Daniel Radcliffe: biography

Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is without doubt best known for his role as Harry Potter in the highest grossing film franchise of all time, based upon the series of books written by J.K.Rowling.

Early Career and Harry Potter

Born in West London on 23 July 1989, Radcliffe reportedly showed his talent for acting at around the age of five. At the age of ten, Radcliffe debuted in a two-part BBC adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel, David Copperfield, in which he played the title character as a young boy. In 2000, just a year after his debut role in David Copperfield, Daniel Radcliffe was asked to audition for the role of Harry Potter, and was eventually selected as the main character of the series. Harry Potter, however, was not Daniel's first movie role – Radcliffe provided a supporting role to Pierce Brosnan in The Tailor of Panama. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (the first in the series) was released several months later, and Daniel Radcliffe has played the character in the following seven film adaptations of the Harry Potter books, alongside Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. It is believed that working on the Harry Potter films and subsequent deals has earned Radcliffe in excess of
£60 million. During this period, Radcliffe attended Sussex House School, and achieved several AS-Levels before deciding to concentrate on his acting career.

Stage and Television Career

Beyond his role as Harry potter, Radcliffe has appeared in several high profile adaptations and stage projects. During 2007, Radcliffe filmed the drama
My Boy Jack, based upon the death of Rudyard Kipling's son in WW1, which was shown on Remembrance Day. Other television appearances from Radcliffe include Ricky Gervais' television series Extras and the independently filmed Australian production, December Boys. Radcliffe has also appeared on stage several times, in productions such as the 2007 run of Equus (which saw him nominated for the Drama Desk Award) and a stage adaptation of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying a year later. Both of these roles have been hailed as critical and commercial successes, as well as Equus generating a large amount of press interest over a scene in which Danial Radcliffe appeared nude.

Achievements

Radcliffe has been awarded the Trevor Project’s ‘Hero Award’, as well as having become the youngest non-royal to have a portrait hung in London’s National Portrait Gallery. In 2007, Radcliffe along with his fellow Harry Potter stars left imprints of their hands and wands outside Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood.