Tag Archives: interviews

Tom Felton discusses his wand and using it on the competition in new MTV News Interview

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Tom had a chance today to talk via phone with MTV News about his first ever Movie Award nomination as Best Villain in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Last summer, at the New York premiere for “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,” Tom Felton — the Brit actor behind platinum-blond baddie Draco Malfoy — walked us through the key characteristics of a great onscreen villain.

“Cold eyes, I’ve been told. A pretty pasty face,” he said. “I think to be evil you need an iconic look. Like a James Bond villain, with the scar or a cat.”

The guy certainly knows what he’s talking about. On Wednesday morning (May 12), Felton was nominated for Best Villain at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. Back in South London while finishing up the shoot for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” Felton gave MTV News a call to talk about his nomination and take stock of the competition.

“It’s a massive honor,” he said. “Especially given that it’s a fan vote. That makes it quite touching. And it’s classic for me, because for almost a decade, kids have been running onto set and hugging Daniel [Radcliffe] and shaking Emma [Watson]’s hand. I try and be as polite as I can, and I never seem to get anywhere with them. Finally, I’m in a category that celebrates that fact!”

Come the June 6 awards show, Felton will face off in the Best Villain category against Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds”), Helena Bonham Carter (“Alice in Wonderland”), Ken Jeong (“The Hangover”) and Stephen Lang (“Avatar”). Obviously, the key question is: Which of these nefarious characters would win in a fight?

Lang’s scar-faced, alien-slaying boss in “Avatar” might prove to be a bit of a challenge for the supernatural-assisted Draco, but Felton isn’t too worried. “If he had one of those big suits on he had on at the end, I’m not sure I’d stand a chance,” he said, before deciding, “But I have got the wand always, and the broomstick is pretty nimble.”

The wand is exactly what Draco would need against Waltz’s cold-blooded, Jew-hunting Nazi — a performance Felton dubbed “the most spine-chilling of the year.” “He may talk a good talk, but against a decent spell or two, I might be able to take him,” Felton laughed.

And then there’s Helena Bonham Carter, his “Harry Potter” co-star and now his MTV Movie Awards adversary. “Never my competition — she’s my idol,” Felton said. “I’ve learned more off her than anyone else.” Sure you don’t want to talk a little smack? “Of course! I’m putting a friendly face on it, but on the night, it’s all game,” Felton said. “Each dog for his own.”

Lastly, there is Jeong’s naked, tire-iron-swinging mob boss. Can a wizard take him down? And would Draco ever strip it all off to prove he’s the best villain on the big screen? Turns out, that almost happened during “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”

“In the fourth film, I got turned into a ferret,” he said. “In the original script, it says that in the transition back from ferret to human, I was going to be naked, and I was going to have to run through the courtyard with about 60 extras and 50 film crew and run out with my cheeks on show. For some reason, they pulled that at the last minute. I don’t know why. Maybe they thought it was too explicit for young viewers. Maybe something about not having a wide-angle lens!”

Well played, sir. Any final words — a get-out-the-vote message for fans? “After 10 years, to still be in the public’s hearts, it really means a lot,” he said. “I can speak for Daniel and Emma and the rest of the cast on that one. I’d love to see some awards being handed out to ‘Harry Potter’ stars on the night.”

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Tom Felton Is Not In The News, But Really, He Is.

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While it seems all has been quiet on the Tom Felton front lately, my email alerts tell me otherwise. It started last week when an article on character names appeared in the Guardian. I found it funny, you found it funny, and even Tom found it funny enough to tweet about it. After all, tweeting does kill… time. x

What’s in a name? A lot, when it comes to fantasy

I don’t warm to most of the goodies’ sweater-vested names (Ronald, George, Neville), and some of the onomastic determinism meted out to evil-doers is a bit heavy-handed (poor old Draco Malfoy never stood a chance). But I do like the dog Latin spells, and places such as the Room of Requirement.

A week later, the Guardian used the same photo of Tom, and his evil git of a character Draco Malfoy, as a pop culture reference once again, this time in comparison to David Cameron, a Tory leader in UK politics. After calling chief secretary to the Treasury, Liam Byrne, Baldemort, journalist Nicholas Watt couldn’t help but point out Cameron’s similarity to our favorite Slytherin, Draco Malfoy.

