Daniel Radcliffe, known internationally for his role in Harry Potter, offered Rolling Stone an intimate insight into his childhood as a star, the impact of the pressure of success from an early age, and his current daily life between Broadway and fatherhood.
The 36-year-old actor, who is in Manhattan preparing a new theater project, addressed topics such as the expectations of others, the challenges of reinventing oneself and the meaning of personal success.
Radcliffe recalled in the interview with Rolling Stone what it was like growing up in the public eye.“I was very aware of the stereotype that surrounds child stars,” he said.
“I was thinking, ‘Everyone thinks I’m going to be an idiot wherever I go. I just have to try to prove to someone as soon as possible that I’m not,'” he added.
When talking about the advantages and difficulties of fame, he highlighted to the entertainment media that “the most difficult thing is to discern what others consider to be success for you and what you consider to be success for yourself. Especially if you become famous young.”
Radcliffe assured that he is not worried about being typecast for his role in the saga of the young magician and maintained that his professional present does not depend on the public leaving that memory behind.“I don’t need people to erase Harry Potter from their memory to be able to enjoy what I’m doing now,” he said in the interview.
The actor acknowledged that, after the end of the saga, he experienced a period of greater internal demands.”People usually look for me in other jobs. When I finished with the films, it probably generated more anxiety in me,” he admitted, alluding to the period in which he was trying to consolidate new projects.
As time went by, he reformulated his idea of success.Far from measuring it solely in terms of box office or massiveness, he noted: “I’ve been in the most commercially successful business I’ll ever do, so that can’t be the limit for what success is now. It has to be something that really fulfills me.”
The actor rehearses “Every Brilliant Thing” in Manhattan’s Theater District, a play that involves direct interaction with the audience.He describes it as a novel challenge: “Not really knowing what is going to happen is always a very attractive prospect for me.”
Regarding pre-stage nerves, he admitted: “Oh my God, totally! A little nerves are healthy: you go on stage in front of 900 people.”
He also emotionally recalled the moment he received the Tony Award for MerrilyWe Roll Along.”It was incredible. Very special to win it as part of that show. I thought, ‘What is life? This is so incredibly perfect and beautiful,'” he recalled.
During the chat with Rolling Stone, he talked about his work with Tracy Morgan on the NBC comedy “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins.””Tracy is one of the funniest people in the world. Every day you will hear him say five of the craziest things you have ever heard a human being say,” he said.
He highlighted the differences and similarities between the two: “We are very different, but what we agree on is that we both love our work and we feel very lucky to be able to do it.”
On a personal level, he shared some intimate scenes from his life as a father. He said that he especially enjoys his son’s confusions and invented pronunciations, small everyday details that he treasures.“Most of my reasons for living would probably be about my son,” he confessed, explaining how much it has transformed his perspective.
Fatherhood also modified his sensitivity.”I’m an emotional mess, in the best way. I cry a lot more. I see him incredibly happy, and that transforms you,” he acknowledged in an interview with Rolling Stone, admitting that this new stage made him more emotional.
He also highlighted the strength of his bond with actress Erin Darke, his partner for more than a decade.As he explained, the basis of the relationship is frank and constant communication.”We are very good at having important conversations and not shying away from them. Erin has always known how to make me talk about my feelings more than I usually do, as a slightly repressed Englishman,” he noted.
In contrast to this openness in private, the actor seemed distant from the digital world.He assured that he has no interest in participating in social networks and ruled out any feeling of exclusion.”I’m not offline, but I’m not on Instagram. I don’t know how people do it. I’m stressed enough as it is.”
