Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard

Tom Felton

Oct 2022 · Hachette Audio · Narrated by Tom Felton

About this audiobook

From the magical moments on set as Draco Malfoy to the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, get a backstage pass into Tom Felton’s life on and off the big screen in this #1 New York Times bestseller.  

Tom Felton’s adolescence was anything but ordinary. His early rise to fame in beloved films like The Borrowers catapulted him into the limelight, but nothing could prepare him for what was to come after he landed the iconic role of the Draco Malfoy, the bleached blonde villain of the Harry Potter movies. For the next ten years, he was at the center of a huge pop culture phenomenon and yet, in between filming, he would go back to being a normal teenager trying to fit into a normal school. 
 
Speaking with great candor and his signature humor, Tom shares his experience growing up as part of the wizarding world while also trying to navigate the muggle world. He tells stories from his early days in the business like his first acting gig where he was mistaken for fellow blonde child actor Macaulay Culkin and his Harry Potter audition where, in a very Draco-like move, he fudged how well he knew the books the series was based on (not at all). He reflects on his experiences working with cinematic greats such as Alan Rickman, Sir Michael Gambon, Dame Maggie Smith, and Ralph Fiennes (including that awkward Voldemort hug). And, perhaps most poignantly, he discusses the lasting relationships he made over that decade of filming, including with Emma Watson, who started out as a pesky nine-year-old whom he mocked for not knowing what a boom mic was but who soon grew into one of his dearest friends. Then, of course, there are the highs and lows of fame and navigating life after such a momentous and life-changing experience.
 
Now with a new chapter Felton delves into his experience of fame, Beyond the Wand is an entertaining, funny, and poignant must-read for any Harry Potter fan. Prepare to meet a real-life wizard.

Ratings and reviews

This book was so interesting and for any HP lover, listening to the audiobook and hearing his voice narrating will be an even better experience!

Loved hearing the author himself read such a thoughtful, charming and authentic book that inspires the reader (or listener) to make a commitment to your mental health.

Using an exact quote Tom once used to suggest everyone go see his dear old friend Rupert's work, "It's brilliant! He's brillianter!" God Bless Tom Felton, he's a special kind of sweet & innocent! He's honest and humble, with a wicked sense of a wry–self-deprecating sense of humour. He's got an ego on him, yet he's also dense and self-sabotaging, & well? If I'm being honest, a thickheaded–idiot! Lol, but he's genuine, human, and utterly relatable!! This is a great read! I highly recommend it!!

About the author

Tom Felton is an English actor, best known for playing Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. He has also appeared in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Belle, The Flash, A United Kingdom, The Forgotten Battle and 2.22 A Ghost Story in London's West End. He lives in London with his dog Willow.