With the Harry Potter film franchise nearing its end, what is title star Daniel Radcliffe going to do now that he won’t be casting spells with his Hogwarts classmates?
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Posts Tagged ‘Equus’
Daniel Radcliffe Wants to Return to Broadway
July 11th, 2009 / Author: Valerie NomeDaniel Radcliffe’s Naked Truth
December 1st, 2008
Daniel Radcliffe, who first brought Harry Potter to life on the big screen, is doing his best to leave audiences’ image of the boy wizard behind. Radcliffe currently stars in the play Equus on Broadway as a boy with a religious/sexual fascination with horses.
The role, which Daniel first played on the London stage, requires him to get naked during a long and crucial scene–something the 19-year-old naturally admits was not easy to get used to.
"It’s never going to be the most comfortable thing to be naked in front of people on stage," Radcliffe told James Lipton on Bravo’s Inside the Actor’s Studio. "Personally, not my thing. For some people it’s great! But not for me."
To help ease his apprehension, Radcliffe says he trained for 18 months, worked with a vocal coach and made sure his body was in tip-top shape.
"I got kind of fit because I knew I’d be appearing naked," he says, explaining, "The play was there to do. Someone had to do it. If you take the job, you take everything that comes with it."
And does that "everything" include embarrassing arousals on stage?
"A friend asked me once, ‘Are you worried about getting an erection on stage?’" Radcliffe recalls. "I said, ‘no, that would be great!’ Rather the opposite takes place actually."
Daniel Radcliffe Goes From ‘Harry Potter’ To History Buff
November 3rd, 2008
Daniel Radcliffe has grown up as Harry Potter, but now he’s transitioned into an adult role in Broadway’s Equus.
The 19-year-old actor talks about his Potter costars Rupert Grint, 20, and Emma Watson, 18, the end of Harry Potter and shares a quirky interest.
How did you feel about Emma being hesitant to sign on for more Harry Potter?
I completed my education and she was going into A-Levels. I think they’re called SATs over here? It’s a hard decision to further your education. I totally understood. She really thought about it. She wanted to weigh her options. It would be two or three more years. It’s not something to rush into lightly.
I’m 19 now, and I still have the energy of a four-year-old. I don’t have fatigue. For me, it would be very hard to see someone else do it – especially if he was cute. Also, I’d come this far…
How will you celebrate the end of Harry Potter?
We’ll have a massive party. We haven’t had any wrap parties, which I think is sinful. We haven’t gotten around to organizing. We’ll probably go out on holiday and do all the stuff the insurance hasn’t covered like rock-climbing and handgliding.
Is it true that you’re a World War I buff?
I always had an interest. I find it impressive. I’m the least militant, aggressive person you’ll ever meet. It was machines and machinism with warfare. I get periodically depressed by World War I. It’s so sad they had to live like this. It’s mindblowing.
Catch Daniel in Equus, which is on Broadway now.
No Equus For Zac Efron
October 14th, 2008
While rumors have been swirling that Disney star Zac Efron had been approached to replace Daniel Radcliffe in the Broadway play Equus, the High School Musical star says that’s simply untrue.
"No," he said when asked by reporters at a High School Musical 3: Senior Year press conference on Sunday. "I think it’s a great role but I was not approached."
The original report by The Sun on Friday said that Zac had dropped a few juicy hints about taking over the part of Alan Strang in the play about a boy’s love for a horse.
"You know that Daniel Radcliffe role on Broadway, well it’s been mentioned," the paper quoted him as saying.
Although he won’t be stripping down on stage any time soon, Zac does think he needs to branch out to different genres in his career.
"I think it’s important to always diversify, change it up and play different characters," he says. "I think doing musicals all the time would get stale."
Zac recently finished filming Me and Orson Welles, and fans are already hopeful that he’ll sign on to play Kevin Bacon’s character, Ren McCormack, in a remake of 1984’s Footloose.
Stars Talk About Going Nude!
September 26th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff
Last night at the NYC opening of the play Equus, Daniel Radcliffe’s fellow actors came out to support the Harry Potter star on his big – and bare! – Broadway debut. Some even admitted they’d take it all off for the sake of art… or they already have!
