Thanks to Melissa for pointing out this second half of Tom’s latest MTV interview. I’m “working” and can’t watch so I’ll let their synopsis speak for itself:
“Harry Potter” star (and recent MTV Movie Awards winner) Tom Felton has seen his star rise steadily since first gracing the big screen as Draco Malfoy in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Fans have watched the young actor evolve from a one-note bully to a complicated and sometimes vulnerable villain.
When MTV News caught up with Felton at the opening of Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, we asked him about Draco’s growth over the course of the eight films, as well as whether he thinks his character is really all evil.
“From my character’s point of view, a lot has been left to interpretation,” Felton said, pinpointing an important-yet-subtle moment from the final film, in which Draco is tasked with the painful decision whether to help or hinder his nemesis’ progress. “[There is] one take where you want to help Harry. The books, I think, kind of left it up to the interpretation of the reader, really, so one way you internally want to help him, the other side where you’re just confused, so I’m intrigued to see which bits David [Yates] cuts out of it.”
Regarding Malfoy’s not-so-bad, tortured side, Felton said “Potter” creator J.K. Rowling helped him understand a softer side. “Jo always talked about him as being vulnerable,” Felton said. “Most bullies are. They’re actually hugely insecure and have their own problems, and he has the worst parental guidance of any child I’ve ever seen in my life.”Felton added that when he and Daniel Radcliffe have discussed their characters’ dynamics, they see them as two sides of the same coin. “Harry has these great influences, even though his parents have passed,” Felton said. “Draco, he’s damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t, really. He’s kind of stuck.”
[New Post] Tom Felton on Draco, Evil, and Vulnerability with MTV http://feltbeats.com/2010/06/30/tom-felt…
I liked how he mentioned that both he and Dan really discussed their characters with each other; which makes me all the more excited to see the movies, because we know that, rather than simply playing a part in the script – they are playing the characters that Jo Rowling created for them.
Its a big difference, and I’m always thrilled when actors and actresses really connect with their characters. Adds a whole new level of enjoyability [word?] to the movie.
@feltbeats He totally makes sense there! The whole Draco’s stuck thing. I dunno, it makes sense to me! 😀
I hope they show Draco in a sympathetic light – at least that’s how I saw him through the book.
Some key aspects of his character come through in only a couple of scenes. Such as when the trio are captured and taken to Malfoy Manor and he skirts around identifying Potter, and in the ROR where he is determined to save his friends life. To me they were pivotal in understanding and softening to Draco.
They also show how people and their choices are not always clear cut – making war that much more complicated.
If David wants to do justice to the story he needs to portray Draco as more than shallow and bad.
I couldn’t possibly agree more with you!
I’ve never perceived Draco as being shallow (besides, Crabbe and Goyle’s own shallowness is often getting on his nerves,) and bad at 100% (he’d to built up this shell as being the bully of service over time, to prevent of being the victim of another).
Right, his parental guidance is disastreous, and could have led to even more dire consequences, hasn’t he listen to his gentler side, therefore to his heart, instead of keeping following it blindly (and a blinded Dragon makes an easy target to anyone willing to finishing it off).
Therein, Thomas’s analysis and comprehension of his character is faithful to reality. Couldn’t possibly ask anything more than that.
With Love,
Sam.
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