Harry Potter star Johnny Flynn has said that he doesn’t think private schools should exist, stating that they should be “burnt to the ground” after his own “traumatic” experience at boarding school.
The British actor, 43, is best known for starring in Channel 4 sitcom Lovesick (formerly known as Scrotal Recall), the 2020 film Emma, and most recently, the Paramount+ crime drama MobLand. He is about to take on the role of Lucius Malfoy in HBO’s forthcoming Harry Potter TV adaptation.
In a new interview, Flynn opened up about his childhood – revealing that he was badly bullied while studying at Winchester’s Pilgrims’ School. He attended the boarding school from age seven after securing a choral scholarship.
“It was quite traumatic for me,” he told the Radio Times. “I think they should all be burnt to the ground, I don’t think private schools should exist.”
He added that he developed “little nervous tics” after being separated from his family and only unpacked the mental toll that it took years later.
Having undergone “brilliant” therapy, Flynn said: “I suddenly thought, ‘God, there’s something quite painful about this.’ I learnt there was something called boarding school syndrome. And I’m good, I’m OK now.”
A spokesperson for Pilgrims’ School told The Independent in a statement: “We are saddened to hear of anyone who recalls a difficult experience during their time at school. Pilgrims' has evolved significantly over the years and, as with schools across the country, our safeguarding and pastoral approaches are continually reviewed and strengthened.
“We believe children learn best when they feel safe, valued and that they belong. Creating a culture of kindness, respect and inclusion is therefore fundamental to everything we do. Alongside a strong pastoral framework, the wellbeing of every pupil remains at the heart of school life.”
Flynn will be playing Lucius Malfoy – the father of Harry Potter’s nemesis – in the new Harry Potter seres. The role was originally played by Jason Isaacs in the film adaptations.
He’s just one of the British stars fronting the revival for HBO, with John Lithgow playing Professor Dumbledore, Janet McTeer playing Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu playing Severus Snape, Nick Frost playing Hagrid and Luke Thallon playing Professor Quirrell, among others.
Young actors Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout will take on the three main roles of Harry Potter, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley.
The series has been plagued by controversy before even hitting our screens, with the LGBTQ+ community threatening to boycott the project over author JK Rowling’s involvement. The Harry Potter author has been increasingly known for sharing anti-transgender rhetoric on social media over the last few years.
When asked his thoughts on the matter, Flynn said: “Of course I have feelings about that, but I want to talk about the gratitude I feel at being able to do what I do,” adding that he took on the role to please his three children, who he shares with wife Beatrice Minns.
Earlier this month, Gary Oldman – who played Sirius Black in the films – said that he thinks the show will be “more satisfying” than the movie adaptations.
“We had to cut a lot, and still we could only get the films down to, like, three hours,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “I believe [the TV series is] gonna do it pretty much word-for-word, which I think, as a viewer, would be more satisfying.”
