Daniel
Jacob Radcliffe
(born 23 July 1989) is an English actor who rose to prominence playing the title character in the Harry Potter film series.
Radcliffe made his acting debut at age ten in BBC One's 1999
television movie David Copperfield, followed by
his film debut in 2001's The Tailor of Panama. At age eleven he was
cast as the title character in the first Harry Potter
film, and starred in the series for ten years until the release of the eighth and final film
in July 2011. He also began to branch out to stage acting in 2007, starring in
the London and New York productions of the play Equus
and in the 2011 Broadway revival of the musical How to Succeed in
Business Without Really Trying. In addition, he has starred in 2007's December
Boys and the 2012 sleeper hit horror film The Woman in Black. He will play
beat
poet Allen Ginsberg in the 2013 indie
film Kill Your Darlings.
Radcliffe
has contributed to many charities, including Demelza House Children's Hospice
and The Trevor Project. He also made public service announcements for the
latter. In 2011, he was awarded the Trevor Project's "Hero Award".
Early life and education
Radcliffe
was born on 23 July 1989 in West London, England,[1]
the only child of Alan George Radcliffe, a literary
agent, and Marcia Jeannine Gresham (née Marcia Gresham Jacobson), a casting
agent who was involved in several films for the BBC, including The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
and Walk Away And I Stumble.[2][3]
Radcliffe's father, originally from Northern Ireland, is Protestant.[4]
Radcliffe's mother is Jewish, and her family had come from South Africa,
Poland, and Russia (she was born in South
Africa and raised in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex).[5][6][7]
He was raised without religion.[8]
Radcliffe first expressed a desire to act at the age of five,[9]
and in December 1999, aged ten, he made his acting debut in the BBC One's televised two-part adaptation
of the Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield, portraying the title character as a young boy.[10]
Radcliffe
was educated at two independent schools for boys:[11]
at Sussex House School, a day school in Cadogan
Square in Chelsea in London,[12]
followed by the City of London School,[13]
a day school on the North Bank of the River
Thames in London's financial district, known as the City
of London.[14]
Following
the release of the first Harry
Potter movie, attending school became hard for Radcliffe, with some
fellow pupils becoming hostile. Radcliffe said it was people just trying to
"have a crack at the kid that plays Harry Potter" rather than
jealousy.[15]
As his acting career began to consume his schedule, Radcliffe continued his
education through on-set tutors. He admitted he was not very good at school,
considered it useless, and found the work to be "really, really
difficult";[11]
however, he did achieve A grades in the three A-levels that he
sat in 2006, but then decided to take a break from education and did not go to
college or university.[16]
Part of the reason was that he already knew he wanted to act and write, and
that it would be difficult to have a normal college experience. "The paparazzi,
they’d love it," he told Details magazine in 2007. "If there
were any parties going on, they’d be tipped off as to where they were".[15]
Career
Harry Potter
In
2000 producer David Heyman asked Radcliffe to audition for the role
of Harry Potter for the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the
Philosopher's Stone, the best-selling book by British author J. K.
Rowling.[17][18]
Rowling had been searching for an unknown British actor to personify the
character; however, Radcliffe's parents did not want him to audition for the
role, as the contract required shooting all seven films in Los Angeles,
California, and so they did not tell him.[19]
The movie's director Chris Columbus recalled thinking,
"This is what I want. This is Harry Potter", after he saw a video of
the young actor in David Copperfield.[19]
Eight months later, and after several auditions, Radcliffe was selected to play
the part.[20]
Rowling also endorsed the selection saying, "I don't think Chris Columbus
could have found a better Harry."[21]
Radcliffe's parents originally turned down the offer, as they had been told
that it would involve six films shot in Los Angeles.[22]
Warner
Bros. instead offered Radcliffe a two-movie contract with shooting in the
UK though,[19]
when signing up, Radcliffe was unsure if he would do any more pictures.[23]
The
release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (released as Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States) took place in 2001.
