In an lengthy interview with
Times Online, Dan Radcliffe discusses growing up on the Harry Potter set, having trouble making teenage friends, school woes,
Equus and how “devastated” he will be end of the Potter series.
On growing up on the HP set:
Quote:
We were kids in a theme park. I was swinging on the scaffolding, the bane of the costume department’s life, constantly dirty and ripping the clothes. Anyway, I’m surrounded by honest people who, at the slightest hint of arrogance in me, would be quick to say, hey, get back in your place. I can’t remember it ever happening. Potter is far bigger than any one person. You have to know that. If I turned around and said I’m not doing the last two, there would be added interest and more people would go and see them.
Dan finds it difficult making friends his own age:
Quote:
It’s not that I think they are immature, but I don’t know what to say to them. I’m worried I might sound like I’m boasting, or might mention too many famous names. I find myself becoming overly timid and self-effacing, and watching what I say. I’m more comfortable with people who are a bit older, especially older girls, which is a real curse, because they are not interested in a younger guy.
Dan ran into a bit of trouble at the City of London School, which he attended between film shoots:
Quote:
The insults were all pretty inane. It was just, ’Ooh, there’s Harry Potter, let’s have a go.’ Because I spent time around adults, I was in a different place. I never got angsty about it. I could always say to myself that in six weeks I’d be back on set. Harry is going through the same stuff.
Dan describes
Equus as:
Quote:
A play to change how people think. When I was 10 and I’d seen a Bond film, I’d go home and act out the characters. Alan (his character) is doing that; he fantasises about becoming a centaur.
To some people, I will only ever be Harry. I know that, I don’t fight it. I don’t want to distance myself from him. I’m proud of that work. But I do want to show them that I am not Harry Potter. I am an actor.
Gary Oldman’s advice to Dan on performing in the nude:
Quote:
He said the first night is terrifying, the second is pretty scary, and after that you don’t care. When you do it in a cold room and you are nervous, everything goes a bit shy down there, but I have been assured it will be nice and warm on the night. We have done the nudity scene twice with our clothes off, and my acting improved so much. It’s hard to show that vulnerability you need for nakedness with your clothes on. Now I get them off at the drop of a hat.
How Dan feels about the Harry Potter series ending:
Quote:
When I’ve shot the last scene of the last movie, I will be devastated. Harry Potter has provided my friends, seen me through my exams. I’ve had my first girlfriend, my first kiss. It’s been my life.
I want him (Harry) to die because I have a melodramatic yearning for a death scene. And the prophecy in the fifth book says only one of Harry and Voldemort can live. Or is it that neither can live while the other survives? Oh God, what is it? The fans will kill me if I’ve got that wrong.
You can read the entire interview
here.
Two photos accompanied the article which you can view
here and
here. (click on photos to enlarge)
Note: There are also photos that go with Dan’s earlier interview we
told you about with
The Guardian.
Warning: View shot No. 3 at your own risk! Dan 1 Dan 2 Dan 3 (racy)
All photos are courtesy of
DR.co.uk.
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Dan will be “devastated” at end of HP 
A true friend | You're here 'til the end 
