Daniel Radcliffe describes how the ‘panic’ of playing Harry Potter led to ‘a lot of drinking'
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Daniel Radcliffe is speaking out about the pressure he faced while filming the “Harry Potter” films, and how that stress led to “a lot of drinking.
The actor, who has been sober since 2010, discussed his issues with alcohol during a March 15 interview on the BBC Radio 4 show, “Desert Island Discs.”
Radcliffe, who is now 30, said on the show that he felt the fame surrounding his iconic character came with a “slightly mocking interest” that was “inherently funny” to many people.
“If I went out and if I got drunk, I’d suddenly be aware of there being interest in that because it’s not just a drunk guy. It’s ‘Oh, Harry Potter’s getting drunk in the bar,'” Radcliffe told the show’s host, Lauren Laverne.
The actor added that his awareness of that attention caused him “just to drink more or get more drunk.”
“A lot of drinking that happened towards the end of ‘Potter’ and for a little bit after it finished,” Radcliffe said. “It was panic, a little bit not knowing what to do next — not being comfortable enough in who I was to remain sober.”
Radcliffe, who has long been open about his drinking problems while filming the “Harry Potter” movies, also said that he was “very, very happy” that he gave up alcohol — despite being in his early 20s at the time. Still, the actor also expressed concern that his problems may have been partly caused by his fame.
“I will always be fascinated and frustrated by the question of: Is this something that would have happened anyway or was this to do with ‘Potter?’”
The final film in the “Harry Potter” series, “Deathly Hallows Pt. 2,” was released in 2011, shortly after Radcliffe became sober. Since then, the actor has starred in a number of independent movies (including “Swiss Army Man” and “Kill Your Darlings”) as well as on Broadway in productions like “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
Radcliffe also currently stars in the anthology TV series, “Miracle Workers.”
The post Daniel Radcliffe says playing Harry Potter led to ‘a lot of drinking’ appeared first on In The Know.
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