Daniel Radcliffe has probably usurped Hugh Jackman, Chris Hemsworth, and Tom Hanks, collectively, as the nicest man in Hollywood.
Meeting him is like meeting a long-lost friend. Greeting you with a broad smile and firm handshake, he brings a genuine sense of vitality to the moment. Unlike many of his peers who treat interviews with glib disdain, Daniel enjoys making conversation and being open about his thoughts and feelings. He gives off the vibe of a polite and earnest young man who loves his work and is happy to share his enthusiasm and positive perspective with anyone interested enough to listen, typical behavior for a human being; rare for a pampered, disconnected movie star.
How he's managed to maintain this air of grounded decency despite his status as one of his generation's more successful British actors, with an estimated personal wealth of £60million from his 10-year performance in the Potter franchise, is remarkable.
The actor admits he does these days want to distance himself from his bespectacled Harry Potter alter ego, even though he fully embraces that legacy.
"I'm part of a franchise of films that people connect with," Radcliffe says. "That's amazing, and it never gets old. Those films have opened up so many wonderful opportunities for me, and I'm constantly looking for new projects and new stories to tell. I love this work, and I want to make good films. The potential to inspire someone is a magical feeling."
Since the final Potter film screened in 2011, Radcliffe has extended his range with a series of spirited performances in horror films (The Woman in Black, Victor Frankenstein), dramas (Kill Your Darlings, The Gamechangers, Guns Akimbo, Escape from Pretoria), and edgy comedies (Horns and Swiss Army Man). He's also made a name for himself on stage in Equus (famously appearing naked), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Broadway play Privacy.
Now he returns in slight Potter-Esque fantasy eccentricity mode as Abigail Fairfax (a man) in The Lost City, who kidnaps Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) to find the lost city on which her novel is based.
The overall appeal of Radcliffe is unquenchable likeability. He currently lives in New York and London with his actress girlfriend of four years, Erin Darke.
STRIPLV: Abigail? RADCLIFFE: I did have to do a double take the first time I read the script. I had visions of coming at this from an Eddie Redmayne angle, but it's a gender-neutral name. STRIPLV: Is it? RADCLIFFE: I think it's one of those names that sounds better when shortened – Abby. That sounds better. Does it? You've got me wondering now. I don't think there's a big point being made here, to be honest. Of course, I'm entirely behind the ongoing drive for equality and the respect we all need to have for what is a changing gender landscape. The fact we are talking about these things is a good thing in the first instance. It would be good to get to a point where acceptance counters confusion, but it's a long road. By the very nature of the film industry, I think there is a real need to shine a light on these issues, as the movie world is, after all, a reflection of society. On the whole, I feel it does a good job in representing that. STRIPLV: Even when it gets accused of going too woke with nominations? RADCLIFFE: I think there are periods in time during which the intensity of action will ebb and flow. Last year was clearly one where there was a big drive on the equalization of what some saw as an unfair spread up until that point. What generally happens is that things calm down, and a new equality comes along. As long as we are progressing and moving further along whatever ladder we are on, that can only be a good thing. STRIPLV: As for your own ladder, it seems you are in a real mid-level of your career now. Harry Potter seems like such a long time ago and you are an actor for what has come since, not just that incredible run. RADCLIFFE: Thank you! I like that I'm starting to be known as somebody who likes to operate outside what's deemed acceptable and conventional. Is this representative of me? Yes, probably. I like weird shit, and I'm probably perceived as a weird, strange character myself, and I like to embrace that as much as I can because weird is wonderful. And the more weird and wonderful roles that I take on, the more that get sent my way, and that's a huge win in my book. STRIPLV: People appear seriously excited to see what you do next. RADCLIFFE: That's a proper, amazing compliment to receive, and it makes me feel like some of the choices I've made, some that make my agent go, "Really, You want to do this?" I get reassurance from that, so thank you. STRIPLV: Working with Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, and Brad Pitt feels far from Hogwarts. RADCLIFFE: Yes, and yet there was a fun, fantasy vibe about The Lost City. It's a great film that builds itself on the comedy of fantasy adventure, without all the seriousness of superhero movies. We all felt it was a movie format that was due a comeback. STRIPLV: You will never go back to Harry? RADCLIFFE: Well, no. Maybe, perhaps, in the future, if I'm lucky enough to become old and grey, then it could be fun. I could play his clapped-out old grandad or whatever, but right now, it would definitely feel like taking a couple of steps back. And I don't mean that in a nasty way. I mean that in a way that defies my own personal progression as an actor, that wouldn't make a lot of sense for me. If they do it, give another actor a shot. Give it to Jamie Parker if he's still on for it after doing the stage show. Or find another actor altogether, give them a once-in-a-lifetime chance that I got. STRIPLV: So you weren't surprised about the rumors, then? RADCLIFFE: That's nothing compared to the amount of shit out there written about me. STRIPLV: So, no to Potter, or roles similar? RADCLIFFE: Turning down boy wizard roles will be something I do for the foreseeable future. STRIPLV: Your roles since are so different and risky. Have they been an intentional move away from him? RADCLIFFE: It's not to stray as far as possible away from Potter. It's to go as far as possible from every role I take on and then do something entirely different, which is what my favorite actors do. It makes sense to me to do that. And it might seem like I'm taking risks and being really brave and courageous, with but it's only because I played the same character for a long time. That's the only reason why I'm seen as doing something remarkable, which is far from the case. I'm an actor, that's what we do. STRIPLV: And yet you could be back on the blockbusters trail here? RADCLIFFE: I mean, I grew up in blockbuster action movies, these insane huge sets, massive stunts that were the coolest thing to be a part of. I'm unbelievably lucky to have had