The Harry Potter series has several fan-favorite moments, from the magic to thrills in the films to the plethora of characters and the inclusion of several hilarious incidents. However, many fans would be surprised to know that one such moment was actually not in the script, and was actually improvised by actor Tom Felton,
Felton assumed the role of Draco Malfoy in the series. Being one of series’ iconic villains, Malfoy’s transformation from a bully to a matured man, and eventually, his redemption arc, offered a great development for his character. Moreover, the character constantly excelled when delivering sarcastic remarks.
Tom Felton Improvised One Of Malfoy’s Most Iconic Lines
In a scene in the film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Tom Felton improvised a line that not only became a fan favorite but also made it in the final edit of the film. The scene has gone down as one of Malfoy’s most memorable dialogues.
This incident was revealed by the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London’s Twitter account, confirming that the dialogue, “I didn’t know you could read,” was completely improvised by Tom Felton.
Malfoy says this particular line when Harry Potter, who takes the disguise of Goyle, Malfoy’s Slytherin mate, can be seen removing his glasses. When Tom Felton’s character questions Goyle on wearing glasses, Potter (in his Goyle persona) claims that he’s wearing glasses to read, which confuses Malfoy.
Tom Felton Had An Unscripted Scene With Ralph Fiennes
Even Tom Felton couldn’t escape the overwhelming aura of fear when sharing the screen with Voldemort. In his memoir Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard, he recounted a moment when Ralph Fiennes, who played Voldemort, gave him an unexpected, chilling hug not scripted in the scene. Felton emphasized Ralph Fiennes’ commanding presence, setting him apart from the rest of the cast, and the improvisation by Fiennes sent shivers down his spine.
Felton wrote:
“Uncertain, I shimmied towards him, my arms down by my side. He put his own arms around me and gave me perhaps the most uninviting hug ever captured on film. Even on set it chilled me. A hug from Voldemort was scary for Draco, and it was equally awkward for Tom. It gave me goosebumps then, and the memory gives me goosebumps now.”
Additionally, the actor expressed uncertainty about whether the footage with the bone-chilling hug would make it to the final edit, given they had approximately 50 takes of the scene, none of which featured Ralph Fiennes’ unsettling embrace. Fortunately, it did find its place in the final version. Reflecting on the film’s London premiere, Felton remembered the audience falling into complete silence, emphasizing the eerie and unsettling nature of that particular moment.
