Harry Potter star Tom Felton has revealed that they had a special “red card jar” on the set of the movies that the child actors had to put money into if they caused disruption to filming.
The 34-year-old actor, who played bully Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series, told the Standard: “I think Rupert [Grint] was the chief offender for laughing.
“I was certainly guilty of laughing a few times, me and the other Slytherin boys Josh [Herdman] and Jamie [Waylett] had fun causing mischief – we were getting into character.”
Felton shared his recollections as he unveiled Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse, a new expansion at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, which opens this summer as part of the Mandrakes and Magical Creatures exhibit.
The greenhouse is a fan-favourite set from the wizarding franchise where students were taught their Herbology lessons with Professor Pomona Sprout (played by Miriam Margolyes).
He said: “It’s a pretty unique set really and only one that features in the films quite limited, but it’s quite iconic. People always remember it and it was such a lot of fun for us kids shooting there. I’m pretty sure we took a bit of an extra day because we were having too much fun.”
On working with the inimitable Margolyes, he said: “Oh, she was terrible! No, the exact opposite. I think she was the one that instigated half the fun! She was as you could imagine, quite a riot. [It] must have been quite difficult, I think there were probably 40 kids in here and she was obviously having to police the whole situation. I think she was probably having as much fun as the rest of us.”
Offering his tips on how best to pull a Mandrake, Felton – who is currently starring in West End play 2:22 A Ghost Story – says “It’s all in the wrist”.
Adding: “Once you learn, you never lose it. Just don’t stick your finger in your mouth, I’ll warn you about that.”
Felton will be sharing more of his memories in upcoming memoir, Beyond The Wand, which is due for release on October 13.
Admitting that he knew nothing about Harry Potter when he originally auditioned some 22 years ago, it has played a pivotal part in his life of which he’s proud and is regularly asked about.
He said: “I think all of us expected the fandom to trickle out as the years went on, but clearly it’s more popular than ever and not going anywhere any time soon.”
That’s evident by this new exhibition at the Studio Tour.
Visitors will be welcomed into the Great Hall to the Frog Choir scene as seen in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, featuring the costume of conductor of the choir, Professor Flitwick, as worn by Warwick Davis.
In addition to the greenhouse, the tour will be expanding the exterior sets in their backlot with new additions including the fountain from the Hogwarts courtyard and a 1:3 scale-version of the Weasleys’ Burrow.
