ON-SET SECRETS: HERMIONE’S PUNCH WAS A HOAX!
The magic is gone, and the brutal truth is out! One of the most iconic, fan-favorite moments in the entire Harry Potter franchise—when Hermione Granger finally socks slimy Draco Malfoy in the face during Prisoner of Azkaban—was a complete and utter on-set fabrication!
Emma Watson’s body double for the first three films, Flick Miles, has ripped the curtain away, confessing what really happened in that pivotal scene. Speaking to the Scottish Daily Express, Miles admitted that not only was the punch not real contact, but her own attempt at throwing the fist was so humiliatingly bad, they had to use Watson’s take!
Miles, who is clearly not a secret underground boxer, stated: “I am a really non-athletic person. I have never thrown a punch before in my life… It was probably cut because my punch was really rubbish and so not convincing so they just kept in Emma’s.” This whole scene, a symbol of female empowerment, was almost ruined by a total lack of athletic ability!
FELTON’S FAKE REACTION AND THE ‘GREAT SPORT’ SPIN
The double’s confession confirms that this beloved moment of pure catharsis was a total act, reliant entirely on Tom Felton’s convincing reaction. Miles revealed that her hand “did not connect with his face it was more like a pass to him and he did the reaction.” Felton, it seems, is a master of the theatrical flinch.
Miles gave Felton the predictable PR compliment, calling him a “great sport” who found the scene “very funny to film.” She even added the damning kicker: Felton, in his true, lovely-person persona, was “slightly glad the character got put in his place a little bit too.”
So, the moment Draco Malfoy was finally held accountable for his bullying was a staged theatrical beat that the actor himself was secretly rooting for! This revelation exposes the underlying tension and secret satisfaction the actors felt when their characters finally clashed.
Wait, so the punch was fake AND the body double’s punch sucked? I feel betrayed. But Tom Felton being happy his character got socked makes it all better. He’s the real hero here.
THE HERMIONE HYPOCRISY: STANDING UP FOR HERSELF
Miles stated that shooting the scene was fun because it was a “key moment in which Hermione is finally standing up for herself.” This moment is indeed iconic for showing Hermione taking matters into her own hands and directly confronting Malfoy’s classism and cruelty.
However, the revelation that the actual physical work required a double—and that both the double’s and Watson’s takes were ultimately carefully staged non-contact hits—does slightly undermine the raw, impulsive power of the scene. It was a calculated cinematic moment, not a spontaneous eruption of rage.
This is the magic of Hollywood: taking a non-athletic actress and a great sport of a villain and manufacturing a moment of pure, convincing, aggressive justice. It’s a testament to the directors and editors, who managed to craft an “impactful scene” from a “really rubbish” punch attempt.
THE PROP OBSESSION AND THE TIME TURNER
Miles, who worked on the first three Potter films, shared that she found it “incredibly exciting to handle the props,” including Hermione’s wand and the infamous Time Turner. For fans, it’s a sweet detail, but it confirms the star’s doubles were also deeply involved in the most critical, plot-altering scenes.
The Time Turner, a crucial element in Prisoner of Azkaban that allowed Hermione and Harry to save Buckbeak and Sirius Black, was physically handled by both Watson and Miles. It shows the incredible dedication of the entire crew, including the doubles, who often get zero credit for their pivotal contributions to the franchise’s magic.
The entire experience, Miles confirms, was “really fun,” reinforcing the pervasive narrative that the Harry Potter set was a generally positive environment, even when characters were being violently confronted.
THE FRANCHISE LONGEVITY AND SPIN-OFF SAGA
Even a decade after the main films ended, the Harry Potter franchise continues to generate intense fan interest, proven by the constant flow of behind-the-scenes secrets from cast and crew. The franchise has grown beyond the original eight films, spawning the prequel series Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them—whose third installment, The Secrets of Dumbledore, is just weeks away.
The constant stream of nostalgic revelations—like Watson’s body double confirming the punch was fake—keeps the saga of the Boy Who Lived alive. Fans are enchanted by the magic, but they are absolutely addicted to the raw, human secrets behind the filmmaking process.
Miles’s experience highlights the powerful impact of the films and how the stars and crew, even years later, are grateful to have been involved with the magic that resonated globally.
CLIFFHANGER: WHAT ELSE WAS FAKED FOR THE FANS?
The iconic Draco Malfoy punch was a staged, non-contact hit that required two people and the excellent acting of Tom Felton to pull off. The revelation is both shocking and hilarious, confirming that the most satisfying moments of cinema are often total fabrications.
But if this pivotal moment was faked, what other scenes in the franchise were complete hoaxes? Was the Quidditch match actually filmed with wires? Was the emotional connection between Harry, Ron, and Hermione just brilliant acting? We’re waiting for the next double to spill the tea on the biggest set secret!
