Jason Isaacs pens heartfelt birthday tribute to Tom Felton: 'You'll always have my ear'
Synopsis
Jason Isaacs' Instagram birthday note for Tom Felton was part tribute, part rallying cry — urging live audiences at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in New York to sing Happy Birthday at curtain call. The message offered a rare, unscripted glimpse into the off-screen bond between cinema's most memorable Malfoy duo.
Key Takeaways
Jason Isaacs posted a heartfelt birthday tribute for Tom Felton on Instagram , sharing a then-and-now photograph.
Isaacs publicly asked audiences and cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in New York to sing Happy Birthday during the curtain call.
Tom Felton is currently starring in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on stage in New York .
The play, written by Jack Thorne , is set nineteen years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows .
Felton's acting career began in 1997 with The Borrowers , before his iconic role as Draco Malfoy .
Actor Jason Isaacs, best known for portraying Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter film franchise, has written a warm and emotionally charged birthday message for his on-screen 'son' Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy across the series. The tribute, posted on Instagram, included a then-and-now photograph of the two actors and a personal plea to audiences watching Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in New York.
The Birthday Message
In the caption accompanying the post, Isaacs wrote: 'I had your ear back then and you know you'll always have mine. Happiest of birthdays, son. You've given so many people so much pleasure this year in New York but what they don't know is how important that is to you. How that feeds your soul. I do and I love you for it.'
He added a playful appeal to Felton's live audience and castmates: 'So if anyone's reading this in the audience or the cast tonight…I didn't want to come on stage and distract, but please - please - do sing Happy Birthday at the curtain call. Just start and everyone will join in, I promise. He'll hate me for asking. Sorry son but you deserve it!'
Tom Felton on Stage in New York
Felton is currently appearing in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the acclaimed stage production running in New York. The play, written by Jack Thorne from an original story by Thorne, J.K. Rowling, and John Tiffany, is set nineteen years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It centres on Albus Severus Potter, the second son of Harry Potter — now Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic — as he struggles with his father's towering legacy after being sorted into Slytherin.
Tom Felton's Career Beyond Hogwarts
Felton's journey in entertainment began well before his defining role as the platinum-haired Slytherin prince. He made his screen debut as Peagreen Clock in The Borrowers in 1997, and later portrayed Louis T. Leonowens in Anna and the King. His casting as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter film adaptations cemented his place in pop culture history.
A Bond That Outlasted the Films
The public tribute from Isaacs underscores a genuine off-screen affection between the two actors that has endured long after the cameras stopped rolling on the Harry Potter franchise. Notably, Isaacs' willingness to publicly rally a theatre audience around Felton reflects the kind of personal warmth that fans of the series have long admired. Felton, now carving out a significant stage career, appears to be finding renewed purpose in live performance — something Isaacs' message makes plain he recognises and cherishes.
Point of View
The specificity and warmth here feel genuinely unscripted. It also quietly underlines the cultural staying power of Harry Potter — two decades on, a birthday post for a cast member can still move audiences worldwide.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Jason Isaacs write in his birthday message to Tom Felton?
Jason Isaacs wrote a personal Instagram tribute telling Felton, 'I had your ear back then and you know you'll always have mine,' and urged audiences at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in New York to sing Happy Birthday at the curtain call. He praised Felton's stage work, saying it 'feeds your soul.'
Where is Tom Felton currently performing?
Tom Felton is currently starring in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the stage production running in New York. The play is set nineteen years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
What is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child about?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a stage play written by Jack Thorne, from an original story by Thorne, J.K. Rowling, and John Tiffany. It follows Albus Severus Potter, Harry Potter's second son, as he struggles with his father's legacy after being sorted into Slytherin at Hogwarts.
Who did Jason Isaacs and Tom Felton play in Harry Potter?
Jason Isaacs played Lucius Malfoy, the patriarch of the Malfoy family, while Tom Felton portrayed his son Draco Malfoy across the Harry Potter film series. Their on-screen father-son dynamic has clearly translated into a genuine off-screen bond.
What was Tom Felton's first acting role?
Tom Felton made his screen debut as Peagreen Clock in The Borrowers in 1997. He also played Louis T. Leonowens in Anna and the King before being cast as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter film adaptations.
