Daniel Jacob Radcliffe, known professionally as Daniel Radcliffe, is an English actor who rose to global fame portraying the title character in the Harry Potter film series, based on the novels by J. K. Rowling. Having appeared in all eight installments of the franchise, Radcliffe became one of the most recognizable young actors of the 21st century and one of the highest-earning child stars in British entertainment history.

Early Life and Family Background

Daniel Radcliffe was born on July 23, 1989, in Fulham, London, the only child of Alan Radcliffe and Marcia Gresham. His mother, an actress, had appeared in BBC productions such as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. Growing up in a creative household, Radcliffe developed an early interest in performance.

He attended Sussex House School before continuing his education at the City of London School. While still a student, he participated in school plays, demonstrating natural stage presence.

Early Acting Career

At the age of ten, Daniel Radcliffe made his television debut in the BBC adaptation of David Copperfield, portraying the young Copperfield in the Charles Dickens classic. The production attracted significant attention and marked his first major screen exposure.

In 2001, director John Boorman cast him in The Tailor of Panama, where he appeared alongside Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The film introduced Radcliffe to international audiences and Hollywood-level productions.

Harry Potter Phenomenon

The defining turning point in Daniel Radcliffe’s career came when director Chris Columbus cast him as Harry Potter in the film adaptation of J. K. Rowling’s globally successful novel. Despite strong competition from young actors such as Haley Joel Osment and Frankie Muniz, Radcliffe secured the role after an audition process overseen by producer David Heyman and screenwriter Steve Kloves.

In August 2000, it was officially announced that Radcliffe would star alongside Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, released in November 2001. The film broke box office records worldwide.

The franchise continued with:

– Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

– Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

– Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

– Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

– Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

– Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010)

– Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)

The series became one of the highest-grossing franchises in cinematic history, securing Radcliffe’s place in global popular culture. In 2002, he received the Variety Club Award for Best Newcomer and was named “Person of the Year” by Time Kids. A 2004 article in The Sun reported him as one of the wealthiest young individuals in the United Kingdom, alongside figures such as Prince Harry and Charlotte Church.

Post-Potter Career and Artistic Expansion

Following the conclusion of the Harry Potter series, Daniel Radcliffe deliberately pursued diverse and unconventional roles to avoid typecasting.

He starred in The Woman in Black (2012), the thriller Horns (2013), and portrayed poet Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings (2013). In the romantic comedy What If (released internationally as The F Word), he explored lighter dramatic territory.

Radcliffe also appeared in the surreal independent film Swiss Army Man (2016), the survival drama Jungle (2017), and the action thriller Beast of Burden (2018). On television, he starred in the dark comedy series A Young Doctor’s Notebook, acting opposite Jon Hamm.

In 2016, he joined the ensemble of Now You See Me 2 (Sihirbazlar Çetesi 2), appearing alongside Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, and Morgan Freeman.

Filmography

Actor

2018 – Beast of Burden – (Sean) – Feature Film

2017 – Jungle – (Yossi Ghinsberg) – Feature Film

2016 – Swiss Army Man – (Manny) – Feature Film

2016 – Now You See Me 2 – (Walter Mabry) – Feature Film

2016 – Imperium – (Nate Foster) – Feature Film

2015 – Victor Frankenstein – (Igor) – Feature Film

2015 – Trainwreck – Feature Film

2013 – What If – (Wallace) – Feature Film

2013 – Kill Your Darlings – (Allen Ginsberg) – Feature Film

2013 – Horns – (Ig Perrish) – Feature Film

2012 – The Woman in Black – (Arthur Kipps) – Feature Film

2012 – A Young Doctor’s Notebook – (Young Doctor) – TV Series

2011 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – (Harry Potter) – Feature Film

2010 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 – (Harry Potter) – Feature Film

2009 – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – (Harry Potter) – Feature Film

2007 – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – (Harry Potter) – Feature Film

2007 – December Boys – (Maps) – Feature Film

2005 – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – (Harry Potter) – Feature Film

2004 – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – (Harry Potter) – Feature Film

2002 – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – (Harry Potter) – Feature Film

2001 – The Tailor of Panama – (Mark Pendel) – Feature Film

2001 – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – (Harry Potter) – Feature Film

1999 – David Copperfield – (Young David Copperfield) – TV Film

Source: Biyografiler.com