Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise, shares the time Alan Rickman swore at him on set. Based on the beloved novels by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone introduced audiences to Daniel Radcliffe's Harry and his two best friends, Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint). The film was a massive hit critically and commercially, leading to 7 direct sequels and 3 additional spinoff films. While Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) was the central villain of the Harry Potter films, Harry also contended with a number of other antagonistic characters, including Draco and Snape (Rickman).
Rickman played Snape for all 8 Harry Potter films, saying farewell to the role in 2011's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. Also known for hit films like Die Hard and Love Actually, Rickman ultimately passed away in 2016 after battling cancer. Initially serving as Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Snape comes to play an increasingly important role as the Harry Potter films progress. While he makes no secret of his disdain for Radcliffe's character throughout the Harry Potter franchise, it's revealed in the final film that Snape has been acting as Harry's protector since the beginning due to his love for Harry's late mother, Lilly.
To promote his new memoir, Beyond the Wand, Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton took to Instagram to share a behind-the-scenes story from the Harry Potter set in which Rickman swore at him. The actor reveals that, after accidentally stepping on Rickman's cloak one too many times, Rickman turned to him and said, "Don't step on my f---ing cloak." Felton concedes that stepping on Rickman's cloak did essentially choke him since it was fastened around his neck, and recalls the late actor also giving him "a look like you never ever want to see." Check out Felton's full story below:
“Eventually I was told in no uncertain terms by Alan Rickman, ‘Don’t step on my f---ing cloak.’ I sort of giggled. Death Eaters and I sort of looked at each other like ‘Is he joking?’ Quickly it became apparent he definitely wasn’t joking. Next take, the director was very keen and asked me to walk as close as I possibly can to Alan. And we got about halfway down the great hall before [choking sound]. You have to bear in mind his cloak is attached around his neck. Nearly killed the poor man. He turned around and gave me a look like you never ever want to see. Very luckily the next take someone else stepped on his cloak. So that kinda took the heat away from me. But I’ll never forget the words ‘Don’t step on my f---ing cloak.’”
How Alan Rickman Brought Snape To Life In Harry Potter
Although an interesting character in Rowling's books, Rickman's version of Snape in the Harry Potter films is arguably even better and more memorable. The actor, who is classically trained, brought a seriousness and an enigmatic quality to the role, with Harry Potter fans quickly coming to love his slow and deliberate line delivery. Furthermore, the love fans feel for Rickman's Snape, who is presented as a somewhat villainous character at first, is made all the more rewarding when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 reveals his honorable intentions all along.
Felton's story, which is equal parts funny and surprising, reveals just how powerful Rickman's presence was and how he was able to bring Snape to life so effectively in the Harry Potter franchise. In many ways, it's easy to imagine Snape having a similar reaction in the same scenario. Although almost all the major actors involved in Harry Potter have shared their positive experiences with Rickman on set and have spoken to what a kind and caring man he was, Felton's latest story proves that the actor was only human and acts as further evidence of why he was so perfect for the role of Snape.
Source: Tom Felton