Actor Tom Felton didn’t get as much love from his peers as he did from his fans!
The “Harry Potter” alum, who played the Slytherin student Draco Malfoy, spoke with The Guardian about the challenges of trying to fit in at school while playing an “evil wizard.”
Tom Felton Talks About In-School Struggles While Filming ‘Harry Potter’
Although the 34-year-old English actor just made his West End debut last Saturday in “2:22 A Ghost Story” at the Criterion Theatre, he couldn’t help but reflect on the role that started his career to begin with. Although he earned adoration from fans for playing Draco Malfoy, Felton revealed that it didn’t earn him any dates.
“Some people really struggle with the idea that I wasn’t this special, popular kid, but I was walking around with dyed hair and played an evil wizard. It wasn’t cool,” he recalled before joking, “It did me no favors with the girls.”
Felton told the publication that he actually had to dye his hair several different colors during the audition process because he also auditioned for the roles of both Harry Potter (which went to Daniel Radcliffe) and Ron Weasley (which went to Rupert Grint) before he was eventually cast as Malfoy.
“I reckon I got the part because I was nonchalant, and had no idea what anyone was on about,” Felton said. “Wizards in cupboards under the stairs? And with three older brothers, you learn to be confident quickly. I think Chris Columbus, the director, recognized this slight disinterest and arrogance in me, which he thought could work for Malfoy.”
“I didn’t have to do 10 pages of dialogue to audition,” he added. “All I did was turn up as a snotty kid who looked right and I got the part.”
Tom Felton Would Love To Return To The Wizarding World
In June 2021, the “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” actor sat down with PEOPLE to say that he would love to star as Malfoy again in another “Harry Potter” film if given the chance.
“If you’re asking me will I dye my hair blonde again to be Draco, abso-bloody-lutely,” he said. “Either [him or his father, Lucius]. I’ll play Draco’s kid if you really want. Any chance to be a Malfoy again would be greatly accepted.”
He added, “I do feel if someone else played [Draco], I’d be slightly possessive, going, ‘Hang on.’”
Felton also keeps in touch with some of his former castmates, especially twins James and Oliver Phelps, who played the prankster brothers, Fred and George Weasley. Felton joked that the twins regularly beat him when they go golfing together.
“It’s sort of a very unjointed family, really, where we all kind of feel like we’re part of something that we don’t actually get a chance to speak to about much,” Felton explained. “But when we do, within a minute, Rupert’s already talking about his latest car that he wants to get or whatever it may be. It’s always fun to catch up.”
