As most may know, Daniel Radcliffe briefly turned to alcohol to deal with the aftermath of his Harry Potter fame. But although he’s been open about his alcohol use, when it started Radcliffe kept his new habit mostly to himself. This was why it came as a surprise when Emma Watson learned about Radcliffe’s drinking habit herself.
Radcliffe had been a part of the Harry Potter franchise during much of his formative years. The star has often spoken fondly about that period in his life, but it still came with its demons. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Radcliffe shared how and why he turned to alcohol to help him cope.
“A lot of drinking that happened towards the end of Potter and for a little bit after it finished, it was panic a little bit, not knowing what to do next,” Radcliffe said. “Not being — comfortable enough in who I was to remain sober.”
Because of this, Radcliffe was also extremely aware of how it looked for others to see the Harry Potter star drinking.
“I didn’t really know in terms of behavior, and behavior in public, that was one of the first times that I felt being famous brushing up against my life,” he said. “If I went out and if I got drunk I’d suddenly be aware of there being an interest in that because it was not just a drunk guy, it’s like ‘Harry Potter’s getting drunk in the bar,’ and that carries its own kind of interest for people. Also a slightly mocking interest because it is inherently funny for people.”
Radcliffe kept his drinking close to the chest, so much so it was even a surprise for Watson.
“To be honest, it’s really not something that I genuinely know much about,” she said on Late Night with David Letterman (via Marie Claire).
But with that said, the Beauty and the Beast actor asserted that Radcliffe maintained constant professionalism on set during this period.
“But as far as I know, he never took a sick day. He was like the most professional, amazing guy ever,” she revealed.
Watson was then asked if she was a drinker herself.
“We drink at 18 in the UK — but I’m actually legal to drink now in the US. It’s worth mentioning — I’m 21,” she continued. “Yes, I have been drunk once in my life, as everyone does. I’ve got drunk, I’ve been drunk and I’ll bow to that.”
Hollywood is full of cautionary tales of child stars that later become the subject of controversy or scandal. The Harry Potter cast, however, has managed to avoid this phase completely. Instead, they’ve all grown up to be successful actors with very few scandals attached to their names. Radcliffe himself revealed that it surprises most people to see how well he’s turned out after his Harry Potter fame.
“I was very aware early on people have very low expectations of what I’ll be like,, which is great because hopefully you always exceed them,” Radcliffe told The Mirror. “Once I was having dinner with the Director of Photography on a film and I told some weird story about a thing that happened to me in a kind of light, amused way. When I got to the end, the DP looked at me and went, ‘How are you not more messed up?’ It’s a reaction that does happen and I don’t really have a satisfying answer for people.”