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Danield Radcliffe in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1."
Daniel Radcliffe admitted he was drunk while filming some scenes for the "Harry Potter" movies during a period in his life where he was drinking "nightly," the young star said in an interview.
"I have a very addictive personality. It was a problem. People with problems like that are very adept at hiding it. It was bad. I don't want to go into details, but I drank a lot and it was daily -- I mean nightly," Radcliffe said to British celebrity news magazine Heat earlier this week.
"I can honestly say I never drank at work on 'Harry Potter.' I went into work still drunk, but I never drank at work. I can point to many scenes where I'm just gone. Dead behind the eyes," the 22-year-old actor said.
The young British star, who was propelled to fame at 11 years old after being cast to play boy wizard Harry Potter in the movies based on J.K. Rowling's best-selling novels, discussed his "very busy personality" and also talked about his production-assistant girlfriend, who he said was "a wonderful, wonderful girl, who's far too good for me."
"I can also be quite insecure. A lot of actors have self-doubt. I live under that the whole time, and it's how I function best. I think she puts up with a lot; she says she doesn't," said Radcliffe.
The "Harry Potter" star, who has received critical praise for his theater work in the Broadway and West End productions "Equus" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," is currently on the promotional rounds for his film, "The Woman in Black," out in U.S. theaters on Friday.
Are you surprised by his revelation? In retrospect, can you think of any scenes where Radcliffe appeared out of it? Tell us on Facebook.
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Leave a Comment:
Bad Harry Potter!! Weren't supposed to mix witch hazel and angel's hair together! Bad Harry...bad!
Harry Potted.
Harry Potter drunk? Say it isn't so! Is nothing in life sacred anymore? I'm shattered!
They were hitting the butterbeers pretty hard...
I think it was really the Fire Whiskey. Wish I had some...
He's a Brit, give em' a break....he's genetically engineered to drink :)
If I'd spent my entire life as a teen portraying a make-believe character in a fantasy world, I'd sure as hell be driven to drink.
just don't DRINK & DRIVE!!!!!!!!!
A broom?
I want more clues, which movie(s)
The douche was 'hung over' not drunk. He says he never drank on set before filming. by his definition 80% of Americans have been 'drunk' on the job.
This little tw@t doesn't even know what drinking is. What an annoying clown.
He-Who-Must-Be-Named was trying to get him drunk so he would wake up in bed with Professor McGonagall.
He needs to get an Oscar ! The same facial expression - blank- for eleven years and even when drunk !
Bah! If it helps his role, then so be it! Perfect example. Metallica. They were good back then, because they drank. Now, they're clean and they suck.
Lars, if you're reading this, go dry up already.
I'm a little bothered by the flippancy of most of the comments about this article. Daniel Radcliffe did not make this confession to amuse people.
Alcoholism is a serious, life-destroying sickness. I applaud Radcliffe for recognizing his problem and taking responsibility for it. That is rare among his age group, and certainly sets a good example for others in similar circumstances.
Far better to deal with it as he did, instead of denying it and letting it control him (Mel Gibson, are you listening?)
At least it wasn't smoking right?
"Harry Pot-head Gets the Sorcerer Stoned"
Undoubtedly not 80%, but for sure a lot more than you think are legally under the influence.
@ DaveT
He said he never drank at work but drank nightly and was drunk while filming. He doesnt have a 9-5 job. When filming movies/TV you shoot all hours of the day and night. If he was up drinking all night and had to be on set at 2 am, then ya he'd be drunk.
Its ok. I'm usually drunk when I'm watching those movies.
Now that was funny...with ya there!
Harry Blottoed
I cant get drunk enough to watch those movies. Maybe its because I went thru puberty 20 years ago.....
Give them a try. Those movies are spectacular. And I'm the same age as you are.
Take the movies or leave 'em. The books, though, are amazing.
Age is just a number. Feeling young at heart and enjoying movies is an entirely different story. I'm 30, I love the movies. The books were better though.
Absolutely, NyNy! Our family has members of three generations who adore the Potter books, including my 78 yr old father-in-law who's read each one at least twice.
Sad to read of Radcliffe's admission. I hope he continues his effort to manage his addiction.
I used to feel the same way Junior. Then my children started reading the books. Then the last movie was coming out and they started showing the movies in marathon runs on TV. The kids loved them. I found myself getting into the story line as well. Before I knew it, I had read all the books and I had seen all the movies within one month. They're pretty compelling. My father is almost 70 and he loved them.
