Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe has moved on from his youthful days as Harry Potter Paul Dargan notes his transformation from being a half blood wizard

Harry Potter was great but I was a kid then and I’m definitely not that kid now. Of course, I will always be grateful

Daniel Radcliffe’s ability to embrace new projects across multiple media is no less admirable than his willingness to reference the past – and a certain wizard who simply won’t go away. Change and reinvention for Radcliffe have never been in doubt. Of course, the 29-yearold will always be Harry Potter to some, no matter how much the genre changes or his boyish good looks lessen.

“Potter… it’s a noose I’m willing to accept,” he laughs. For those who can’t see a truly credible actor of versatility, flexibility and pure intelligence... well, you might only suppose the loss is theirs.

“I learnt a long time ago that you can’t keep going back to the well,” Daniel admits, adding: “Harry Potter was great but I was a kid then and I’m definitely not that kid now. Of course, I will always be grateful; and I know that for a certain generation, they would love me to stay in that character forever.”

“But for my own sanity, I had to reinvent as far away from that as I could – and I feel I have done that. And besides, what film does is immortalise people in that moment – so I will always be there in a sense,” Radcliffe says with a smile.

Since the final Potter film screened in 2011, this actor has extended his range with a series of daring performances in horror films (The Woman in Black and Victor Frankenstein), dramas (Kill Your Darlings and The Gamechangers) and edgy comedies (Horns and Swiss Army Man).

He’s also made a name for himself on stage in Equus (famously appearing naked), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and the Broadway play Privacy.

“I don’t have any strategy other than to choose projects that make me happy and satisfy me creatively,” he says.

“It starts with the script but I’m also anxious to work with actors and directors whom I admire – and who are going to help me grow as an individual and evolve in my profession. Those are the only things I know I can control because you never really know how a film will turn out and what level of success it will have,” Radcliffe muses.

For a while, it seemed as though Daniel – who is in a long-term relationship with American actress Erin Darke – was going to head the way of emotive, intellectual independent movies. After all, that would match the head space

he occupied as a kid growing up – writing and poetry, two things he loves.

“I think my love of words comes from having grown up surrounded by books, scripts and plays. My father was an agent whose clients were writers and directors, and there were always stacks of books lying around the house,” Radcliffe reveals.

“I didn’t read that much when I was a child but suddenly around the age of 14, I began to devour everything especially books on history. I still read a lot although now it’s mainly nonfiction. Reading and writing are great passions of mine and I think that has helped me with choosing scripts,” he affirms.

Even so, rather than focus too much on independents, it seems Radcliffe has followed the current Hollywood trend of moving closer to TV projects. This year, he has made a guest appearance in an episode of HBO’s 2 Dope Queens while a much longer run as lead man Craig in Miracle Workers sees a refreshingly brave comedy role that has been well received.

“TV provides a new kind of freedom and I love that,” Daniel says, adding: “I think most actors would’ve been stunned if you had told them they would be heading towards TV drama as a positive career.”

“Ultimately, whatever it is – TV, film or stage – I know what makes me tick, and I look forward to the next job and making the best of that experience. It makes things much simpler and easier for me, when I’m feeling confident and excited about work; rather than apprehensive and worried, which was me in the past,” he explains.

That said, Radcliffe admits he still looks back on the Harry Potter experience with fondness. He was only 11 when filming for that first J. K. Rowling driven film – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – started.

“Those were very happy times for me. A movie set is one of the most exciting places that a child could ever wish for. I still feel that way when I get on a new set. I love the energy, the feeling of creativity, getting to know a lot of new and talented people – I love it all,” he enthuses.

And the actor concludes: “Nothing’s changed in that respect. I’ve had some of the best experiences of my life working and getting to know people on a film set, and I’m constantly looking forward to returning to that kind of environment.”

Reading and writing are great passions of mine and I think that has helped me with choosing scripts