Daniel Radcliffe biography, net worth, height, girlfriend, baby, age, family 2025

Biography of Daniel Radcliffe

Who hasn't heard the name of Daniel Radcliffe, the young British actor who portrayed Harry Potter in the legendary series of films about the wizarding world? And although the last part of the franchise was released long ago, his popularity continues to soar thanks to his natural talent and distinctly British wit and self-deprecation, which bring a unique quality to every Radcliffe performance.

Childhood. First roles

Daniel Jacob Radcliffe was born in London in 1989, to the family of Alan Radcliffe and Marcia Gresham. Daniel's parents were both deeply connected to the entertainment industry: his father was a literary agent at a major London publishing house, and his mother worked as a casting director in television; both had even tried their hand at acting in their younger days.

Daniel Radcliffe's parents at the premiere of the film featuring their son

Little Daniel dreamed of becoming an actor from the age of five, and after enrolling in private school, he made his stage debut at just six years old, playing a monkey in a school production. He started begging his parents to take him to TV auditions. However, his parents were against it, as Daniel had suffered from dyspraxia (a coordination disorder) in his childhood, which made him very clumsy and a poor student. Finally, when Daniel turned nine, Marcia caved and brought him to audition for "David Copperfield", based on the novel by Charles Dickens.

The film was sponsored by BBC, but in 1999, soon after its premiere in British cinemas, American viewers also saw it and highly praised the performance of young Daniel: "An actor who looks so natural on screen is rare, especially at such a young age! He looked like a real orphan from the 19th century."

David Copperfield – Daniel Radcliffe's first role

"Harry Potter" and other projects

In 2000, Radcliffe landed a small role in "The Tailor of Panama," playing the son of characters portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis and Geoffrey Rush. Meanwhile, in Great Britain, the search began for actors to adapt the first Harry Potter novel, which had been released in 1997 and was already a beloved phenomenon for children worldwide.

Daniel Radcliffe as a kid (third from right)

The author of the novel, J.K. Rowling, insisted that all the actors involved in the film must be British. Director Chris Columbus faced a daunting challenge: finding a young British actor who could win over the demanding author. After 9 months of casting and over 16,000 auditions, every single candidate for Harry Potter had been rejected. "We'll have to make the film without Harry Potter," the crew joked.

The first meeting of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint

By chance, Chris stumbled upon a videotape of "Copperfield." After watching it, he immediately called his assistant and demanded they find the young actor. Radcliffe was invited to audition, but his parents hesitated—they wanted their son to have a normal childhood: studying, joining clubs, playing with friends, not spending years on a film set. But fate intervened: film producer David Heyman happened to know Radcliffe's father personally, and after much persuasion, finally convinced him to let Daniel audition. Most importantly, J.K. Rowling was thrilled with Daniel, and the boy landed the role of Harry Potter.

"I had two reactions when I found out about the role," Daniel recalled. "First, I cried because I was so happy! Then, a few hours later, I woke up in the middle of the night and ran to my parents' bedroom to ask if it was all just a dream."

The Original Harry Potter ScreenTests – Daniel Radcliffe

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" started filming in September 2000. Daniel was set to play alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, who were also approved by Rowling. During filming, everyone was amazed by Daniel's athleticism—he performed all his own stunts, with doubles only stepping in for the most dangerous scenes. In the Quidditch scenes, for instance, Daniel was suspended several meters in the air on a broomstick—and wasn't scared at all.

Calling "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" a huge success would be an understatement—it grossed nearly a billion dollars worldwide. The emotional journey of an orphan boy discovering his magical heritage on his 11th birthday kept theaters packed for months after its premiere.

A still from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Audiences were blown away by the young actors' performances, especially praising "the deep intelligence with a touch of sadness in Harry Potter's eyes." They also loved the icy gaze of Draco Malfoy played by Tom Felton, the cunning Potions Master Severus Snape expertly portrayed by Alan Rickman, and the wise Headmaster of Hogwarts played by Richard Harris.

A year later, in November 2002, the second installment - "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" - hit theaters. Audiences were stunned: the sweet fairytale about a wizard boy took on darker tones, the characters matured, and the plot twists had some questioning whether that "12+" rating was still appropriate. This trend continued with each new Harry Potter film: for example, the fourth installment wasn't recommended for viewers under 13.

A still from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

In 2004, the third installment, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," hit screens. The production saw major shake-ups: first, director Alfonso Cuarón (relatively unknown at the time) replaced Columbus; second, the late Richard Harris was succeeded by Michael Gambon; and finally, the legendary Gary Oldman joined the cast as Uncle Sirius.

