Early Life
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe was born in London on July 23, 1989, as the only child of Marcia Gresham and literary agent Alan Radcliffe. Interestingly, one of the schools he attended was Redcliffe School.
It’s Who You Know
Radcliffe showed an interest in acting from a young age. At just five years old, he was drawn to the stage, and by the time he was 10, he had his first TV role in the 1999 BBC One adaptation of David Copperfield. His big screen debut came in 2001 in The Tailor of Panama, based on John le Carré’s novel.
Winning the Role of a Lifetime
In 2000, when Radcliffe was filming his first movie, his father took him to the theater. There, they ran into David Heyman, a film producer. Heyman suggested that Radcliffe audition for the role of Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. After several auditions, Radcliffe won the part.
Refusal of the Call
Radcliffe’s parents initially turned down the offer because it would involve shooting six films in Los Angeles. However, Warner Bros. moved production to England and offered a two-film contract, which convinced them. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in 2001, becoming a massive success, both critically and commercially.
Harry Potter Mania
Radcliffe’s salary grew with each film. For the first movie, he earned a million dollars. By the time of the final two films, his salary was $50 million. Despite his wealth, he remained humble, stating that money wasn’t important to him.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Throughout filming, Radcliffe proved to be reliable, only taking two sick days during the entire series. He did, however, break many magic wands, using them as drumsticks on set. His makeup team also had a difficult time keeping his iconic scar intact, as he frequently scratched it off between takes.
Recent Roles
In recent years, Radcliffe has expanded his range by taking on various roles. In 2018, he starred in Beast of Burden, and in 2019, he appeared in Miracle Workers and Guns Akimbo. He also played Weird Al Yankovic in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.
The Future
Looking to the future, Radcliffe has expressed interest in starring in a big Hollywood action film, but for now, he continues to seek roles that challenge him and allow him to grow as an actor.
