Tom, Old Mate Potter, Guides Felton Through Broadway Debut
Actor Daniel Radcliffe assists in launching a newcomer's career on Broadway. - Actor Daniel Radcliffe assists in launching his Broadway career.
Hey there, not about to choke up before the big performance, no way! It's all good when you've got an old buddy like Daniel Radcliffe (35) by your side, helping you navigate the tricky waters of a Broadway debut. Tom Felton (37) spilled the beans on the red carpet of the Tony Awards in New York, telling People magazine that Radcliffe's got his back as he prepares for his first performance on the Great White Way.
" Yorkie, Dan's been around the Broadway block a few times, so he's holding my hand and helping me get my act together," Felton shared. The actor can't get enough of the Broadway community: "And from what I can tell, it's a top-notch bunch of people. Fans are super friendly and excited. I'm just stoked to be a part of it."
New Spin on an Old Role
It's been 14 years since Felton last graced the screen as the detestable Draco Malfoy in a "Harry Potter" film, but he's getting another crack at the character starting November 11. He'll be gracing the Broadway stage for 19 weeks in "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." Felton announced the exciting news a few days ago during a chat on NBC's "Today Show." He's the first original cast member of the film series to make the leap to the popular stage adaptation that continues the story of the beloved characters.
"The show's a big deal," Felton told "People." He's seen it "a bunch of times, well over a dozen, mostly in England, but I've caught a few on Broadway too." Still, he couldn't help but be surprised when the offer came his way: "I never expected to be donning the blonde again, playing this role," he admits. But what gets him most pumped is the new take on his character, particularly the fact that Draco is now a father. "It's an old character, but in a whole new world," Felton says. "That's what I'm most looking forward to exploring."
To Variety, he also said on the sidelines of the Tony Awards: "What's coolest about this gig is that we're doing it live. The movie took about nine months to film, but this is all compressed into a beautiful, fresh narrative. And I get to be a dad, which is a blast." Speaking of the enduring Potter-mania, he added: "I don't think any of us thought the flame would still be burning this bright after all these years. Clearly, I was wrong."
He also touched upon the controversy surrounding "Harry Potter" creator J.K. Rowling (59) when she spoke out against trans people. "It doesn't affect my work," he said. "All I ever think about is how lucky I am to have traveled the world. Here I am in New York. And let's face it, nothing brings the world together like Potter. So I'm eternally grateful."
Radcliffe's Broadway Strides
Radcliffe, who played the iconic Harry Potter in all the films from 2001 to 2011, isn't a Broadway newbie. In 2008, he made his stage debut in "Equus," having previously played the role in the London West End. He followed that up with "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (2011), "The Cripple of Inishmaan" (2014), and "The Lifespan of a Fact" (2018).
Radcliffe scored his biggest Broadway success to date in 2023 with "Merrily We Roll Along" opposite Jonathan Groff (40) and Lindsay Mendez (42). For his role, he took home the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
- Tom Felton
- Daniel Radcliffe
- Broadway
- Harry Potter
- Tony Awards
- New York
- Tony Award
- The Cursed Child
- The camaraderie between Tom Felton and Daniel Radcliffe, both Harry Potter alumni, was evident during the Tony Awards as Tom shared that Radcliffe is guiding him through his Broadway debut in "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child".
- Daniel Radcliffe, a seasoned Broadway performer, made a big splash in 2023 when he won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role in "Merrily We Roll Along".
