For all those who thought Daniel Radcliffe was one of the few to survive child stardom unscathed, prepare to be surprised. The actor recently told GQ that he had issues with alcohol while filming the Harry Potter films.
According to Radcliffe, he felt so pressured by the fame that came along with being Harry Potter that he let it go too far. He was at his worst when he turned 18 which was during the filming of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
“I became too reliant on [alcohol] to enjoy stuff,” Radcliffe says. “There were a few years there when I was just so enamored with the idea of living some sort of famous person’s lifestyle that really isn’t suited to me.”
The thing he became “enamored” with was whiskey and partying, a part of his life that he’s surprised that the paps never caught on to since he wasn’t the best at hiding it. The actor fell victim to the childhood star curse like so many before him, something that we can hardly blame on him since he was thrust into this life at age 9 without realizing just how much fame it would bring him.
Radcliffe says that he has not had any alcohol since the wrapping up of the final Harry Potter film in August last year. He seems to be enjoying his sobriety and even tells the interviewer that he likes having a normal relationship with his girlfriend.
“As much as I would love to be a person that goes to parties and has a couple of drinks and has a nice time, that doesn’t work for me. I do that very unsuccessfully. I’d just rather sit at home and read, or talk to somebody that makes me laugh. There’s no shame in enjoying the quiet life. And that’s been the realization of the past few years for me,” Radcliffe told GQ.
Radcliffe is now trying to find new roles to continue a successful career post-Potter. He feels that his next film, The Woman in Black, might help him make this step. The thriller will be released in theaters on February 3. [Via Telegraph]
Are you surprised that Daniel Radcliffe had issues with alcohol? Do you think he’ll find success now that Harry Potter is over?
guest
I wish I had issues with alcohol.
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@TheMushyPear@xanga - me too!
dahlia / 2747 posts
didn’t he already say this before?
rose / 795 posts
@XoAsianBabioX@xanga - These quotes from the interview came out earlier this year, but the issue in which they appear is out now.
guest
I still think he’s hot. Now I can say that without appearing to be some weird cradle-robber. As much as I like to drink, if I had the choice between drinking or spending a quiet evening with Daniel Radcliffe, guess which one I’d pick. Not the booze!
rose / 791 posts
This is old news. He announced this way back in February or something.
guest
Kinda sad almost. He was so famous he felt pressured into living like the other young stars making train wrecks of their lives. At least he’s above that now, good for him!
guest
I’m sure he won’t have a problem finding more work since he’s more famous with the Harry Potter movies. Then again, who knows? It IS the meida, after all.
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Huh? Why do people comment that they wish they had issues with alcohol?
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Not too surprised. Everyone struggles with something sometime, and alcohol is a common one. What’s more important is that he has worked/is working to overcome it.
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@TheMushyPear@xanga - my issue is that I don’t have enough alcohol available to me.
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I remember hearing about this a long time ago. Im excited about the women in black.. Looks like it’ll be pretty creepy!
rose / 791 posts
@bbanmen420@xanga - me too! It looks really good and it’ll be nice to see him post-Harry Potter.
guest
this is actually really good to hear because for people my age alcohol has become such a norm. i, too, am unsuccessful when it comes to going to a party and just having a couple drinks. it’s never just a couple. and i don’t even like alcohol!!
cherry blossom / 36 posts
knew it.
rose / 980 posts
Sounds exactly like everyone I knew when I was in my late teens/early 20s. This isn’t an issue with alcohol, it’s learning what you want out of life. Glad to see he’s figured it out.
guest
This is very old news.. But on a brighter note, that photo is damned hot. (Surprising as I wouldn’t normally say that about Mr Radcliffe…)
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I saw this coming since he was 11.
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Oh, boo for him. Plenty of us need alcohol to enjoy things even without being absurdly rich childhood actors.
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@TheMushyPear@xanga - No you don’t. It’s not fun.
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“There’s no shame in enjoying the quiet life. And that’s been the realization of the past few years for me.”
Bravo!
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I would feel the same way in his place and done the same, I like whiskey. And I like breaks from alcohol.
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People wish they had an alcohol addiction? That’s incredibly stupid, offensive and naive. It’s like saying gee I wish I had a depressive disorder or medical condition. Get a life?
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@DncngINthedark@xanga - don’t you know it’s trendy to have problems?
orchid / 174 posts
I can’t see his issue as a real “problem” a lot of kids here in America have that because they’re just getting to college and starting to drink around 18, but I can see where at his age in Britain it might have been different. I don’t know, I think almost everyone tries alcohol out at least once or twice in their lifetime, at least he realized he wasn’t suited to it and stopped doing it. That just shows his maturity.