Daniel Radcliffe has always appreciated the talent of Gary Oldman

After wrapping the fifth installment, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," which hit theaters in 2007, the cast and crew headed back to the UK to film "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." The sixth film arrived in 2009 under David Yates' direction. This was followed by the two-part finale: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" in 2010, and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" in 2011. Yates directed both finale films, bringing the Harry Potter movie saga to its epic conclusion.

Throughout the series, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint earned widespread praise for their performances and how they brought these beloved characters to life on screen. The films became both critical darlings and a cultural phenomenon, with fans counting down the days to each new release. The Harry Potter franchise has had a lasting impact on popular culture and continues to be loved by fans all over the world.

In 2007, Radcliffe hit the West End stage and later Broadway in Peter Shaffer's controversial play "Equus." The story follows a troubled stable boy whose obsession with horses drives him to madness. The role required Radcliffe to appear fully nude on stage, and when photos leaked to the press, outraged parents demanded he be banned from the production, arguing "He stars in the biggest children's franchise, and this indecent behavior corrupts his young fans!" However, he donated most of his earnings to a foundation supporting LGBTQ+ youth at risk of suicide. Critics praised the performance as Radcliffe's successful bid to escape being typecast as a one-trick pony.

Unfortunately, when "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" went into production, Radcliffe's theater days were numbered, though he did squeeze in one more project beforehand - British director Brian Kirk's "My Boy Jack," telling the tragic story of Rudyard Kipling. Here, the newly 18-year-old Radcliffe transformed into a young, mustached soldier. The role couldn't have been further from Harry Potter, proving Radcliffe had serious range beyond the boy wizard.

The darker "Half-Blood Prince" hit theaters in July 2009, followed a year and a half later by the first part of the saga's finale, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Radcliffe raved about working with Helena Bonham Carter, who played Voldemort's unhinged lieutenant Bellatrix Lestrange: "Helena is one of those actors who completely transforms the moment they call 'Action!' - not just her character, but physically too."

Daniel Radcliffe and Helena Bonham Carter

That same year, Daniel Radcliffe was crowned the highest-paid actor of the decade. His "Harry Potter" paychecks skyrocketed with each film. While he earned "just" one million for the first film, his "Deathly Hallows" paycheck jumped 20-fold, and the final installment netted him a whopping 33 million.

Daniel Radcliffe was one of the most payed actors in 2009

The scope of the final film's production was mind-blowing. The climactic battle scene alone featured 400 actors as Death Eaters and their followers facing off against another 400 playing Hogwarts students and teachers in the ultimate showdown between good and evil. The final "Harry Potter" film raked in nearly $1.5 billion worldwide. Fans left theaters in tears, saying goodbye to the beloved characters who'd defined their childhoods.

Further career

With "Harry Potter" wrapped, Daniel Radcliffe initially found himself lost, ultimately turning to alcohol. "I felt completely lost," he revealed in an interview.

After Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe became addicted to alcohol

His escape from the alcohol-fueled depression came in late 2011, with an invitation from director James Watkins, who wanted Radcliffe for the lead in his new project, the supernatural thriller "The Woman in Black." This time, Radcliffe became a young Victorian-era lawyer and single father.

Daniel Radcliffe on the set of The Woman in Black

In 2012, Radcliffe starred in the adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's novella, titled "A Young Doctor's Notebook." Daniel played the young rural doctor, Vladimir, who faces countless unexpected challenges in his practice. The role left a lasting impression on the actor, especially since his favorite book is "The Master and Margarita."

A Young Doctor's Notebook: Daniel Radcliffe and John Hamm

A year later, Daniel Radcliffe starred in the mystical dark comedy "Horns." He played an ordinary guy who wakes up with horns growing from his head, giving him the power to read people's deepest thoughts.

Around the same time, Radcliffe tackled the drama "Kill Your Darlings," playing beatnik poet Allen Ginsberg.

Over the next few years, Daniel Radcliffe returned to theater, starring in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and "The Cripple of Inishmaan." He also appeared in the comedy "Trainwreck" with Amy Schumer and Brie Larson, and the biopic "The Gamechangers," about the legal battle between lawyer Mike Thompson and the creators of "Grand Theft Auto."

The Gamechangers: hood scene

In 2016, Radcliffe starred in the dark comedy "Swiss Army Man," playing a corpse. His co-stars included Paul Dano and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

That April, Daniel Radcliffe announced he'd be starring in the Broadway show "Privacy," inspired by Edward Snowden's story. He kept details under wraps but revealed that audiences could record the performance and share footage online during the show.