But perhaps the greatest threat to Cameron is that he, too, has his own Harry Potter character, according to Labour sources. Step forward Draco Malfoy, the snotty bully who does dirty deeds on behalf of the character whose name must never be mentioned. “Posh and nasty,” went the cry from Labour yesterday.

While the Guardian has taken to using Tom as a reference in their articles, other sources want to know why he’s not mentioned more often. Remember when Ashley Greene talked to MTV about her conversation with Tom concerning the Harry Potter vs. Twilight fandom? It seems ClevverTV did.

 

In a continuation of this same interview with MTV, Ashley kept the mystery behind the film secret by giving the shortest summary possible. However, MTV Movie Blogs was not satisfied, and turned the short article on Ashley into a conspiracy theory on Tom’s character, and his role in the movie.

What’s interesting to me here is that Greene doesn’t mention Felton. He’s got top billing in the movie, along with Greene and Stan. Could this be yet another sign that Felton is playing the villain? He previously told MTV that this role is “a real step outside what I’m used to.”

He then went on to describe his character. “As far as my character goes, obviously he’s not an evil, jealous wizard. He’s a college student, a very intelligent, confident young man who’s really excited about what he’s getting himself into. At the same time, he has no idea what he’s getting himself into. This character has such a wide range in one movie. He starts off as a real go-getter, and as the story goes on, you really see him turn.”

So Greene and Stan are being haunted by some supernatural force and Felton is a guy who “has no idea what he’s getting himself into” until he starts to “turn.” Does he become possessed? Is he a scientist/aspiring scientist who discovers away to tap into supernatural forces? We’ll have to wait and see. But there are plenty of puzzle pieces to shift around on the board.

What exactly is the story behind Tom’s character in The Apparition? What are your theories? While we all ponder those, let’s watch this short video of Tom from the Remember Me premiere. Team Edward for the win, Tom? You don’t say!

Tom Felton talks glowingly of “The Apparition” co-star Ashley Greene in latest MTV interview

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MTV.com loves Tom almost as much as we do, and in his latest interview with the station, Tom rhapsodizes about his latest co-stars Ashley Greene and Sebastian Stan, and discusses how great it is to work with new talent.

“Harry Potter” star Tom Felton had only been in Berlin shooting “The Apparition” for a few days when MTV got a chance to chat with him last week. In that short time, though, Tom said his costars Ashley Greene and Sebastian Stan made a very distinct impression on him.

“The Apparition” is getting plenty of buzz because it will be a crossover of two of the biggest teen franchises around: “Harry Potter” and “The Twilight Saga.” Add that to the fact Sebastian Stan is from cult teen TV series “Gossip Girl” and you’ve got what seems to be a perfect cocktail for the teen demographic’s box office dollars, despite the fact “The Apparition” is described somewhere between a mystery and a thriller.

When Tom first got signed on to star as bad boy Draco Malfoy in “Harry Potter,” he and his costars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint were all unknown child actors who were picked from casting calls at English grade schools. While they have all grown up to be big actors in their own right, this will be the first time Tom will be walking into a film with young actors who have already established themselves as talented professionals.

“It gives me great, great pleasure to not only be a part of a great project but also to be working with such exciting new talent,” Tom told MTV News. “It’s to be part of that, really, hopefully, to be featured among that young talent.”

Tom was very impressed with how untarnished by fame Ashley Greene was.

“She seems like a very, really positive, very, very friendly young lady, in no way at all ‘Hollywood’,” Tom said. “You know, I didn’t have any expectations. In no way is she a diva or anything like that. She’s a lovely girl and clearly extremely talented, which excites me to be working with such great young talent.”

He added of Sebastian, “He couldn’t be more of a gentleman. He’s a real cool guy who, again, even in my real short time I can see the extreme talent with the pair of them. “

What do you think about the trio starring in “The Apparition”? Are you excited to see the crossover of three popular series?

If you have an account at MTV, head on over and leave a comment to answer their question above. Think it’s great Tom’s working with such great new talent? Let us know, too, in the comments below!