I’ll use any excuse to write about my little pocket boyfriend Daniel Radcliffe, but this story is actually newsworthy and interesting. It seems that at the ripe old age of 22, DanRad has decided that he’s on the wagon. Meaning, I think, that Daniel isn’t self-identifying as an alcoholic, but he’s not going to be drinking the sauce anytime soon. What caused Daniel to make this decision? He became “reliant” on alcohol for his good times. So… good for him?
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has revealed he has given up drinking after a long battle with alcohol. The 22-year-old actor told GQ magazine he realised he was becoming too reliant on alcohol. And Daniel revealed he hasn’t drunk anything since August 2010 after accepting he may have had a problem.
He said: ‘I became so reliant on alcohol to enjoy stuff. There were a few years there when I was just so enamoured with the idea of living some sort of famous person’s lifestyle that really isn’t suited to me. I really got away with that because there were many instances when a paparazzi shot like that could have been taken.’
Daniel also said life with his girlfriend, whose identity has not yet been revealed, has become easier since he decided to become tee-total.
He added to GQ magazine: ‘I’m actually enjoying the fact I can have a relationship with my girlfriend where I’m really pleasant and I’m not f*****g up totally all the time. As much as I would love to be a person that goes to parties and has a couple of drinks and has a nice time, that doesn’t work for me. I do that very unsuccessfully. I’d just rather sit at home and read, or talk to somebody that makes me laugh. There’s no shame in enjoying the quiet life. And that’s been the realisation of the past few years for me.’
Daniel can soon be seen in the final Harry Potter film, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part II. And the actor, who is currently starring in Broadway show How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, said he is hoping to be able to forge a career for himself in the film world once the Potter franchise is over.
He said: ‘If I can make a career for myself after Potter, and it goes well, and is varied and with longevity, then that puts to bed the ‘child actors argument’. If I can do it, in the biggest film franchise of all time, no other child actor who comes after will ever have to answer those same bloody questions.’
Since starring as teenage wizard Potter in the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s novels, Daniel has accumulated a fortune of somewhere in the region of £48million. However, he said he won’t be blowing all his hard-earned cash on the latest top of the range cars.
He said: ‘I don’t know what to do with it. I’m very fortunate to have it, and it gives you room to maneuver. But the main thing about having money is it means you don’t have to worry about it. And that for me is a lovely thing. It’s not for fast cars and hookers.’
[From The Mail]
I went through a similar realization when I was around 22 as well, so I know what Daniel is talking about – it’s good to go through a period of time as a young adult where your life doesn’t have to revolve around the next time you’re going to get messed up, drunk or on drugs. Of course, I began drinking again after several years passed, and I came to the realization then that I’m not an alcoholic, and that I just went through a bad, self-destructive phase in my late teens. However, I just recently gave up the sauce yet again, but this time it was for a diet, not out of concern that I might have a drinking problem. My biggest problem? I like having a drink late at night to help me sleep. Going off the sauce again brought another round of sleep problems for me. I wonder if Daniel is having problems sleeping? I could help him out. We could have a “quiet life” together!
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Has he aways had that pasty, greyish complexion? He looks like Gollum…
What is so special about someone not drinking since Aug.2010? I haven’t had a drink in years because alcohol tastes horrible, IMO.
Oh, and ha ha, “his girlfriend”. Who is he kidding?!
Good for Daniel. I’m 23 and facing a similar decision, but I know it’ll change my social life completely. It’s hard to decide not to drink at our age, but it’s often the best decision, and I’m glad he made it. I hope I can too, soon… it’s true about all my “good times” revolving around drinking or drugs, and it’s nice to see an “after” version (Kaiser) of that scenario that involves a functional, fulfilling life.
He seems to be a smart kid. Good for him 🙂
from the interviews he gives, he seems a supernice, smart guy. He knows where he is and where he wants to go. Its great to see he hasn’t become a vapid douche (which could have been the easiest way with all his money and fame)
@Pyewacket: DR is a very forward supporter of gay rights. For the last HP film the first interview he did was for a gay magazine “out” (http://www.refreshlite.com/models/out-magazine-date-with-daniel-radcliffe/, which pissed Disney), so I don’t think he’s the one to fake a relationship.
