Tom Felton has reflected on Harry Potter author JK Rowling’s work (Picture: Getty)
Harry Potter star Tom Felton has praised author JK Rowling’s contribution to literature, but stopped short of sharing his thoughts on the criticism around past comments made by the author.
Rowling attracted a fierce backlash in 2020 after criticising an article which referred to ‘people who menstruate’.
Taking issue with the phrasing, the author – who denies she is transphobic – wrote on Twitter: ‘”People who menstruate”. I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?’
After she received further backlash following a series of tweets that also saw her defend her staunch belief in biological sex, several Harry Potter cast members – including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint – allied with the trans community and distanced themselves from Rowling’s views at the time.
In speaking about Rowling this week, Felton – who played Draco Malfoy in the franchise – said he ‘doesn’t tend to pick sides’, and instead praised her work.
Felton has said he feels ‘no-one has single-handedly done more for bringing joy to so many different generations’ than Rowling.
Felton played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise (Picture: Warner Bros)
Speaking to The Times’ T2 magazine, the actor said: ‘I couldn’t speak for what others have said or what she said, to be completely honest, but I’m often reminded, attending Comic Cons in particular, that no-one has single-handedly done more for bringing joy to so many different generations and walks of life.
‘I’m constantly reminded of her positive work in that field and as a person. I’ve only had a handful of meetings with her but she has always been lovely. So I’m very grateful for that.’
Rowling received criticism after comments made about trans people (Picture: Gregory Pace/Shutterstock)
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint supported the trans community in the wake of the criticism (Picture: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)
He continued: ‘I’m pro. I’m pro-choice. I’m pro-life. I’m pro-discussion. I’m pro-love. I don’t tend to pick sides.
‘I won’t talk specifics but I enjoy reminding myself and others that a lot of my good friends have ways of life or personal decisions that I don’t necessarily agree with.
‘We should enjoy celebrating each other’s differences.’
The 35-year-old actor, like many of his co-stars, joined the series as a child and grew up making the eight films over a 10-year period, ending in 2011.
He admitted that being attached to the fantasy world had not always been easy and he had been called the ‘broomstick prick for a while at secondary school’.
However, he feels it is the ‘gift that keeps on giving’ as it helped launch his career which includes featuring in 2011’s Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes and recurring roles in the TV series Murder In The First, The Flash and Origin.
Felton also recently made his West End debut in the supernatural thriller 2:22 – A Ghost Story.
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He has written a new memoir, Beyond The Wand, which also reflects on his life from growing up on the Harry Potter set to what his life has been like since filming finished.
Felton told the publication that he does not mention Rowling often in the book as he did not have much contact with her, but he does recall that he kept and framed a note from her in which she complimented him on his performance in the sixth film, Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince.
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The actor reflected on the author’s literary contribution while speaking about his time in the franchise.