Haley Joel Osment, who is making his Broadway debut this fall in David Mamet’s American Buffalo, tells OK! he was excited to see Equus, and could even be convinced to go nude onstage.
"I’ve heard great things about the London run, and I’m happy to be here supporting another great work of theater," the Sixth Sense actor said. But would he appear onstage in the buff for a part?
"As I’m sure for Daniel, it depends on the character, the time and the place," he says. "As I’ve read about this play, this is certainly a worthy work for that sort of exposure for the actor."
Ugly Betty’s Judith Light saw Daniel perform in the London run of Equus, and says he has nothing to be nervous about. She also admitted she’s already ditched her clothing onstage.
"I don’t think Daniel needs any advice. I’ve seen the play in London, and he’s extraordinary," she tells OK!, adding, "I did a play called Wit several years ago. It wasn’t on Broadway, it was off-Broadway. I took over for Kathleen Chalfant in this Pulitzer prize-winning play, and I was naked at the end."
While there’s been a lot of buzz about Daniel’s nude performance, it seems like there are tons of actors who’ve acted sans clothes, including The Duchess‘ Dominic Cooper.
"The first time I did it I was nude onstage, and I was promised by the director that nothing could be seen," he reveals to OK!. "I found out from the majority of the audience that everything could be seen, but it was too late by then. I was covered up but then I realized the whole inside of the circle could see absolutely everything."
The fellow Brit’s advice for Daniel?
"He’s done it already, hasn’t he?" he says. "I couldn’t possibly give him advice. He’s been doing it in London, so no. Flaunt it, get it out, enjoy it."
Sounds good to us!
Potter Co-Star says Nude is Rude!
September 20th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff
Daniel Radcliffe, 19, gives a spell-binding – and nude – performance as a horse obsessed teen in Broadway’s Equus, but Harry Potter co-star Jason Isaacs, 45, is less eager to see the boy wizard’s magic wand!
"Because I’m going to work with him again and again, I’m not sure I want to go see him naked," says Isaacs, who plays Lucius Malfoy, told OK! at the Easy Virtue premiere in Toronto on September 9.
Hopefully Harry Potter fans can compartmentalize their love for the beloved series and Radcliffe’s stage role. The next installment of the Potter films, due out in November, won’t hit theaters now until 2009. So for now, it looks like Daniel can focus on giving audiences a more mature performance!
Daniel Radcliffe Strips Down For ‘Equus’
September 10th, 2008
Daniel Radcliffe is working out the kinks in his Broadway debut Equus, which began previews Friday and opens officially September 25. He plays a boy who has a pathological religious/sexual fascination with horses in the 1970s play.
The well-spoken, affable, self-deprecating Harry Potter star is dashing in a suit when he turns up at a Times Talk event in NYC. Some fans have been waiting in line for nine hours to get face time with their teen dream.
Meanwhile, Brit-born Daniel, 19, has had some adjusting to do since he moved from London to NYC. He’s here for the 22-week run.
“I’m constantly amazed by the noise,” he says. “London’s a busy city, but in the rehearsal room, there’s constant banging because they’re putting buildings up everywhere. I’m getting along with people and the vibe of things. ”
He continues, “I also love how everyone is into culture. Barnes and Noble, which I love, I was chatting away with the girl at the counter. I thought it was great that she didn’t notice me. And at the end, she said ‘when does the show open?’ Cool. I also like the signs that say they’ll fine you if you beep your horn. Is that a recent thing? People don’t follow it. Every three seconds one goes off.”
The actor made waves in London’s West End production in February 2007 due to his nude scene. While he had reached the age of consent in England, he was underage in the U.S.
“The shock came before it opened,” Daniel recalls. “Before, people were saying ‘it’s a terrible play’ and offended mothers were calling up newspapers saying ‘we’re not going to go see it.’ Well, fine, don’t see it. Everyone was expecting porn – it’s not – it’s seven minutes at the end of the play. It’s not worth coming for that. After it opened, they kind of really liked it. People did speedy, abrupt U-turns.”
How does he think Americans will react?
