Harry Potter star Tom Felton shares about his substance abuse struggle and three stints in rehab

Tom Felton, in his new memoir, got candid about his substance abuse problems, his three rehab bouts, and the intervention that prompted him to seek help.

The Harry Potter star, 35, admitted he started drinking heavily ‘to escape’ when he was in his 20s book – titled Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard – released Tuesday.

The English actor also talked about his mental health issues, writing: ‘The alcohol wasn’t the problem, though. It was the symptom. The problem was deeper,” in an excerpt shared by People.

Felton – known for playing wizard Draco Malfoy in the film adaptations of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter novels – said he started spending much of his time in dive bars and “craving normalcy” while living in Los Angeles.

“I went from not being particularly interested to regularly having a few pints a day before the sun went down, and a shot of whiskey with each of them,” he wrote.

The actor revealed that his alcohol use and behavior got so bad that his then-girlfriend – who was also his manager – mounted an intervention with his agents and asked him for help.

Escape: The Harry Potter star, 35, admitted to drinking heavily “to escape” when he was in his twenties in the book – titled Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard – which was released Tuesday. was released

However, it was a message from his lawyer, with whom he “barely met face-to-face,” that “hit the hardest” and prompted him to seek help.

‘Tom,’ he said, ‘I don’t know you very well, but you seem like a nice guy. I just want to tell you that this is the seventeenth intervention I’ve experienced in my career. they are dead now. Don’t be the twelfth,” the actor recalled the lawyer’s words.

It was then that the actor finally enrolled in Malibu rehab, but promptly left less than 24 hours later.

Deeper: The English actor also elaborated on his mental health issues, writing, “The alcohol wasn’t the problem, though. It was the symptom. The problem was deeper’; Pictured 2022

Claim to fame: Felton — known for playing wizard Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films — said he went to rehab three times before getting better; Pictured in a still from Harry Potter

He later found his way to a second rehab facility, but was kicked out for breaking the rules when he was found in a girl’s room.

Although he had his life under control for a while, he admitted that after a few years “the numbness returned” and then he went to rehab for the third time – this time unsolicited.

While calling it one of the “hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” the actor credited himself with “admitting to myself that I needed some help — and I was going to do something about it.”

“I’m no longer shy about raising my hands and saying, ‘I’m not well,'” he added, as well as, “I’m not the only one with these feelings.”

Not just, “I’m no longer shy about raising my hands and saying, I’m not okay,” he wrote in the book, adding, “I’m not the only one with these feelings.” Felton said he hoped his openness would help others “normalize” therapy for their own problems; Pictured 2021

Just as we all experience physical health problems at some point in our lives, we all experience mental health problems as well. There’s no shame in that. It’s not a sign of weakness,” he continued, adding that he hoped his openness would help others “normalize” therapy for their own problems.

Elsewhere in the new book, Felton also shared that he had a ‘secret love’ for his Harry Potter colleague Emma Watson, 32, writing: ‘I loved her and admired her as a person in a way I would never tell anyone else. can explain. ‘

In an excerpt published by The evening standardTom wrote: ‘I’ve always had a secret love for Emma, ​​although maybe not in the way people would like to hear. That’s not to say there’s never been a spark between us. Certainly, just at different times.’

Crushing on Hermione! Elsewhere in the new book, Felton also shared that he had a “secret love” for his Harry Potter colleague Emma Watson, 32; The duo pictured in 2003

The two played enemies on camera, with Emma playing the brilliant Hermione Granger against Tom’s snobbish Draco.

Tom will talk about that and much more as he travels across the US promoting the tome. Performances are scheduled in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Felton was also recently caught praising the author of the original Harry Potter books, JK Rowling, for “bringing so many generations together” through the stories.

His comments follow a wave of criticism against the writer after her controversial comments about transgender people – with the actor sharing that he is “not taking sides.”

Hold by JK: Felton recently praised Harry Potter writer JK Rowling for “bringing generations together” while refusing to comment on the backlash, after sparking controversy over her comments about transgender people in 2020; Pictured in 2019