The story follows Harry, a young boy who learns he is a wizard and is sent to Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry to begin his education; gaining the help of friends
Ron
(Rupert
Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson)
along the way. Radcliffe received a seven figure salary for the lead role, but
asserted that the fee was "not that important" to him;[24]
his parents chose to invest the money for him.[19]
The film broke records for opening-day sales and opening-weekend takings,
becoming the highest-grossing film of 2001. With a total of US$974 million
in ticket sales, Philosopher's Stone stands as the second most
commercially successful in the series behind Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows – Part 2, the final instalment.[25]
The adaptation was met with positive reviews and critics took notice of
Radcliffe:[26]
"Radcliffe is the embodiment of every reader's imagination. It is
wonderful to see a young hero who is so scholarly looking and filled with
curiosity and who connects with very real emotions, from solemn intelligence
and the delight of discovery to deep family longing," wrote Bob Graham of
the San Francisco Chronicle.[27]
A
year later Radcliffe starred in Harry Potter and the
Chamber of Secrets, the second instalment of the series. Reviewers were
positive about the lead actors' performances but had polarised opinions on the
movie as a whole. Stephen Hunter of the Washington
Post labelled it "big, dull and empty".[28]
Observing that Radcliffe and his peers had matured, Los Angeles Times's
staff writer Kenneth Turan believed the novel's magic could not be successfully
duplicated in the film.[29]
Nonetheless, it still managed to earn US$878 million, taking the second
spot of the highest-grossing 2002 films worldwide behind The Lord of the Rings: The Two
Towers.[30]
The
2004 release Harry Potter and the
Prisoner of Azkaban was the third film in the series. While garnering
the highest critical acclaim of the series at that point[26]
and grossing US$795.6 million worldwide, the film's performance at the box
office ranks the lowest in the series.[25]
Radcliffe's performance was panned by New York Times journalist A. O. Scott,
who wrote that Watson had to carry him with her performance.[31]
Next was Harry Potter and the Goblet
of Fire in 2005. The film set records for a Harry Potter opening
weekend, as well as for a non-May opening weekend in the US and in the UK.[32]
The film eventually grossed US$896 million worldwide, and the film was the
second-highest grossing Harry Potter film at that point.[33]
In a 2005 interview, Radcliffe singled out the humour as being a reason for the
movie's creative success.[34]
Despite
the success of the previous three movies, the future of the franchise was put
into question when all three lead actors were unsure about signing on to
continue their roles for the final two episodes; however, by 2 March 2007
Radcliffe had signed for the final films, which put an end to weeks of press
"speculation that he would be denied the role due to his involvement in Equus".[35]
Radcliffe reprised his role for the fifth time in Harry Potter and the
Order of the Phoenix (2007), which details Harry's return to Hogwarts
after his encounter with Lord Voldemort in the previous film. It opened to
positive responses from the press;[26]
IGN movie critic Steven Horn found Order of the Phoenix to be one of
"those rare films that exceeds the source material"[36]
and Colin Bertram of New York's Daily News dubbed it the best movie in
the series.[37]
Radcliffe stated that director David Yates
and actress Imelda Staunton made Order of the Phoenix
the "most fun" film in the series to work on.[38]
His performance earned several award nominations, and he received the 2008 National Movie Award for "Best Male
Performance".[39]
As his fame and the series continued, Radcliffe, Grint and Watson left imprints
of their hands, feet, and wands in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.[40]
In
July 2009 Harry Potter and the
Half-Blood Prince was released, the series' sixth instalment. The film
did considerably better than the previous movie, breaking the then-record for
biggest midnight US showings with US$22.2 million at 3,000 theatres,[41]
and was the biggest ever Wednesday-opening in the UK, with US$7.6 million at
1,305 screens.[42]
Half-Blood Prince achieved a total of US$933 million ticket sales[25]
and was one of the most positively reviewed of
the series among film critics, who praised the film's "emotionally
