British actor Tom Felton made a name for himself as an accomplished child actor in the late 1990s. However, he rose to fame when he appeared inHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stonein 2001. Felton portrayed the arrogant bully and Harry Potter’s rival, Draco Malfoy. Felton perfectly embodied the character and delivered a compelling performance that quickly turned him into a fan favorite. Felton played Draco Malfoy in all eightHarry Pottermovies.
Since then,Tom Feltonhas mostly starred in independent films, displaying his terrific acting. However, he did have supporting roles inRise of the Planet of the Apesand CW’sThe Flash. Felton has also amassed a huge following on social media and actively interacts with fans. But achieving all that fame, especially at an early age, can be difficult for child actors to bear. Many of them struggle to forge their own identity and forever live in the shadow of the characters they played. But that isn’t the case with Tom Felton, who says he is barely even recognized in public. In an interview with Square Mile, Felton reflected on his life before and afterHarry Potter.
“It’s a very common question. How do you shake off the burden of being part of these things? Honestly? I’ve never, ever felt that this is a weight to carry. It can really affect you. I attempt to do as best as I can, really. We don’t really have too many examples – bearing in mind that when we did it, 20 years ago, obviously there was no social media. There wasn’t anything at all. To suddenly be in this world now where you’re able to type in God knows what… I banned my mum from Googling me.”
Even thoughDraco Malfoywas an antagonist in theHarry Pottermovies, fans never hated him and even felt sorry for him. The lack of social media at the time too helped Felton stay oblivious to extreme fan reactions like stalking and receiving death threats, a scenario that happened withJack Gleeson, who played Joffrey Baratheon inGame of Thrones. However, Tom Felton is content with his life and is surprisingly down to earth, preferring to travel and enjoy life rather than further his acting career. “I’m not desperately trying to win a Golden Globe or an Oscar. I’m more interested in a happy balance between Muggle life and getting out there to experience lots of things.” He also said that people often fail to recognize him compared to otherHarry Potterstars.
“I got the best of both worlds. I take the Tube, I take the bus, I walk my dog in the park. I saw Emma the other night – she looks exactly the same as she did ten years ago. It’s almost impossible for her to not be spotted. I get a lot of people whispering, ‘is that whatshisname?’”
Felton was also in the news a few months back aftercollapsing during a celebrity golf match. TheHarry Potterstar blames his jet lag for the incident and believes he needs to start prioritizing his health.
“I hadn’t slept, not out of any other reason, it was just jet lag. Time difference. I was so fucking excited to be playing at the Ryder Cup! I felt fine immediately afterwards. But yeah, your body is going to need a little more attention… I’m no good to anyone unless I’m good to myself. And I hate to say it but I’m finally realising that.”
Some words of wisdom right there. Tom Felton will next be seen in filmmaker Sara Sugarman’sSave the Cinema, releasing on July 17, 2025.
