Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe is an English actor born on July 23, 1989. He became famous at age 12 for playing Harry Potter in the film series. He starred in all eight Harry Potter films from 2001 to 2011.

In 2007, he started acting on stage in the play Equus. He later returned to Broadway in the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2011). He earned a Grammy Award nomination for this role.

Radcliffe also acted in movies like The Woman in Black (2012), Swiss Army Man (2016), and The Lost City (2022). He played famous figures like Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings (2013) and “Weird Al” Yankovic in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022).

Radcliffe has been part of the TV series Miracle Workers from 2019 to 2023. He supports charities like Demelza Hospice Care for Children and the Trevor Project, which awarded him the Hero Award in 2011 for his work with LGBTQ youth.

Early life and education of Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe was born on July 23, 1989, in London. He is the only child of Marcia Gresham, a casting agent, and Alan Radcliffe, a literary agent. His mother is Jewish and was born in South Africa. His father is from Northern Ireland.

Radcliffe went to three private schools in London: Redcliffe School, Sussex House School, and City of London School. After the first Harry Potter film came out, school became hard for him. Some students treated him badly, but he thought it was because they wanted to tease him for being Harry Potter.

As his acting career grew, he continued his education with tutors on set. He didn’t enjoy school much and found it hard. In 2006, he got A grades in three AS-level exams but decided to take a break from school. He didn’t go to university because he knew he wanted to be an actor and screenwriter.

The career of Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe’s career spans from his breakout role as Harry Potter to acclaimed performances in film, theatre, and television.

1999–2001: Early Acting Career and Debut

Daniel Radcliffe started acting at age five. He got his first role at ten in the BBC series David Copperfield (1999). His first film was The Tailor of Panama (2001).

In 2000, Radcliffe was chosen to play Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. He was picked after several auditions. The film was a huge success, and Radcliffe became very famous. His parents invested the money he earned from the role.

2001–2011: Rise to Fame with Harry Potter

Radcliffe starred in all the Harry Potter films. Each movie was a big hit. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), his performance was criticized by some, but he continued to improve. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), he enjoyed the humor in the film.

By 2007, Radcliffe signed on to finish the final Harry Potter films. He returned for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) and received award nominations for his performance. The final two films, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) and Part 2 (2011), were a big success. Part 2 earned over $1.3 billion worldwide.

Radcliffe said he was proud to be part of the Harry Potter films but didn’t want to make more. He felt he had spent enough time with the character. Even though he was famous for playing Harry Potter, he didn’t feel he missed out on a normal childhood.

2002–2008: Stage Career and Early Roles

In 2002, Daniel Radcliffe made his stage debut in the West End play The Play What I Wrote, directed by Kenneth Branagh. He also appeared in the movie December Boys (2007), which was released in 2007. In 2006, a portrait of Radcliffe was displayed at the National Theatre.

In 2007, Radcliffe starred in My Boy Jack, a TV drama about a boy who goes missing during World War I. Later, he published some poems in a fashion magazine. At age 17, Radcliffe performed in the play Equus in London. He played a boy with an obsession with horses, which included a famous nude scene. The play was a big hit and moved to Broadway in 2008, where Radcliffe received positive reviews.

2010–2018: Broadway and Independent Films

Radcliffe continued his career on Broadway, starring in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in 2011. The show was well-received, and Radcliffe earned several award nominations.

In 2012, Radcliffe starred in the horror film The Woman in Black. Later, he took on the role of poet Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings (2013). He also starred in The F Word and Horns (2013), both of which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.

In 2015, he played Igor in Victor Frankenstein, a film based on Mary Shelley’s novel. Radcliffe also starred in the action movie Now You See Me 2 (2016) and the indie film Swiss Army Man (2016), where he played a talking corpse. He also appeared in the film Imperium (2016), playing an FBI agent undercover in a white supremacy group.

Radcliffe also acted in the thriller Jungle (2017) and the play The Lifespan of a Fact on Broadway in 2018.

2019–Present: Expanding His Career

In 2019, Radcliffe starred in the comedy TV series Miracle Workers. He also voiced a character in the animated film Playmobil: The Movie. In 2020, he starred in the action comedy Guns Akimbo and the thriller Escape from Pretoria.

Radcliffe also appeared in The Lost City (2022), playing the villain. He starred as Weird Al Yankovic in the biographical film Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which earned him an Emmy nomination.

In 2022, Radcliffe returned to the stage in the musical Merrily We Roll Along. He won a Tony Award for his performance. He will also star in upcoming films Batso and Trust the Man.

