In a new
profile on Tom Felton, the actor spoke about not only the lessons he learned on the set of the Harry Potter films, but the pitfalls that came with fame at such a young age. Tom opened up about the financial dilemmas he came across in his teenage years, and how he learned to overcome them. A new photo of Tom accompanied the Daily Mail profile; that can be found
here.
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‘I think everyone is expecting the Harry Potter cast to break down as it comes to its end,’ says Tom. ‘I know Daniel and Rupert had a bit of a cry when it was their last day and the crew screened a showreel of the past ten years. But I feel a real mixture of emotions. There is a little bit of sadness, but at the same time there is excitement.
‘For the past decade we haven’t had much freedom to do other projects. I certainly haven’t had much freedom to keep my own hair colour, or lay in the sun, or do anything remotely dangerous like skiing. It was nice to go on holiday and not have to slap on the SPF50 and sit under an umbrella with three caps on.’
Tom on the truths of fame and its negative effects.
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‘One thing that people keep on saying to me is that the wealth and the fame must have made up for missing out on my childhood,’ he says. ‘But the idea of money — putting a price on your childhood — is ridiculous. You will never get those years back and you can’t put a price on them.
‘And to me, fame is not a positive thing. The idea of being famous is a lot better than the reality. It’s fantastic when you go to premieres and people cheer you, but it’s not real. And it’s totally not my approach to get my name on a club door just because I can.’
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‘I bought a lot of rubbish things that kids buy: skateboards and clothes and typical teenage stuff,’ he says. ‘And, as soon as I could, I wasted a lot of money on cars — BMWs mostly — for myself and my family.
‘My mum told me: “You have worked hard for it so get what you want, but beware, you will lose money on cars.” And she was right.’
‘My parents did what they could, but when money is thrust upon you so are a load of other things: tax, VAT, mortgages — things a 16-year-old really doesn’t know anything about. I got myself into a bit of trouble.
‘There was a scary two years where it was madness because I was really in trouble with the taxman. I had been working for eight years and all I had to show for it was this horrible debt. At one point we had the bailiff at the door.
'I was so naïve I didn’t even know what he was there for. He pointed at my car and said: “This yours?” and I said: “Oh, yes, I bought it two weeks ago and it’s all paid off.” He said: “Brilliant, we’ll take it. Give us the key.”
Tom discussed the acting and life lessons he learned from many of his Harry Potter costars, including Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman. He also voiced his respect for costars and friends Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint.
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'As soon as you see “Dame” in front of someone’s name you get nervous, but Dame Maggie Smith is the most wonderfully gentle woman I have ever met. She never had a bad word to say.’
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‘I remember my first scene with Alan Rickman and I was anxious because he is a slight “method” actor; as soon as he is in his cloak, he walks and talks like Snape — it is quite terrifying. But I really wanted to talk to him because Robin Hood was one of my favourite films.
‘After I plucked up the courage, we chatted for about half an hour, and he told me where he got his inspiration from and how he thinks of approaching his lines. It is fascinating for a young actor to be able to talk to your heroes like that. It is priceless.’
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‘[Daniel] is an endless inspiration to me,’ he says of his friend. ‘Professionally, he is a phenomenal actor and he doesn’t take anything as a given. In between films he is doing acting classes, anything he can to improve himself.
‘He is exceptionally polite, terrifically good with names and he hates people who are rude.
‘But more than anything else he is exceptionally passionate. I can be on set for two weeks and be bored of going over the same scenes. He will have been there nearly two months solid and still be over the moon about filming the next day.
‘He is so passionate about the film and the franchise that he will be on set even on the days he is not needed.
‘People think there must be jealousy but there honestly isn’t, because no one could touch the part that he plays; not just for the acting but all the other stuff he has to deal with. He has been working almost solidly for ten years but it is his passion and he absolutely loves it.’
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‘Rupert is the most laid-back person you’ve ever met,’ he says. ‘He is not bothered by anything. You might tell him that his scene has been pushed back for three hours and he’ll be fine and mutter: “I’ll just play ping pong for a few more hours.”
‘He’s unfazed by the fans and the fuss but he remains a ferociously talented actor. He has expert timing and delivery with no effort whatsoever.’
Additionally, Tom and his Harry Potter costars will be featured in a couple of TV specials on
Reelz network, one of which will be hosted by the Draco Malfoy actor himself. Those are listed here.
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“Spotlight: Harry Potter On Set” on November 13, 2010
Exclusive visit to the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Go inside the Great Hall and hear from Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and director David Yates. Plus, we'll take a behind-the-scenes look at the make up and creatures of Harry Potter.
“Spotlight: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” on November 20, 2010
Hosted by Draco Malfoy himself—Tom Felton, we'll look back on more than a decade of the Harry Potter series. With the conclusion drawing close, hear from the stars on what happened during filming for the final two movies and what their journey has been like. Hear from Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, and director David Yates.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released November 19, 2010, and July 15, 2011. Click on the banner below to pre-order tickets for Part I at Fandango. Tickets are also on sale now in the UK; head over to the Harry Potter official
UK Facebook for more information.
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Tom Felton talks Harry Potter, fame pitfalls; Reelz to air Deathly Hallows specials 
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