Johnny Flynn has spoken candidly about the lasting impact of his time at boarding school, describing the experience as traumatic and taking a strong stance against private education.
The actor, known for the Channel 4 sitcom Lovesick, previously titled Scrotal Recall, and the 2020 film Emma, made the comments during an interview with Radio Times.
Flynn attended Winchester’s Pilgrims’ School from the age of seven after winning a choral scholarship, but said he was subjected to severe bullying while he was there.
Reflecting on private schools, he said: “I think they should all be burnt to the ground, I don’t think private schools should exist.”
Flynn also explained that being separated from his family had a psychological impact that he did not fully understand until much later.
He developed “little nervous tics” and only began to process what he had gone through years after leaving the school.
Therapy eventually helped him make sense of the experience. Describing it as “brilliant”, Flynn said: “I suddenly thought, ‘God, there’s something quite painful about this.’”
He added that he later learned about “boarding school syndrome” and said: “And I’m good, I’m OK now.”
His Harry Potter role comes with some huge shoes to fill
The comments come as Flynn prepares to take on one of his biggest roles yet in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series.
He will portray Lucius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy’s father, in the new Harry Potter adaptation, following Jason Isaacs’ portrayal in the original films.
He joins a major British cast that includes John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, Nick Frost as Hagrid and Luke Thallon as Professor Quirrell.