Tom Felton, the Harry Potter actor, said he was “grateful” to JK Rowling despite other stars from the film series shunning the author for her gender-critical views.

Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the films, addressed the ongoing controversy around Rowling’s stance on transgender issues.

Speaking to Variety at the Tony Awards about his part in the franchise, the actor, 37, said: “The only thing I always remind myself is that I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world… and I have not seen anything bring the world together more than ‘Potter’.

“And she’s responsible for that, so I’m incredibly grateful.”

His comments are markedly different from the other leading Harry Potter stars, who have all publicly criticised the author, and are likely to provoke criticism online.

Rowling, who

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