that start to my career. My only criteria, which is a fortunate position to be in, and I'm under no illusion of how great that is, is I can decide to work on something only if I'm passionate about it and the character is smart. That's all I have to consider. And what are the risks involved with these scripts, because that is what will win it for me? STRIPLV: I hear you would never turn down Spider-Man. RADCLIFFE: Spider-Man, yeah! Absolutely no question. Today, tomorrow, and forever - he is my favorite superhero, and he is the dream. But you know, there's been a few Spider-Men during my lifetime, and there will probably be many more, but I think I've missed that boat. Not that I was ever close to the boat, and I wasn't even near the docks. (Laughs) I know people think I've switched to indie films, which is not really the case. It's just that's where I find all of the interesting work. There are lots of great stories that don't always become studio films, and I'm very glad to be able to find those characters that are going to push me and challenge me. What I've also discovered is that often the best stories are rarely the ones where everything is happy, beautiful, and serene. It's much more interesting to watch a film where the main character or characters are screwed-up and dealing with serious problems and struggling in life rather than those who have easy happy lives. STRIPLV: Abigail certainly represents another brilliant villain for you to portray. RADCLIFFE: People think villains are easier, but when you play them, you still need to find all the nuances and understand the events or circumstances from that person's past that explain why he now behaves a certain way. You can't just look at him simply as a madman called Abigail. STRIPLV: Apart from acting, you also like to write poems. RADCLIFFE: I love writing, and writing poems was something that absorbed me for a time when I was younger. I think my love of writing comes from having grown up surrounded by books, scripts, and plays. I didn't read that much when I was a child, but suddenly around the age of 14, I began to devour everything, especially books on history. I still read a lot, although now I tend to read mainly non-fiction. Reading and writing are great passions of mine, and I think that has helped me in terms of choosing scripts. STRIPLV: As a former child actor, would you want your children to follow in your footsteps? RADCLIFFE: I've thought about that because I imagine that my children will naturally wind up spending a lot of time on set while I'm working and probably want to get involved in acting. Because my overall experience was so good, I would probably encourage them if it was something they enjoyed. I also think that I could help guide my children and help them be part of that world. I had a fantastic time growing up in that world and it would be hypocritical of me to be one of those actors who says that he wouldn't want his children to choose his profession. STRIPLV: Do you ever wonder why you didn't ultimately become one of those obnoxious former child stars whose adult lives are a mess? RADCLIFFE: (Laughs) I think being an only child helped me because I always found different ways to entertain myself when I wasn't working. My parents were always very helpful, and they've been very active in my life, helping me with scripts in the case of my father while my mother has been looking after various investments in property for me. I'm very lucky to have had their support. I think I've also been fortunate in that I've developed many different interests, and working on the Potter films just fed my imagination. I'm someone who never gets bored. I'm someone who thinks that there's always something interesting that you can do with your time. STRIPLV: You don't waste your time on social media like Twitter, though? RADCLIFFE: My advice to young actors is, "Don't be on Twitter!" The reason I don't have Twitter is people are writing stuff to you all the time. I feel like if I was dealing with people on Twitter, I'd just get angry and get into fights. I'd be one of those people who, if someone tweeted something annoying at 1 am, I'd be like, "OK, let's do this." (Grimaces fiendishly) And I know that about myself, and no one ever wins in that situation. STRIPLV: Who has it been the biggest pleasure to work with? RADCLIFFE: Well, Sir Michael Caine was someone who, having grown up in the British film industry, you hear so much about from people who have worked with him. There's a tremendous amount of respect for his work ethic and how he is on set. At a young age, that makes an impression, and you say, "I want to be like that!" Michael is the ultimate professional, and it was extraordinary to be around him on set when we made Now You See Me 2. He was constantly telling us stories and joking with us, and it's inspiring to work with someone who is such a legend and still enjoys his work so much. I've also been a huge admirer of the work of Jesse Eisenberg, and it was a great pleasure to be able to work with him on the same movie. STRIPLV: Do you have any regrets about some of your past film choices? RADCLIFFE: There's nothing that I've done that I haven't at least learned a lot from - even if I haven't been happy with my own work in it. Loads of times, I've looked back at things and thought, 'I would have done that differently, but there's never been something where I've said, "I shouldn't have done that." It's all part of the experience. STRIPLV: Are you very self-critical when it comes to your performances? RADCLIFFE: I tend to be self-critical, but lately, I've been much happier with my performances. Maybe that's because I try very hard to avoid watching my films. You always see certain things that you wish you could have done better, which I suppose is natural, but it doesn't do you any good because it's too late to change anything. STRIPLV: Have you become more comfortable dealing with fame? RADCLIFFE: It's much easier now. In the beginning, the attention seemed wonderful, and in my case, I was very young, and it took me time to adjust to everything. I'm glad that I was living in England and not in Los Angeles during that time because it's such a competitive environment, and the pressure can have a very negative effect. I consider myself fortunate to have discovered around the age of 21 that fame doesn't last and you shouldn't let it become part of your identity. I saw that what really makes me happy is spending time with my friends and loved ones. You have to figure out who you are and not confuse your true self with your image. It's important to know that the world sees you through the prism of success and many people you come to know will relate to you on that basis. So for young actors, once the fame begins to fade, you need to know who you are if you're going to survive.