Daniel Radcliffe hadn't been associated with alcohol, drugs, or most other addictions that young stars generally have. Yet Radcliffe disclosed a past alcohol addiction in the new issue of Britain's GQ, which had gone on behind the scenes of the last Harry Potter movie. However, he reassured fans that he has been sober since last summer, which makes this summer even more of a milestone for the former boy wizard.
Radcliffe's final duels as Harry Potter will be revealed July 15 when Deathly Hallows Part 2 finally comes out. It will be the last victory lap for the movie series and the three young stars who powered it from the beginning.
Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have been hailed as a unique trio of child stars, having lived under the Potter spotlight for a decade. But through it all, they appeared to have avoided the pratfalls of childhood stardom, unlike so many of their peers.
Yet it turned out to be a different story for Radcliffe a few years ago, as he became "reliant on alcohol" after drinking whiskey on the set of Half-Blood Prince. However, in spite of all the tabloid attention and intense buildup to the end of the series, the press, blogs and paparazzi somehow managed to miss catching him with a drink.
Other teen stars would have been caught, labeled party animals, and gone through the usual scandals. But perhaps Radcliffe is different from the pack, since he claims to have overcome his vices after Deathly Hallows was complete. Not only did he become sober afterward, he kicked off the next stage of his career on Broadway by starring in How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.
Entertainment Weekly reports Radcliffe told GQ that the traditional "famous person's lifestyle" isn't suited to him after all, which most already figured out long ago. That is why these revelations about alcohol are probably so surprising to most fans and onlookers. Yet since he claims to have overcome these problems on his own and away from the spotlight, it shouldn't be such a blow to his image -- in fact, it only backs it up.
This kind of story about regaining sobriety and committing to a quieter lifestyle cements Radcliffe's reputation for being level-headed and grounded, even though fans now know he wasn't always that way. Although there are bound to be a few jokes about Harry Potter being a drunk, they will be a mere drop in the bucket in the long run, assuming there's no relapse.
In any case, the alcohol revelations are a mere subplot for Radcliffe and the Potter team compared to the buildup for Deathly Hallows Part 2. The countdown is down to a mere 10 days before the big opening day July 15.
Sources
Entertainment Weekly- "Daniel Radcliffe reveals problem with alcohol"
People Magazine- "Daniel Radcliffe Reveals His Alcohol Problem"
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