That can be said about most book/movies though. The Harry Potter books are amazing and any age group can enjoy them, I felt that the movies lost touch after the second one though. As to Radcliffe, I'm not terribly surprised, he jumped to fame so quickly it'd be difficult not to turn to something. I'm glad he's getting better though, he's an amazing actor and it's good to see him in other movies.
The books are not that good. I tried reading the first one once, and once was enough. I did not even enjoy the first few pages. But, I am an adult and these books are geared more towards children. Take a look at your sci-fi or fiction section of the library or book store next time you are there. I think you will be surprised at the incredible selection of authors. I can recommend these authors: Dan Simmons "Hyperion," Glenda Larke "The Last Stormlord," Glen Cook "The Black Company,” and CS Friedman “Black Sun Rising.”
Junior: Maybe you might wanna change your name, then.
Ugh. I hated the series until I had kids. Then suddenly I liked the series.
Then when Twilight came out, I realized Harry Potter was infinitely better than Twilight.
Yet, you are still typing "thru" instead of through. Give them a try, I don't think you're above the Harry Potter series.
Okay, who spiked the butterbeer?
Spiked? Butterbeer (in the series) was likely alcoholic already (I know the stuff at the theme park isn't, but the legal drinking age in the UK is a tad lower than in the US, and there could be an exception for wizarding folk)
astro - It doesn't seem like it gets you "drunk" exactly, but definitely gives you a buzz of some sort. Rowling made that clear in the books.
And the director and the rest of the crew (including the childs' advocate who is supposed to be supervising children in movies) were unaware of this? Or were they?
I believe he may have been 18 at the time. Englands age rules are different.
As he said, he was very good at hiding it. Folks dealing with addiction get to be very good at concealing the evidence. It's possible some suspected, or even knew, but just as possible nobody had any idea.
Seriously, if you're addicted to something, you'll do everything you can to get it and be very good about hiding it so no one (in his case whisky) will take it away from you. Besides, he said that he never drank on set.
Ask Drew Barrymore.
In response to what mheyize said about doing everything to get it and being good at hiding it, yes, the addict will do anything to get it, but generally just thinks he or she is good at hiding it........ Having lived with one, I can tell you that he is not good at hiding it. I almost always find it, just have to decide each time whether to make an issue of it. Generally, I do not, as it does absolutely no good. I already know it is the most important thing to him........ And each time I find it, it is another cruel reminder. Oh, well!
Chamber Doc...
He said he started drinking while filming the Half Blood Prince. He was over 18 at that point, and past child advocates supervision.
I don't think he said he was addicted, for those who keep talking about his addiction. He said he had an addictive personality and realized that was not who he wanted to be.
I think he's very similar to a lot of kids who are thrust into fame at an early age. How many other child stars have ended up in rehab or addiction?
PoliticalFenceSitter,
"I think he's very similar to a lot of kids who are thrust into fame at an early age. How many other child stars have ended up in rehab or addiction?"
I think your right. Look what happened to River Phoenix (dead at age 23 from drug overdose), Brad Renfro (dead at age 25 from same cause), Drew Barrymore, and so many other young movie stars. I just heard on BBC World News last night that scientists have found evidence that the tendency toward addiction runs in families and may be hereditary. Maybe that's Daniel Radcliffe's problem. He said he has a very addictive personality.
Do child stars ever have a happy ending?
I simply have a hard time believing that these people have a hard life. They want for nothing. What could possibly drive them to destroy themselves?
Kyle,
"What could possibly drive them to destroy themselves?"
Hollywood.
Kyle,
They are wanting for a childhood. These kids were working full time when they should have been going to school and playing sports. I know there are laws about how many hours they are allowed to work and things like that, but you can't tell me those kids had a normal, stable childhood. They spent millions on those movies; do you really believe that investment didn't translate into some stress and pressure to perform for the child stars? I am not surprised so many child actors have addiction issues.
Robbie,
If it is so bad that addiction is a legitimate and expected result of this work, then I have to question the parenting involved. I am not trying to tell you anything about these people besides that they made choices that resulted in piles of cash for them, and work that some people would consider a joke next to, oh, i don't know, the work that children in most other countries do from a much younger age. I would even say that work I did as a young teenager (detassling corn fields) was tougher than this.
Pretty impressive ... it couldn't have been easy to put that out publically and with dignity.
