Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard

Through his family and through the actors that he works with on set, Felton learns the importance of retaining his sense of playfulness and humility, both in his acting work and in the other parts of his life. As both a child and an adult, Felton performs best as an actor when he is feeling relaxed and natural. As he states, “Whenever anybody asks me about acting, my advice is always the same. Be playful. Childlike, even” (50). He describes “larking about while filming The Borrowers,” running through “my own personal Super Mario game” (43) of hilariously giant props of everyday objects that were designed to make him look like a miniature person. He thrives in this playful and silly atmosphere. Later, as an adult, when Felton is feeling nervous about auditions or intimidated by sets or illustrious actors, Felton tries to tap into this childlike part of himself. He is assisted in maintaining this endeavor through the humility of the veteran actors that he works with on the sets of Harry Potter, for they stress the importance of embracing silliness and humor on a successful set. For example, Robbie Coltrane is constantly playful in his interactions with the child actors, such as when he breaks the tension at the first table reading by switching places with Emma Watson in their introduction. The success in this approach is that Coltrane “eases any tension in the room with his brilliant sense of humor” (74).

Similarly, Michael Gambon, smoking with Felton in his full Dumbledore regalia during the filming of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, helps the young actor manage his nerves when Felton is frustrated with himself for making mistakes. As Felton describes, “He kindly waved my apology away” and said, “Dear boy, do you have any idea how much they pay me per day? At this rate, if you keep fucking it up, I’ll have a new Ferrari by next week” (189). The success of Gambon’s joke is clear in Felton’s renewed enthusiasm and relief, for he “instantly felt the pressure lift […] and from that moment everything went swimmingly” (189). All of these actors set an example for Felton that it is important to remain grounded and to keep laughing; none of the stars on the Harry Potter set carry themselves with any hint of arrogance or conceit.

In life, Felton usually acts with “self-deprecating buffoonery” (249) which he learns from his father; this approach helps people to feel at ease with him and in turn helps Felton to feel at ease with himself. However, in Los Angeles, Felton abandons this sense of humor which used to typify his social interactions, because “everyone took themselves too seriously. Everyone took me too seriously” (249). Being famous “massaged [his] ego” (247), and he leans into this life of glamor and stardom, enjoying the crazy nights out, skipping lines to exclusive clubs and restaurants, and enjoying free designed clothes and expensive cars that are loaned to him weekly. In embracing this lifestyle, however, Felton loses the humility that always kept him grounded; he ends up feeling inauthentic and lost and turns to alcohol to escape his own feelings of shame and dissatisfaction. The gas station attendant helps Felton to confront the fact that although he is a millionaire, he is not truly a rich man, for “the only true currency we have in life is the effect we have on those around us” (286).

Tellingly, Felton’s life in North London (as described in the Afterword) is decidedly (and intentionally) “ordinary” (284). He prioritizes his relationships with his family and close friends, walks his dog, listens to the news, and eats a simple breakfast, all while remaining “full of gratitude” (284). These details reveal that Felton has once again decided to prioritize human relationships and a simple and humble life.