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Daniel Jacob Radcliffe (born 23 July 1989) is an English actor, best known for playing schoolboy wizard Harry Potter in each of the first five films based on the best-selling book series.

Biography

Career

At age five, Radcliffe expressed a desire to act. In December 1999, he made his acting debut in the BBC's televised version of the Dickens novel David Copperfield, portraying the title character as a young boy.

In August 2000, after several auditions, he was selected for his most prominent role to date; Harry Potter in the big-budget adaptations of the popular book series by J.K. Rowling. Radcliffe made his film debut in 2001 with a supporting role in the The Tailor of Panama, with the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (United States title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), released soon afterward. It became one of the highest grossing films of all time.

Radcliffe has gone on to star in four of the Harry Potter sequels: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix scheduled for release in 2007. The films have continued to succeed and produce high box office results worldwide.

Radcliffe has broken away from Harry Potter persona several times. In 2002, he appeared as a guest in the West End production The Play What I Wrote directed by Kenneth Branagh who appeared with Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In 2006, he appeared in the television series Extras as a parody of himself. Continuing the break and making the transition from child to adult actor, scheduled for 2007, Radcliffe will be seen in the independent Australian film December Boys as Maps based on a novel by Michael Noonan, and in a revival of Peter Shaffer's play Equus as Alan Strang; a stable boy who has an obsession with horses. This latter role has generated significant media interest, as Radcliffe will appear nude in one scene in the play.

Radcliffe has also signed on for the ITV drama My Boy Jack as Jack Kipling, son of author Rudyard Kipling. Filming is scheduled for July 2007

Posing for artist Stuart Pearson Wright at age 14 while on a break from filming Harry Potter, at age 16, Radcliffe became the youngest non-royal ever to have an individual portrait in Britain's National Portrait Gallery. On 13 April 2006, his portrait was unveiled as part of a new exhibition opening at London's Royal National Theatre, then moved to the National Portrait Gallery where it currently resides.

Personal life

Daniel Radcliffe, born in Fulham, London, is the only child of Alan Radcliffe (a literary agent) and Marcia Gresham (a casting agent, who was involved in several films for the BBC). They have two dogs named Binka and Nugget.

Previously educated at Sussex House School, and currently educated at the fee-paying City of London School, he achieved straight A grades in the three AS-levels he sat for in 2006, and will now take a break from education in the academic year 2006/07 to focus on his acting career.

Radcliffe plays bass guitar (he was taught by Gary Oldman) and is a fan of punk rock music who admires a diverse lineup of bands, from Sex Pistols to Arctic Monkeys. As well as being a fan of Fulham Football Club, Radcliffe was a follower of Formula One Racing. While on set, to keep busy, he enjoys playing table tennis and video games with his cast members.

Radcliffe's personal fortune now exceeds GB£14 million making him one of the richest teenagers in the United Kingdom. He is reported to have earned approximately £150,000 for the first Potter film, around £5.6 million for the fourth film, and is expected to earn more than £8 million for the next film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Radcliffe has been a supporter of various charities, including Demelza House Children's Hospice, to which he has requested fans make donations in lieu of sending him birthday presents.

Acting Credits

Awards

Nominations

2006

• Best Young Actor (Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards)
• Actor of the Year (AOL Moviefone Moviegoer Awards)
• Best Performance by a Young Actor (Saturn Awards)
• Best Hero (MTV Movie Awards)
• Best On-Screen Team (with Emma Watson and Rupert Grint; MTV Movie Awards)

2005

• Best Performance by a Young Actor (Saturn Awards)
• Best Young Actor (Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards)

2003

• Best Performance by a Young Actor (Saturn Awards)
• Best Acting Ensemble (Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards)
• Most Unforgettable Scene (for the scene "Harry Battles The Basilisk" in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) (American Moviegoer Awards)

2002

• Best Performance by a Young Actor (Saturn Awards)
• Best Young Preformer (Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards)
• Breakthrough Male Performance (MTV Movie Awards)
• Best Newcomer (Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards)
• Best Debut (with Emma Watson and Rupert Grint) (Sony Ericsson Empire Awards)
• Outstanding Actor (American Moviegoer Awards)
• Best Performance in a Feature Film: Leading Young Actor (Young Artist Awards)
• Best Ensemble in a Feature Film (with Emma Watson and Rupert Grint Young Artist Awards)

Wins

2006

• Best Actor (Cine Awards, Belgium)
• Best Male Film Star (Gold): Otto Awards, 2006

2005

• Best Young Actor (SyFy Portal's SyFy Genre Awards)

2004

• Top 10 Child Stars (RTL Television, Germany)
• Best Breakthrough Male Actor (Star Channel Star Awards, Japan)
• Best Junior Achiever (for viewers' favorite under-16 guest on the show Relly Awards)
• Young Talent of the Year (ITV Celebrity Awards)
• Best Movie Actor (K-Zone Kids Awards, Philippines)
• Best Film Star/Actor (Dutch Kids Choice Awards)

2003

• Best Young Actor (SyFy Portal's SyFy Genre Awards)
• Best Actor (Roadshow Cinema Grand Prix Awards, Japan)

2002

• Person of the Year (Time For Kids)
• Targa d'Oro ("Gold Plate", David di Donatello Awards)
• Outstanding New Talent (Sir James Carreras Award for the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards)

2001

• Male Youth Discovery of the Year (Hollywood Women's Press Club)

References

Footnotes

Web sites

• DanRadcliffe.com: Unofficial site, works with Warner Bros. and Daniel Radcliffe & family
• DanRadcliffe.co.uk Unofficial site with contributions from Daniel & family
• Radcliffe interview, 2005, Aced Magazine

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