He looks like Rachel Dratch (and she looked exactly like him in one of SNL’s Harry Potter sketches).
no offense but whoop-de-doo.
Dude ain’t had a drop of sunlight either.
He seems to be a rather structured sole and it is nice to see that there is hope for young hollywood. It is better to acknowledge issues than end up like another Linnocent.
he has very striking eyes. good for him. smart to realize you don’t need drugs and alcohol to have a good time.
I’m trying to wrap my understanding why this was made public in the first place, aside from publicity. This was something he could have easily chosen to do and just not announce.
Oh for God’s sake. How can you have a “long battle with alcohol” when you’re 22 years old?
@Lantana, not everyone starts drinking only once it becomes legal. he could have been on the sauce since he was an early teen. that right there could be a near-10 year problem. who knows.
@Lantana, I believe he’s been drinking since the beginning of his fame. Kids can legally drink at the age of 18 in the England, and with his fame, I’m sure people just give him free bottle service wherever he goes.
Yeah, he’s been clean for a year, it’s a personal battle, he’s not telling people that he’s better than them. It’s just a feat in its own. For someone who battles remotely big or small, a few days is a call for a celebration.
@ Lantana: “Oh for God’s sake. How can you have a “long battle with alcohol” when you’re 22 years old?”
well when half the bottles are taller than you I would think it would be a battle to open one. good for him though and hopefully at the tender age of 22 he sticks with it.
@kevin
That was funny!
@Pyewacket and Jay: It’s “special” and a “whoop de doo” because he had a problem with it.
As for long battles, it’s not the timeframe so much, it’s the extent of the grip of it really.
For people who like to drink and the “one is too many and one-thousand is never enough,” it’s a hell of a battle regardless of how long a period of time it’s been continuing.
So yeah, it’s big deal. For him and anyone who can relate, which obviously you two don’t. That’s all that matters so your clueless interjections are really irrelevant to him I’m sure.
They aren’t to me though, they’re personally objectionable and you should really zip it when you clearly have no frame of reference on the subject. Or if you do, say so and put your remarks in something that resembles context.
He looks so dorky and cute <3
I like him but this story is a big WHO CARES for me. I mean why should we reward someone for not becoming an alcoholic. Im not drinking either. Wheres my treat? jeez
To those who don’t think it’s a big deal, as someone who continues to struggle with a six-year addiction myself, I think it’s very important that he’s talking about this. Those of you who don’t live with any unhealthy addictions, good for you. I was once unable to understand alcoholism because I personally don’t like the taste of alcohol. But I understand its ability to numb one to pain, to make people feel giddy, and I understand how one can become dependent on it in order to enjoy life, or to mask pain. Drugs do the same. So does food.
To be able to give up something that DR knows he has used to make himself feel good, that many other people can keep under control, but that isn’t healthy, is a brave thing to do. It shows tremendous self-awareness. Best of luck to him!
Interesting that both Teetotal and Troll both start with ‘T.’ You people need a drink 😉
Pft. I went 12 years without a drop.
“What is so special about someone not drinking since Aug.2010? I haven’t had a drink in years because alcohol tastes horrible, IMO.”
Way to miss the point.
From the article: “…He said: ‘I became so reliant on alcohol to enjoy stuff.'”
‘Reliant’ is the key word here. He was heading down what could have been a pretty destructive path. He’s a former child star who is making thoughtful, intelligent choices instead of destructive ones…ya, it’s a big deal.
I’ll confess, my initial reaction to this was “oh, sweetie!”, because I can’t imagine going that long without drinking. Like Daniel, I rely on booze to make me outgoing when I’m at parties, clubs etc. I’m managing to cut back but I don’t think I could stop altogether, so I have massive respect for him.