satisfying" story, direction, cinematography, visuals and music.[43][44][45]
Radcliffe received nominations for "Best Male Performance" and
"Global Superstar" at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.[46]
For
financial and scripting reasons the last book was divided into two films, shot
back to back,[47][48]
which drew criticism from the series' fanbase. Radcliffe defended the split,
pointing out that it would have been impossible to properly adapt the final
novel into a single film.[49]
He added that the last movie was going to be extremely fast-paced with a lot of
action, while the first part would be far more sedate, focusing on character
development; he added that, had they combined them, those things would not have
made it to the final cut.[50]
Filming lasted for a year, concluding in June 2010 and on the last day of
shooting, like most of the cast and crew, Radcliffe openly wept.[51]
Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) was about Harry, Ron and Hermione
leaving Hogwarts to track down Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes,
objects in which Voldemort has left part of his soul. The film was released in
November and grossed over US$950 million.[25]
Its most lucrative territory was the UK, where it reportedly had the
highest-grossing three-day opening in history; while its earnings of
US$205 million, in 91 markets, made it the highest ever top-grossing
non-US opening for a non-summer picture, and "the fourth-biggest-grossing
international opening ever".[52]
The movie received mostly favourable reviews in the media.[26]
The
final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, was
released worldwide starting on 13 July 2011 in Australia. The film concerns the
battle against Voldemort's followers in Hogwarts, along with Harry's final
climactic duel with Voldemort. Radcliffe, along with the film,[26]
was critically acclaimed: Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post asked,
"Who could have predicted that Radcliffe, Grint and Watson would turn out
to be good actors?";[53]
similarly, Rex
Reed said: "Frankly, I’m sorry to see [Radcliffe] go";[54]
while Rolling Stone critic Peter
Travers commented on Radcliffe: "Well played, sir."[55]
Among those who were less favourable, Roger Ebert
said that Radcliffe, Grint and Watson were "upstaged by the supporting
[actors]".[56]
The film broke several box office records, including biggest midnight release,[57]
biggest first-day opening,[57]
and biggest opening-weekend.[58]
Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is currently the 4th highest-grossing film of all time
with more than US$1.3 billion worldwide.[59]
Radcliffe
admitted that some people would never be able to separate him from the
character, but also s aid he is "proud to be associated with this film
series forever."[60]
Despite positive feelings about the movies, he has no interest in doing more Harry
Potter films. After Rowling hinted about writing an eighth book, Radcliffe
was asked if he would do another film to which he replied: "[It is] very
doubtful. I think 10 years is a long time to spend with one character."[61]
Despite devoting so much time to the series, Radcliffe has asserted that he did
not miss out on a childhood like other child actors: "I’ve been given a
much better perspective on life by doing Potter."[62]
2001–2009
Radcliffe
made his film debut in The Tailor of Panama, an American 2001
film based on John le Carré's 1996 spy novel,
and a moderate commercial success.[25]
In 2002 he made his stage debut as a celebrity guest in a West End theatre
production of The Play What I Wrote, directed by Kenneth
Branagh – who also appeared with him in the second Harry Potter
film.[10][63]
In 2007 he appeared in the film December
Boys, an Australian family drama about four orphans that was shot in
2005 and released to theatres in mid-September 2007.[64]
Also in 2007, Radcliffe co-starred with Carey
Mulligan in My Boy Jack, a television drama film shown
on ITV on Remembrance
Day. The film received mostly positive reviews,[65]
with several critics praising Radcliffe's performance as an 18-year-old who
goes missing in action during a battle.[66][67][68]
Radcliffe stated, "For many people my age, the First World War is just a
topic in a history book. But I've always been fascinated by the subject and
think it's as relevant today as it ever was."[69]
At
age 17, in a bid to show people he was not a kid any more,[1]
