Tom Felton has revealed that he agrees with Barbie’s famous sentiment that “blonds have more fun”, but admits that maintaining his platinum locks for the Harry Potter films came with drawbacks. The actor, who played Draco Malfoy, said he wore a wig for the stage production Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but that having blond hair immediately puts him in a Malfoy mood. “There are disadvantages to dyeing your hair every nine days; the fact I still have hair at all is remarkable,” he said.
In an interview, Felton also shared his passion for fishing, which he credits to his older brother Chris, who chaperoned him during the Harry Potter films. He recalled catching a 37lb 4oz common carp on the St Lawrence River in New York state 15 years ago. His brother, he said, was “one of the worst chaperones in history” because he spent most days sleeping after all-night fishing trips. Felton also remembered his grandfather, who looked so much like a wizard that director Chris Columbus cast him at the teachers’ table next to Dumbledore.
On his new project, the comedy Fackham Hall, Felton described it as “wonderfully silly” and said he laughed out loud at some of the gags, including one where he absentmindedly fires a poorly aimed hunting rifle. He noted that Damian Lewis, who plays his father in the film, is married to the late Helen McCrory, who played his mother in the Harry Potter films. “It was the first time I’ve had the chance to work with him even though I’ve known him for years,” he said.
Felton also recounted his experience working with Chadwick Boseman on the thriller Message from the King. “Crikey, that was a few years back,” he said. “Chadwick was such a professional and definitely cut from a different cloth. 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 compared Boseman to Andy Serkis, who he said was a gentleman on set but would transform into a “whole different beast” when cameras rolled.
When asked whether Draco Malfoy could have found redemption by fighting Voldemort alongside the golden trio, Felton gave a nuanced answer. “Yes and no,” he said. “I’m not an author and I am aware it was written perfectly.” He acknowledged the popularity of fan fiction, including “Dramione” (Draco and Hermione) and recalled that his brother once had a drawing of “Drarry” (Draco and Harry) as his screensaver. Finally, he shared a childhood memory of his chinchilla, Stanley, describing it as “the fluffiest thing I’d ever stroked”.
