Jason Isaacs Talks Lucius Malfoy's Transformation, Calls Draco Malfoy 'Hero of the Whole Saga'
Isaacs Interviews
Posted by: Stephanie_J
July 05, 2011, 07:20 PM
The LA Times' Hero Complex blog has published a new interview with actor Jason Isaacs about his work as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter series.
Mr. Isaacs reflects on what it was like to play the villain of the series, and learning more about Lucius' character as the story went on. He says that "nothing has brought me greater joy" than being part of the Harry Potter films and comments on being a mentor for the younger actors.
NC: As a villain, Lucius Malfoy has a very interesting character arc.
JI: Well, he has an arc. I think that sets him apart
from an awful lot of the adults who do not have the luxury of playing
that. It’s not that we haven’t all had a riot doing it. But the Lucius
that you see, shambling along, this alcoholic husk of an emasculated man
in the “Deathly Hallows” films is so completely different from the
strutting peacock of “Chamber of Secrets,” and it’s been enormously good fun to play that journey.
Mr. Isaacs also went on to explain how he viewed the character of Draco Malfoy (played by actor Tom Felton) to be "the hero of the whole saga." He says he felt the need in "Chamber of Secrets," "to explain how Draco turned out to be who he was."
Because in many ways, to me, Draco is the hero of the whole
saga. I think Harry has his destiny. There is only one choice Harry can
make in every situation. Harry makes the right choice always, and he’s
admirable for doing so. But Draco has a bunch of choices, and Draco has
to break the bonds of the shackles of his past. He has to break the
chain of this kind of abuse and hatred and selfishness and entitlement
that his father has been part of, and probably his grandfather and
stretching back for generations. And so I saw my job as trying to
illustrate how you end up with a kid as messed up as Draco.
The full interview with Mr. Isaacs can be read
here.
23 Comments
14500 Points
first comment ! idk if this is true or not….hmm
96 Points
Pretty questionable comments re: Draco.
The books didn’t show Draco “breaking the chain of abuse, hatred and selfishness”.
No, he wasn’t totally evil.. just very weak.. and certainly not a hero of any kind.
27 Points
Wow! really in-depth interview. i’ve always liked him as an actor and person and it’s great to get his views on his character and the production. very interesting! i especially liked that bit about the trio having been right for the films and his and dan’s improv scene!! and it’s very interesting to know that he created Lucius Malfoy’s look!
799 Points
Jason speaks and I listen…and melt. ;)
335 Points
I like Jason Issacs but I must heartily disagree with his opinion of Draco :P. Though I will have to send this article to my Best friend, she adores Draco and is convinced that he became an Auror and close friends with Harry and Ron….such a silly girl :P
836 Points
Not sure if Draco is the hero. Just a secondary hero.
381 Points
I’ve never thought of Draco that way before. Very interesting.
363 Points
I don’t consider Draco a hero in any respect. He is an antagonist who sets out to try and influence others into his way of thinking. Only after the fall of Voldemort does Draco show anything resembling a realisation that his father was leading him along the wrong path. I believe the best description for Draco Malfoy would be “reformed villain”.
19088 Points
A fantastic interveiw! I really enjoyed hearing Jason’s thought on Draco, very true what he said. Draco is a hero in his own way, and he’s been through a lot.
79377 Points
More of a zero than a hero…
32 Points
At first I read the quote as “I think Harry IS his destiny” and then I had one wild, amazing millisecond of thinking that Jason Isaacs shipped Harry/Draco.
It was a nice moment.
That said, I’m not sure I’d call Draco the hero – and I think Harry certainly had difficulty making the right choices some of the time – but not identifying Harry at Malfoy Manor was incredibly ballsy and rivaled the actions of the Trio at their best moments. He could easily have given Harry up, restored his family’s status and ensured Voldemort’s takeover, but he didn’t. So while in general Draco is kind of a failed villain (cowardly, halfhearted, etc) he did show those wonderful tiny moments of trying to break away from the way he was raised.
5439 Points
Not sure if Draco is the hero.
29 Points
Sure Draco hasn’t always made the best choices and comes off as a snotty stuck up kid who definitely doesn’t deserve to be called a hero, but as the series went on and came to a close, part of me felt Draco deserved a lot of recognition for his character development. Sure in HBP and DH he’s a little weak cry baby, but it’s because he was stepping out of his comfort zone and instead of continuing with the “abuse and hatred and selfishness” that his family has been known for participating in he tried doing the right thing for once or at least thought about doing the right thing, which scared the poor boy. The last couple of books really made me gain some sort of respect for Draco because he thought for himself for once
673 Points
I agree a bit with WeasleyCat, Draco did try to do the right thing and tried to change which is admirable when he’s background is considered. that said, I am not sure that he is the hero because Harry is a very unique Hero who could have taken all the wrong choices considering how he grew up, yet no matter how hard it was he chose the right way.
38 Points
it depends on the way you see it. draco has his weakness as any other people. he’s divided from being like his family, or doing the right choices. i don’t think he is a hero, but i do respect him as a person who grew up during the years and the books. and i’m proud of him to realize he didn’t need to be that way, i’m just sad he didn’t decide to be stronger before.
first comment ! idk if this is true or not….hmm