he performed onstage in Peter Shaffer's play Equus,
which had not been revived since its first run in 1973, at the Gielgud
Theatre.[19]
Radcliffe took on the lead role[63]
as Alan Strang, a stable boy who has an obsession with horses. Advance sales
topped £1.7 million, and the role generated significant pre-opening media
interest, as Radcliffe appeared in a nude scene.[19][70]
Equus opened on 27 February 2007 and ran until 9 June 2007.[63]
Radcliffe's performance received positive reviews[71]
as critics were impressed by the nuance and depth of his against-type role.[72]
Charles Spencer of The Daily Telegraph wrote that he
"displays a dramatic power and an electrifying stage presence that marks a
tremendous leap forward." He added: "I never thought I would find the
diminutive (but perfectly formed) Radcliffe a sinister figure, but as Alan
Strang ... there are moments when he seems genuinely scary in his rage and
confusion."[73]
The production then transferred to Broadway in September 2008, with Radcliffe
still in the lead role.[74][75]
Radcliffe stated he was nervous about repeating the role on Broadway because he
considered American audiences more discerning than those in London.[76]
Radcliffe's performance was nominated for a Drama
Desk Award.[77]
2010–present
After
voicing a character in an episode of the animated television
series The Simpsons in late 2010,[78]
Radcliffe debuted as J. Pierrepont Finch in the 2011 Broadway revival How to Succeed in
Business Without Really Trying, a role previously held by Broadway
veterans Robert Morse and Matthew
Broderick.[79]
Other cast members included John
Larroquette, Rose Hemingway and Mary Faber.[80]
Both the actor and production received favourable reviews,[81]
with USA Today commenting: "Radcliffe ultimately succeeds not by
overshadowing his fellow cast members, but by working in conscientious harmony
with them – and having a blast in the process."[82]
Radcliffe's performance in the show earned him Drama Desk Award, Drama League Award and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations.[83][84][85]
The production itself later received nine Tony Award
nominations.[86]
Radcliffe left the show on 1 January 2012.[87]
His
first post-Harry Potter project was the 2012 horror film The Woman in Black, adapted from
the 1983 novel by Susan Hill.
The film was released on 3 February 2012 in the United States and Canada, and
was released on 10 February in the UK. Radcliffe portrays a man sent to deal
with the legal matters of a mysterious woman who has just died, and soon after
he begins to experience strange events and hauntings from the ghost of a woman
dressed in black.[88]
He has said he was "incredibly excited" to be part of the film and
described the script as "beautifully written".[89]
Radcliffe's godson
Mischa, the son of Thea Sharrock, who co-directed the revival of Equus
with Radcliffe, portrayed Arthur's son in the film.[90]
He
is set to portray Allen Ginsberg in the upcoming thriller drama Kill Your Darlings, directed by
John Krokidas.[91][92]
Radcliffe has been cast as Wallace in The F Word.[93]
In July 2012, it was announced that Radcliffe would play the character Ig
Perrish in Alexandre Aja's Horns.[94][95][96]
Personal life
In
2008, Radcliffe revealed that he suffers from a mild form of the neurological
disorder dyspraxia.
The motor skill disorder sometimes gets so bad that he has trouble doing simple
activities, such as writing or tying his own shoelaces. "I was having a
hard time at school, in terms of being crap at everything, with no discernible
talent," Radcliffe commented.[97]
In August 2010, he stopped drinking alcohol after finding himself becoming
too reliant on it.[98]
In
2012, Radcliffe stated, "I think of myself as being Jewish and Irish,
despite the fact that I’m English."[8]
He has also said, "I'm an atheist, and a militant atheist when religion starts
impacting on legislation",[99]
and that he is "very proud of being Jewish".[100][101][102]
Radcliffe
is a supporter of the Labour Party.[103]
Until 2012 Radcliffe had publicly supported the Liberal
Democrats,[104]
and before the 2010 UK general election Radcliffe
endorsed Nick
Clegg, the Lib Dem leader. In 2012, however, Radcliffe switched his
allegiance to Labour, citing disappointment with the performance of Nick Clegg
and the Lib Dems in government, and approving of the
Labour leader, Ed Miliband.[103]
At the age of sixteen, Radcliffe became the youngest non-royal ever to have an
individual portrait in Britain's National Portrait Gallery (NPG).
