Daniel Radcliffe was only a 12-year-old aspiring child actor from London when he starred as the titular hero of the first Harry Potter film in 2011. The franchise itself has served as one of the most important cornerstones of pop culture throughout its ten-year run, amassing over $7.7 billion in box office from its eight films. Fast forward ten years and eight Harry Potter films later, and Daniel Radcliffe has cemented his name as one of the highest-paid actors of all time.
That said, it's also been ten years since the final installment of the series, Deathly Hallows – Part 2, hit the screen. Since then, the actor has elevated his career to the next level, as well as in terms of personal level. To sum it up, here's everything Daniel Radcliffe's been up to and how his life changed since the last Harry Potter film aired.
8 Made His Post-Harry Potter Debut With 'The Woman In Black'
There are many cases where an actor gets typecasted so much so that it's hard for them to break out of the character that made them big. However, that's not the case with Daniel Radcliffe, as his first post-Harry Potter project a year after Part 2 with The Woman in Black. The film adaptation of Susan Hill's 1983 novel of the same name sees the actor portraying the lead character who's in search to entail the vengeful entity that scares the townswomen.
7 Daniel Radcliffe Ventured Into Broadway Plays
During his time with Harry Potter, Radcliffe also tried acting in several West End and Broadway productions. One of the most recent Broadway works he's done was the 2018's Lifespan of a Fact from John D'Agata and Jim Fingal's book of the same name. Written by Jeremy Kareken, the British actor recruited the likes of Cherry Jones and Bobby Cannavale for the satirical play.
6 He Declared His Sobriety
Unfortunately, reaching the highest fame at Hollywood from such a young age can be pretty costly. For Daniel Radcliffe, he revealed that he struggled with alcoholism for quite some time, until he quit in 2010 thanks to the help from some friends.
"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 — not being comfortable enough in who I was to remain sober," he recalled during an interview.
5 Daniel Radcliffe Starred As The Antagonist In 'Now You See Me 2'
It seems like Daniel Radcliffe couldn't totally get away from the magic world in films, at least until 2016 when he portrayed a young tech tycoon in Ed Solomon's heist magic thriller Now You See Me 2. The film picks up what the previous movie left off: the fugitive Four Horsemen are working to help Radcliffe's character steal a data chip before the final shocking twist surfaces. Despite its mixed reviews from the critics, Now You See Me 2 grossed $334 million worldwide.
4 Broke His Silence On JK Rowling's Controversial Tweet About Gender Identity
J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, was thrown under the bus back in 2020 for her problematic comments on Twitter regarding the transgender community. The controversial tweet garnered heavy backlash from social media, including from her former Harry Potter actors like Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and more.
"Transgender women are women," he wrote for The Trevor Project. "Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I."
3 Supported Various Charity Organizations
Despite his high status in Hollywood, Daniel Radcliffe has never stopped participating with charities and philanthropic work. During the height of his Harry Potter career, he donated to Get Connected UK, a confidential national helpline for troubled youth. An avid spokesperson for the LGBTQ community, the vice president of children's hospice charity Demelza also presented him with a Hero Award from The Trevor Project in the past.
2 Opened Up About His Religious Beliefs
Growing up in a mixed surrounding of Christian and Jewish households, Daniel Radcliffe ended up forming his own thought on religions and beliefs.
"I'm not religious, I'm an atheist, and a militant atheist when religion starts impacting on legislation," he revealed during an interview, although he later described himself as an "agnostic leaning toward atheism."
1 Daniel Radcliffe Is Now Gearing Up For 'The Lost City of D'
So, what's next for the former Harry Potter star? After a series of box office hits, Netflix originals, and Broadway plays, Radcliffe is currently gearing up for adventure comedy The Lost City of D. Penned by Seth Gordon, The Lost City of D centers around a novelist and her cover model who gets swept up in a kidnapping attempt. In addition Radcliffe, there are several A-list stars announced as cast members, including Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Oscar Nunez, and more.