Tom Felton bio, net worth, wife, age, height, photos, career path 2025

Tom Felton Biography

Tom Felton is a British actor and musician who shot to worldwide fame playing villain Draco Malfoy in the iconic Harry Potter films. Landing a role in the legendary franchise was both a generous gift from fate and a serious challenge for the young actor. For years, this positive, friendly guy was associated with his cunning and malicious on-screen character, and it took considerable effort to shake off that sticky image.

Childhood and Early Roles

Tom was born in the small town of Epsom in Surrey County, about 15 miles southwest of London. Tom is the fourth and youngest son of Peter Felton and Sharon Anstey, with three older brothers: Jonathan, Chris, and Ashley.

As a young child, Tom looked like a little angel with his blonde curls and huge blue eyes. He was also incredibly artistic, with a beautiful voice and perfect pitch. From age seven, the boy sang in the church choir at Guildford Cathedral, and when he became a student at West Horsley's Cranmore School, he performed in the school choir and attended drama club. He completed his secondary education at Howard of Effingham School (by then he was already actively filming and had virtually no time left for studying).

When Tom turned eight, his mother's friend suggested trying him out for film. Thanks to her, the boy landed the role of Peagreen Clock in the family comedy The Borrowers, beating out four hundred other kids. The young talent got noticed, and Felton started getting invited to other projects.

In 1998, he was offered the role of Thomas Ingham in the series Second Sight, and a year later the boy played Louis Leonowens, the son of the main character (Jodie Foster) in the historical drama Anna and the King. Meanwhile, Tom was also appearing in commercials for Commercial Union and Barclaycard.

"Harry Potter"

Felton's star-making moment came in 2000 when he landed a role in the iconic British fantasy "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," based on J.K. Rowling's beloved novel. The author personally took part in casting and saw Tom as Draco Malfoy, even though the young actor originally wanted to play the lead. Later, Felton came to appreciate his character's advantages – vibrant, complex, and guaranteed to spark intense reactions. The role of Harry Potter went to Daniel Radcliffe, who became one of Tom's closest friends during filming.

The film also featured Rupert Grint, Chris Rankin, Emma Watson, and other young, largely inexperienced actors who used the franchise as a launchpad for their careers. Watson's trajectory has been particularly impressive – she's become not only a sought-after, highly paid Hollywood actress but also a successful top model and the face of major fashion brands.

Tom, naturally easygoing and good-natured, had to work hard to nail his antagonist's persona. The contemptuous sneer proved especially challenging – it became as much Draco's signature as his platinum blonde hair. Felton later admitted he nearly lost his hair from constant bleaching, so all his subsequent contracts specifically addressed this issue.

Tom Felton Bloopers and Funny Moments From Harry Potter

Over time, Felton embodied Draco so completely that audiences couldn't separate the two. Viewers assumed Tom was equally arrogant and pompous in real life – kids were scared of him, and social media users hurled insults his way. One incident genuinely frightened the young actor: a fan suggested he change his name to Draco, move to America, and become their son.

Tom Felton in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Tom was still a teenager himself, so handling sudden fame wasn't easy at first. But as the story progressed, Draco's character grew more nuanced and sympathetic. In the final installment, audiences couldn't hold back tears – and Felton admits he sat in the theater clutching tissues.

Tom Felton Interview - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

"Harry Potter" undeniably became a landmark event in world cinema. The franchise earned eight BAFTA nominations and landed on the list of highest-grossing films of all time. Tom won three awards for best villain and by 23 had earned nearly three million dollars.

He spent some of his earnings on high-end gadgets and luxury cars – a particular passion of his – invested in stocks, gave money to his parents, and donated a substantial amount to charity.

Finding His Path and Career Evolution

Knowing the Harry Potter films couldn't last forever, Felton struggled to figure out his next move. Auditions were brutal – he'd show up with shaky knees, bomb the casting, and the roles he did get offered felt like Draco all over again. So he pivoted to hip-hop, signed with an independent label, and started writing grime-rap tracks.

Tom Felton Singing

Felton found some success there, dropping several EPs and flooding YouTube with music videos. But ten years on set had left their mark, and in 2011 Tom headed to Los Angeles to audition for the sci-fi blockbuster "Rise of the Planet of the Apes."

He landed a small role as Dodge Landon – a cruel zoo guard who torments the film's main character. The new character wasn't far from Draco, and neither were his next roles in "The Apparition," "Labyrinth," "Murder in the First," and several others.

Tom Felton in Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Felton couldn't shake the villain typecast right away, but historical dramas "Belle," "Risen," and "A United Kingdom" finally broke the pattern. These films didn't set the box office on fire, but Tom proved he had more range than anyone had given him credit for.

In 2016, Tom scored a recurring role in season three of the superhero series "The Flash," playing alchemist doctor Julian Albert. The gig brought him into the comic book universe and won over a whole new crowd of fans.

Then he was cast as Laertes in "Ophelia," a modern take on Shakespeare's Hamlet, starring opposite British actresses Daisy Ridley and Naomi Watts. He also joined the cast of sci-fi web series "Origin," playing a crew member on a spaceship headed for the planet Thea.