“Not to be disparaging, but there are a lot more people in this country who are in therapy. People will get it more here. In England, they don’t discuss. They say ‘walk it off.’ Also, England is more sexual than America, but in America it will provoke religious debates. It’s brilliant – there will be lots of people coming to see it who have never seen theater. If we can do it, amazing. It’s a play that needs to be put on every 30 years – not too much.”
Daniel’s feelings won’t be hurt by criticism.
“I haven’t seen one review,” he says. “I don’t read them because if it’s bad, you feel terrible; if it’s good, you’re self-conscious. I don’t read them. You’re not doing yourself any favors. There’ll always be someone who says ‘sorry about your review in the Times.’ I text back ‘I haven’t read it.’”
He echoes the same sentiment for the Web.
“If it’s on the Internet and you see bad stuff, you feel bad. If it’s good stuff, you’re vain.”
And what about admitting he suffers from dyspraxia, which causes difficulty planning and completing fine motor tasks?
“Of all the comments I ever regretted making," he says. "It’s a mild form, but you wouldn’t believe the amount of messages I’ve gotten going ‘so you can’t tie your shoelaces…’”
Catch Daniel Radcliffe in Equus beginning September 25.
Daniel Radcliffe: Avert Your Eyes!
September 5th, 2008
Get out your binoculars, playgoers!
Sensitive to the buzz surrounding Daniel Radcliffe’s stark naked scenes in Equus, opening on Broadway this fall, stage designer Jeff Napier raised onstage seating 11 feet in the air to keep the actors from having to endure direct eye contact with the curious audience, reports the New York Daily News.
Daniel plays a trouble stablehand, Alan, who has a strange relationship with one particular horse. The 19-year-old actor already wowed audiences in London’s West End with his portrayal of Alan, causing a stir among his many fans.
"If you put Harry Potter on the stage with people directly in front of him, you’re likely to get a lot of screaming young girls, particularly when he takes his kit off [gets naked]," Jeff tells the paper. "It was a very sensible decision for us raise the audience up. There’s more of a barrier."
Try to keep yourselves calm, Harry fans, there will also be increased security at the performances.
Daniel Radcliffe Gets Chatty!
August 20th, 2008
On Tuesday in N.Y.C. a couple hundred of Daniel Radcliffe’s fans were treated to an up close and personal look into the life of the young actor, when the The New York Times hosted its most recent "Times Talk." Daniel was interviewed by NYT culture reporter Julie Bosman before the floor was opened up to questions from the audience. Here are some of the highlights:
On what his parents think about his acting:
" ‘No, absolutely not,’ is what they said when I was younger, but they’re pleased now. I got where I am by dumb luck. You only deserve what you have if you work hard. I know most actors hoped for a job, and then found themselves between jobs. For me, it was a great job at 11."
Why he chose to do theater: "In the eyes of lots of people in the acting world, theater legitimizes you. Also I wanted to prove it to myself that I could do it. My parents said, ‘You have to really love to do it, it’s a lot of work.’ I trained for 18 months in London. I worked with my vocal coach in London."
Broadway vs London theater: "I just went to the Tonys and it was amazing and lovely. There’s a genuine sense of excitement. It’s great to work with actors – I’ve never worked with American actors – I worked with Kim Cattrall – and I get a sense of history with Broadway. My mom and dad are actors, so I’ve grown up with show tunes playing the whole time on car rides."
How Equus has changed his life: "Actors see me differently now. They think I’m taken more seriously now. The perception is that theater people are taken seriously. Also, it’s given me a lot of confidence. I’m scared of failing because I have an image of myself that ‘I can do this,’ but opening night, I was extremely negative. After the London play, everyone stood up – here, everyone stands up, even several nights ago at Gypsy. In England, we stick to our national stereotype of being more reserved. I could not stop smiling. It was fantastic."
What’s next: "Harry Potter 7 goes ahead as planned – those release dates are not affected. I’m going to do another play – I’m not going to just do it to say I did it. After 7, I might take a few days off."
What we should know about Daniel as a person: "I’m a person who got lucky very young. I was brought up with a work ethic – show up on time, work hard and do your lines. I love literature massively. I have an interest in film, and I’m incredibly lucky to be doing it."
The one part he’d never play: "God."
