While J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter franchise has been a fond memory of our childhood, Tom Felton claimed to have a mixture of both nostalgia and regret. Although the British actor admitted cherishing most of his memories from the set, Felton recalled a particular moment of regret involving Emma Watson, which became a sore spot for him.
Revisiting his memories from the set of Harry Potter, in his memoir, Tom Felton offered a candid and introspective look at his behavior during a formative time in his career. Revealing how his memories are tinged with a heartbreaking moment when he humiliated Emma Watson, Felton admitted failing to overcome the pain.
Tom Felton Recalled Humiliating Emma Watson on the Harry Potter Sets
Reflecting on his time on the set of Harry Potter, where he spent most of his formative years playing the notorious Draco Malfoy, Tom Felton highlighted a regrettable incident. Offering a candid look through his memoir Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard (via The Independent), Felton shared a poignant reflection of his teenage misbehavior.
Recalling an incident involving his co-star Emma Watson, who was 9 years old back then, Tom Felton, being three years older than her, revealed how she had eagerly prepared a dance performance for her castmates. But Felton, along with other cast members of Slytherin House, had not only dismissed the young actress’ enthusiasm, but also humiliated Watson.
I suppose we thought we were a bit cooler. We’d spend our free time together listening to rap music – Wu-Tang, Biggie, 2Pac… So we were predictably dismissive [about Watson’s dance performance]. We sniggered our way down to Emma’s show, and the sniggers grew louder as she danced.
We were just being s***ty boys, largely out of awkwardness and because we thought taking the piss was cool, but Emma was visibly upset by our thoughtless reaction. I did feel like a bit of a d***, and rightly so… Everybody moved on. It was just a stupid, teenage act of thoughtlessness, the sort of thing that happens every day. So why does that moment stick in my memory? Why is it so painful for me to recall?
Recounting how they sniggered and mocked Emma Watson’s performance, Tom Felton acknowledged that his behavior was driven by a mix of teenage awkwardness and a misguided sense of coolness. However, after noticing Watson getting visibly upset, Felton admitted being quick to express regret and later apologized. Now, although Watson, harboring a crush on Felton, immediately forgave him, Felton confessed that the memory had since weighed heavily on his conscience.
Tom Felton Admitted to Being Haunted by His Regretful Memory
In his memoir, Tom Felton later went on to reflect on why this particular incident continued to haunt him. Despite later apologizing to Emma Watson and gaining her forgiveness and trust, Felton revealed that the incident continued to trouble him. Almost every time he recalled this incident it caused him pain. Perhaps, as he matured, he came to understand the added pressures that Watson faced at such a young age, which in turn affected him for his misbehavior.
The answer, I think, is that I’ve grown to understand with the passing of the years that of all of us, Emma had the most to deal with, the most difficult situation to negotiate, and from the earliest age. The last thing she needed, in an environment that should have been – and normally was – safe and friendly and familial, was Josh and me laughing at her dance.
That’s why I feel ashamed by the memory of our behavior. And that’s why I’m glad that our friendship did not founder on the rocks of my insensitivity, but became something deeper. A touchstone for both of our lives.
Tom Felton acknowledged that, in a setting that should have been supportive and nurturing, his laughter only added to the difficulties Emma Watson was already navigating through. Therefore, once he got over his presumed sense of coolness and realized what he had done, it became a sore spot for him. Ashamed of his own deeds, Felton navigated through a significant moment of personal growth.
Harry Potter films are available on Max.