Tom Felton keeps working in film, though his projects aren't exactly blockbusters. In 2020, he appeared in the kids' fantasy "A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting" and war drama "The Forgotten Battle." He also joined the special "Return to Hogwarts," celebrating 20 years since the first Harry Potter film.

In 2022, he worked on "The Burial," "Save the Cinema," and "Canyon Del Muerto."

Tom Felton's Personal Life

Ever since his Harry Potter days, Felton's love life has been a source of endless fascination for fans. For years, he was rumored to be dating his on-screen co-star Emma Watson, who's openly admitted she had a serious crush on Tom. The two do show up together at events and stay connected on social media, but they insist they're just friends. Recently, Felton backed Emma's choice to embrace being "self-partnered," saying he's pretty much on board with that lifestyle himself.

Tom started thinking this way after splitting from Jade Gordon, who worked as a stunt coordinator on Harry Potter and played Astoria, Draco's wife, in the final film. As often happens, their on-screen romance turned real, and after filming wrapped, the couple dove headfirst into their relationship.

They spent tons of time hanging out with their mutual friend Daniel Radcliffe, frequently visited Surrey (where they're both from), and even talked about getting married soon. In 2016, the couple suddenly split without explaining why, and three years later, Jade married golfer Patrick Rodgers, who's five years younger than her.

After that, Tom's romantic life went quiet for a while, which naturally got fans speculating about his sexuality. The tabloids occasionally ran stories about his "special friends," usually sparked by his social media posts. Whether intentionally or not, Tom did post some provocative photos of himself kissing guys or cooking dinner with them.

Around 2021, Tom started dating Roxanne Danaë Plit (some sources say they're engaged). She's five years younger than Felton, born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, and studied design. Tom met her while filming "Origin" in South Africa, they kept in touch online, and in 2021 she moved to London—that's when their full-blown love story began.

The actor doesn't comment on his personal life, though, and during the live streams that became popular among celebrities during lockdown, he carefully dodged the topic. At the weekly online hangouts he hosted on social media, Tom preferred singing his songs with his guitar and chatting online with friends and colleagues—including his on-screen father, Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy.

Felton takes his fitness seriously. He's loved golf, basketball, swimming, and tennis since childhood, and he rollerblades, ice skates, and skis. But Tom's biggest passion is fishing—he even tried studying "fishery science" at university. Along with his brother Chris, he's a member of the Angling Association, competes in tournaments (including international ones), and campaigns for clean waterways and protecting the ecosystems around them.

Tom Felton Now

In 2024, Tom Felton traveled to Astana to shoot the film Altered. Set in an alternate world where nearly everyone has undergone genetic enhancement, society is fractured by genetic inequality and corrupt politicians.

The main characters Leon (played by Felton) and Chloe (Russian actress Elizaveta Bugulova) have refused DNA modification and now find themselves pulled into a battle for justice. Timo Vuorensola directed the project.

Tom Felton and Igor Zhizhikin on the set of Altered

That summer, he signed on for the horror-thriller They're Going to Kill You. This time not as the hero, but as a member of a satanic cult, with the action unfolding in a New York high-rise where people mysteriously disappear. He shared the set with Patricia Arquette and Zazie Beetz, while Russian director Kirill Sokolov—who made his name back home with dark comedies—helmed the film.

If someone had told young Tom he'd be playing a satanist in a Russian director's film, he would've thought it was a joke. But 2024 apparently didn't recognize the boundaries of absurdity.

He also continued shooting the British comedy Fackham Hall. Jimmy Carr wrote the screenplay, determined to skewer everything from Downton Abbey to similar period pieces in one go. Tom landed the role of Archibald, the classic rival fighting for the hand and heart of an aristocrat. They filmed in the English countryside, among historic estates and fog.

In June 2025, Tom appeared on the TODAY show and dropped news that made Harry Potter fans gasp: he was returning as Draco Malfoy. Unfortunately not for a film, but for the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and only for 19 weeks. But tickets sold so fast that Felton had to extend his contract another seven weeks—through May 2026.

Tom Felton as the grown-up Draco Malfoy — In 2025, Tom Felton returned to the role of Draco Malfoy

"I feel like I'm dreaming," the actor admitted in an interview. No wonder! Sixteen years had passed since he'd taken off the Slytherin robes, and now he was playing adult Draco, a family man. When they put the platinum wig on him in the dressing room, Tom broke down crying on the spot.

Between all these shoots and rehearsals, something else unexpected happened. Tom announced he'd be participating in the Formula E race in Miami. Not as a spectator, but behind the wheel of an actual racing car. The special celebrity program included serious preparation—simulators, physical training, learning the technical features of electric race cars.

Interesting Facts

In December 2021, Tom visited Moscow—he was invited to the Bubble Comics Con pop culture festival.
Tom loves animals, and he has two Labradors of his own
Felton's biggest dream remains playing James Bond, or at least his archenemy that Agent 007 has to battle.

Tom Felton

Photos: Tom Felton