On 13 April 2006 his portrait, drawn by Stuart Pearson Wright, was unveiled as part
of a new exhibition opening at the Royal National Theatre; it was then moved to
the NPG where it resides.[105]
He
is a fan of underground[106]
and punk
rock music,[107][108]
and is a keen follower of cricket, including cricketer Sachin
Tendulkar.[109][110]
Writing short stories and poetry is also a passion.[111]
In November 2007 Radcliffe published several poems under the pen name Jacob
Gershon – a combination of his middle name and the Jewish version of his
mother's maiden name Gresham – in Rubbish, an underground fashion
magazine.[102][111]
He enjoys a close friendship with his Harry Potter co-stars Tom Felton[106]
and Emma Watson,[112]
and is tight-knit with his family, whom he credits for keeping him grounded.[113]
Speaking
out against homophobia,
Radcliffe began filming public service announcements in 2009
for The Trevor Project, promoting awareness of gay
teen suicide prevention.[114][115]
He first learned of the organisation while working on Equus on Broadway
in 2008[115]
and has contributed financially to it.[116]
"I have always hated anybody who is not tolerant of gay men or lesbians or
bisexuals. Now I am in the very fortunate position where I can actually help or
do something about it," he said in a 2010 interview. In the same
interview, he spoke of the importance of public figures advocating for equal
rights.[115]
Radcliffe considers his involvement to be one of the most important things in
his career and,[114]
for his work for the organisation, he was given the "Hero Award" in
2011.[114]
Radcliffe
has supported various charities. He designed the Cu-Bed for Habitat's VIP Kids
range (a cube made of eight smaller ones which can be made into a bed,
chaise-longue or chair)[117]
with all the royalties from the sale of the bed going directly to his favourite
charity, Demelza House Children's Hospice in Sittingbourne,
Kent.[118]
Radcliffe has urged his fans to make donations, in lieu of Christmas presents
to him, to the charity's Candle for Care program. In 2008 he was among several
celebrities who donated their old glasses to an exhibit honouring victims of the Holocaust.[119]
During the Broadway run of Equus he auctioned off a pair of jeans he
wore in the show for "thousands of dollars", as well as other items
worn in the show, for the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS "a New
York-based nonprofit HIV/AIDS grant-making organisation".[120]
He has also donated money to Get
Connected UK, a London-based free confidential national helpline for
troubled youth.[121]
Sources
disagree about Radcliffe's personal wealth; he was reported to have earned
£1 million for the first Harry Potter film[24]
and around £15 million for the sixth.[11]
Radcliffe appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List in 2006,
which estimated his personal fortune to be £14 million, making him one of
the richest young people in the UK.[122]
In March 2009 he was ranked number one on the Forbes
"Most Valuable Young Stars" list,[123]
and by April The Daily Telegraph measured his net worth
at £30m, making him the 12th richest young person in the UK.[124]
Radcliffe was considered to be the richest teenager in England later that year.[11]
In February 2010 he was named the sixth highest paid Hollywood male star[125]
and placed at number five on Forbes's December list of Hollywood's
highest-grossing actors[note 1]
with a revenue of US$780 million, mainly due to Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows being released that year.[126]
Despite previous predictions that Radcliffe would have amassed £70m by the time
the Harry Potter series concluded,[124]
the actor was reported to only have a wealth of £28.5 million in 2010.
This still makes him richer than Princes William
and Harry.[127]
Despite his wealth, Radcliffe has said he does not have expensive tastes and
that his main expense is buying books: "I read a lot."[128]
He also stated that money would never be the focus of his life.[11]
Sumber: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Radcliffe