Other Ventures

Daniel Radcliffe is involved in philanthropy, political activism, and supporting various social causes.

Philanthropy

Daniel Radcliffe has supported many charities. He designed the Cu-Bed for Habitat’s VIP Kids range, a cube that can turn into a bed, chair, or chaise lounge. All the money he earned from this went to Demelza House Children’s Hospice in Kent.

He has encouraged fans to donate to the Candle for Care program instead of giving him Christmas gifts. In 2008, he donated his old glasses to a display honoring Holocaust victims.

During his Broadway show Equus, he auctioned off his jeans and other items for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He also supported Get Connected UK, a free helpline for young people in need.

Political and Social Views

Radcliffe supports the Labour Party. He previously supported the Liberal Democrats, backing Nick Clegg in the 2010 elections. However, in 2012, he switched to Labour after being disappointed with the Liberal Democrats. In 2015, he supported Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader, praising his sincerity.

He believes the British monarchy should be abolished and replaced with a republic. He also supports British unionism and was against Scotland becoming independent in 2014.

Support for LGBTQ+ Rights

Radcliffe strongly supports the LGBTQ+ community. Since 2009, he has worked with The Trevor Project, a group that helps prevent suicide among LGBTQ+ youth. He first learned about the organization while performing on Broadway in 2008.

In 2010, he spoke out against homophobia and said public figures should support equal rights. In 2011, he received The Trevor Project’s Hero Award for his contributions.

In June 2020, after J.K. Rowling made controversial comments about gender identity, Radcliffe publicly supported the transgender community. He wrote an essay for The Trevor Project, saying he was sorry that Rowling’s words had hurt fans of Harry Potter.

Personal Life

Daniel Radcliffe leads a private yet fulfilling life, balancing relationships, family, and personal growth.

Relationships and Family

Daniel Radcliffe lives in both London and New York City. He has been in a relationship with Erin Darke, an American actress, since 2012. They met while filming Kill Your Darlings.

In April 2023, they welcomed their first child, a son. Radcliffe has said that becoming a father is “the best thing that ever happened” to him.

He is very close to his family and credits them for keeping him grounded. His parents, who have been married for over 30 years, have inspired his relationship with Erin.

In 2010, he decided to stop drinking alcohol after realizing he was relying on it too much. In 2020, he spoke about his struggles with alcohol in his teenage years and how his parents helped him through it.

Wealth

Radcliffe earned around £1 million for the first Harry Potter movie. By the final films, his earnings had grown to around £39 million. In total, he made about £75.4 million from the franchise.

In 2006, he appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List, with a fortune of £14 million, making him one of the richest young people in the UK.

In 2009, Forbes ranked him as the Most Valuable Young Star. By 2021, his net worth was estimated at £95 million.

Health

In 2008, Radcliffe revealed he has a mild form of dyspraxia, a neurological disorder that makes simple tasks like writing or tying shoelaces difficult.

While filming Horns in 2013, he accidentally drank antifreeze, which made him very sick for three days.

Religious and Political Beliefs

Radcliffe was raised without religion, but he identifies as Jewish and Irish. He calls himself a “Christmas tree Jew,” meaning he celebrates cultural traditions rather than religious ones.

He has described himself as an atheist since 2009 but later said he leans towards agnosticism. He respects people who openly speak about atheism, like Richard Dawkins.

Radcliffe is a patriot but does not support the British monarchy. He believes it represents some of the problems in the UK.

Interests

Radcliffe loves hip-hop music and enjoys learning difficult, fast rap lyrics. In 2014, he performed “Alphabet Aerobics” by Blackalicious on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

His favorite films include 12 Angry Men, Dr. Strangelove, and Little Miss Sunshine. His favorite novel is The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov.

His favorite Harry Potter book is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. He also enjoys playing ping-pong in his free time.

Explanatory Notes

Daniel Radcliffe’s maternal great-grandfather, Samuel Gershon, was a jeweler in Hatton Garden. His business was robbed, and the police suspected fraud instead of properly investigating the crime.

Because of this, Samuel took his own life. His family later won the insurance claim from the robbery. After his death, his widow changed their surname from Gershon to Gresham.

On his father’s side, Radcliffe explored the history of his great-great uncles and four brothers who fought in World War I. One of them, Ernie, wrote many letters home over two years.

Ernie suffered frostbite and a gunshot wound but recovered both times. Sadly, he was killed when his trench was shelled, making him the only one of the four brothers who did not survive the war.