Why would you feel it necessary to tell this???????????? Stupid.
Because he was being interviewed and was being honest about his addiction. And yes, YOU are stupid.
At least he is being honest. There's nothing stupid about being open about a very real problem with young actors and actresses.
And it increases publicity for the new shoot... What was the name of the movie?
he's pretty hot..and i'm a guy, and straight. is this an issue?
i'm 54, white, fat, and have no woman and no life.
No of course not...but Harry will probably start carrying a weapon when he goes out at night after reading your comment.
And these things are probably why.
I can relate Harry. It's just so hard to stop having whiskey for breakfast.
I hope he wasn't flying that broom drunk, drinking and driving do not mix and underage too. I wonder if there is a reward err... I mean fine if I turn him in?
You know what I respect about this kid... he can man up and admit his own faults. Something a lot of people are unable or unwilling to do. My respect for him just went up.
Malfean, you don't think it was just for the publicity ? There is another movie coming out....
And still he pulled it off. Man must be a pretty good actor. I know if I were being paid to get in front of a camera for a huge blockbuster movie, I'd be inclined to have a few drinks myself!
Nice role model for younger HP fans.
Why is it that everyone who is famous is suddenly required to be a "role model"? I guess that doesn't really make sense to me.
And why does a 23 yr old man have to live by the moral standards we have for 12 year olds...news flash, hes not really a wizard. People should take a look at other work hes done that doesnt include magic wands...I mean he was in a play about a guy and a horse where he had full frontal nudity....wait, sorry that does include his magic wand....
Radcliffe "I'm totally gay in some Harry Potter scenes"
Hahahahahahhahaha!!!
So that's what he was doing in Potions class.
Was that in scene where he was under Felix Felicis influence?
Too bad he felt impelled to share this. I am sure the world would have continued to turn and little kids would not be upset if he kept his big gob shut.
Yes, people struggling with their own addiction problems should never know that other people have the same issues, no matter what their socio-economic status. Better that no one talk about it and leave the silly drunks to wallow in isolation. <<does sarcasm work in print?>>
"Little kids" don't care (or understand). Some adults, however, might see themselves in his comments and get help.
<<does sarcasm work in print?>>
Yeah, it does - if the target is smart enough to understand it!
Happens a lot in the movies. Glad that he knows he has an addictive personality and that it is a problem. I guess Harry Potter isn't a boy anymore. Great books, good movies with great actors. But, they are just that - actors. People playing as other people in front of a camera. It's gotta be a rough job going from "just Daniel" to "OMG! Harry Potter!". Drinking probably helped him cope, even if it wasn't healthy. I congratulate him for not doing worse.
it's funny how many people can't accept the notion of a 'functioning addict'... even if they can't get their day started without a caffeine-filled cup of coffee... :)
PS- it doesn't have to be illegal to be a DRUG! :)
It's sad that so many coments have absolutely nothing to do with the story, or making light of an issue that grabs so many my the throat and won't let go. I give him credit for coming forward. So many speak years later after rehab stints or suffering a great loss. He has the option now of being an influence to millions. I love the movies, but they are people before they are actors. I wish him well.
I'm not ashamed to say that 85% of the reason I come to MSNBC is to post comments that have nothing to do with the story or to make light of an issue... like this one.
I will admit that sometimes I just read the stories to read the funny comments people make. This and the guy falling into the radioactive water were guarenteed funny bone ticklers. :D
Still not as cool as Nicholson tripping on LSD while filming the Shining. "Here's Johnny"
It's better that he was honest about it then denying it. It's also better that it come from him rather then some tabloid.
A Brit with a drinking problem? I'm shocked I tell ya! Shocked!
You and I would both have a drinking problem if we were British--we'd have to deal with British women.
However much I don't condone working drunk I said good on him for freely admitting it. Having been involved with film I can understand how stressful it can be, especially on an impressionable mind. The fact that he can come forward an admit that there was an issue - is an issue, considering his 'addictive personality' - should be held with high regard. That is one step further than the average person will go even in their private lives, let alone for a major publication.
For those of you saying he should have kept his mouth shut and kept the fantasy of his innocence alive, get over it. Chances are that it would come out in the future anyway and then you would all be apalled that he didn't 'fess up' on his own.
That does explain a few things in the second to last movie. I thought he was on morphine in some of the scenes. It must be hard to be so talented and filthy stinking rich.
Felix Felicis with prof Slughorn