That same year, Radcliffe appeared in the action sequel "Now You See Me 2," alongside Dave Franco, Jesse Eisenberg, and Woody Harrelson. Radcliffe portrayed the main antagonist, techno-magician Walter Mabry.

Next came "Imperium," where Radcliffe's FBI agent character goes undercover to infiltrate a neo-Nazi group. Critics praised it as the most serious role of Radcliffe's post-Potter career.

2017 brought two standout projects: the survival thriller "Jungle" and his stage turn as Rosencrantz in Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" at the Old Vic Theatre.

In 2018, Radcliffe played the lead role in the action film "Beast of Burden." Despite Radcliffe's star power, audiences weren't impressed. Critics noted that while Radcliffe gave his all to make the character sympathetic, the weak script undermined his efforts.

Around the same time, the actor was working on the TV series "Miracle Workers." Daniel played a bumbling angel tasked with saving Earth from destruction, while Steve Buscemi played God.

MIRACLE WORKERS Trailer Season 1 (2019)

In 2020, audiences saw the action comedy "Guns Akimbo," which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2019. Daniel played a struggling video game developer whose life is going nowhere. Everything changes when he gets forced into underground fights streamed online.

Daniel Radcliffe about Guns Akimbo

Next came the thriller "Escape from Pretoria," with Radcliffe breaking out of a South African island prison.

2020 brought the next "Miracle Workers" season, "Dark Ages." The anthology series features completely different storylines each season. This time, Radcliffe played a quirky but good-hearted prince obsessed with his pet bird, while Buscemi took on the role of a medieval peasant.

Daniel Radcliffe's Personal Life

In November 2010, Daniel Radcliffe began dating director's assistant Rosie Coker. Radcliffe described himself as a one-woman man. However, their relationship ended in October 2012.

They split because Radcliffe had met someone else. While filming "Kill Your Darlings," he met actress Erin Darke. Fans initially questioned whether they were really dating, but when Daniel and Erin showed up together at Sundance, they made it official.

Daniel Radcliffe and his girlfriend Erin Darke

Their characters had a love scene in the movie, and Radcliffe later joked they've been inseparable ever since.

Their relationship has gone the distance – they celebrated five years together in 2018.

In April 2023, Daniel and Erin became parents. The couple has not disclosed the baby's gender or name.

In 2023, Daniel and Erin welcomed their baby

Daniel Radcliffe Now

In 2021, the third season of "Miracle Workers" premiered, transporting audiences to the Wild West era. Radcliffe transformed into a God-fearing pastor leading his congregation to winter in Oregon. Buscemi, on the other hand, plays the bandit Benny the Kid, accompanying them on this dangerous journey.

Radcliffe in the third season of Miracle Workers

That same year, HBO announced filming of a "Harry Potter" special episode celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first film about young wizards. Notably, the creator of the Harry Potter books wasn't invited to participate due to controversy surrounding her criticism of trans people – the writer objected to LGBT community proposals to refer to women as "people with menstruation."

Radcliffe was among those who criticized Rowling. The actor noted that he didn't expect such behavior and harsh statements from Rowling, who had essentially launched his film career:

Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice from health organizations with far more expertise on this issue than Jo or I

In 2022, the biographical comedy parody "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" was released, with Daniel Radcliffe starring as accordionist and parody song writer Al Yankovic. The musician himself endorsed Radcliffe for the role. The actor explained how he landed the role: "When I first spoke with Al, I thought, 'I'm truly flattered that you would choose me to portray you, but why? Me?'" he admitted. According to the actor, the main reason for his casting was his performance of satirist Tom Lehrer's song "The Elements" in one of his shows: "I think Al saw that and thought, 'Maybe this guy gets it.' And that's why he chose me."

A still from Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Nina Williams

I`m a fan of Harry Potter and I like Radcliffe as well, I watched every movie with him, nothing is better then Potter.

2021-05-17 19:20:22
Shawn Davis

Recently I watched Guns Akimbo with him, it`s disaster. So only Harry Potter and Co.

2021-05-12 17:49:43
Margaret Clark

Very versatile actor, besides Potter he has many other good roles, for example The Woman in Black.

2021-05-11 19:10:16
Christopher McKinney

Who has an image of Harry Potter every time you think about this actor, you should watch Imperium, you`ll be in shock.

2021-02-15 13:42:24
William White

I adore all the movies about Harry Potter and I like all the actors, I even have a autograph of Radcliffe!

2021-02-05 23:35:02
Dart Tayler

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2018-12-25 02:29:38

Photos: Daniel Radcliffe