting Voldemort alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Yes and no," he mused, admitting he's gone down that "rabbit hole" but respects that the original story was "written perfectly". He revealed awareness of "Dramione" fan fiction (pairing Draco with Hermione) and that his brother once had a "Draary" (Draco and Harry) drawing as his screensaver.
He spoke fondly of working with Damian Lewis on the new comedy Fackham Hall (in cinemas from 12 December), noting it was his first professional collaboration with Lewis, whose late wife Helen McCrory played his mother, Narcissa Malfoy, in the films.
From discussing his childhood chinchilla, Stanley, to his desire to appear in a silent role like Mr. Bean, Felton's interview painted a picture of an actor with enduring affection for his most famous role, a host of eclectic interests, and a great deal of humour about his career.
