Amidst the seemingly growing tensions in the Harry Potter fandom, there are still traces of camaraderie between the original cast that may serve as a comfort for fans who may be worried about their real-life relationships. The latest example of this can be seen through Tom Felton, who recently reached out to his former co-stars for advice on a new acting role he is undertaking.
The Harry Potter star, who famously played Draco Malfoy in the film series, made his West End stage debut this month in the supernatural thriller 2:22 - A Ghost Story. In preparation for the role, Felton sought advice from his old castmates, Daniel Radcliffe and Matthew Lewis, knowing that the two of them have had previous experience with live theater and musicals.
Both Radcliffe and Lewis advised him to embrace the madness, to try his best not to panic, and simply enjoy his time on the stage. Radcliffe has starred in the West End revival of Equus, as well as the Broadway versions of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Privacy, the Edward Snowden stage adaptation. Lewis has also had his fair share of stage gigs, having starred in various West End productions such as Our Boys and Unfaithful. Speaking to BBC One, Felton said he was keen to get their insight, as they surely had valuable tips and tricks that could help him succeed.
Felton also admitted that being part of a West End production is "terrifyingly exciting" in all the right ways. This would be his first time on stage, and he said he feels it will be very different from the on-screen acting he's done in the past. Thankfully, Felton has kept busy since the Harry Potter film series ended in 2011, having managed to land acting roles almost every year since then. At the very least, he won't be entirely rusty stepping onto the stage.
As for the rest of the Harry Potter cast, they have all pledged to maintain healthy connections with one another despite the many controversies surrounding series creator J.K. Rowling. Rowling has made a number of conservative comments that have been deemed antithetic to the trans movement, sparking rumors of rifts between her and more progressive cast members such as Emma Watson. However, other actors like Evanna Lynch have spoken out to assure fans that they still love and respect each other despite their differences in opinion.
The Harry Potter collection is now streaming on HBO Max.
Source: BBC The One Show