Daniel Radcliffe Opens up About Why He Won’t Tell His Son About Harry Potter
Daniel Radcliffe is making a deliberate effort to ensure his household remains a magic-free zone, at least for now. In a recent video interview with The New York Times on February 20, the Harry Potter alum revealed that his two-year-old son has absolutely no idea his father was once the world’s most famous boy wizard.
Sharing a rare glimpse into his life with partner Erin Darke, Radcliffe explained that he is in no rush to introduce his toddler to the Wizarding World, preferring to keep their home life grounded in reality.
The actor even shared a humorous anecdote about testing his son’s awareness when a signed DVD happened to be sitting on their kitchen table. Radcliffe joked that he watched to see if the youngster would recognize the face on the cover, but the toddler didn’t say anything, which the actor described as great.
For Radcliffe, the goal is to protect that sense of normalcy for as long as possible, noting that he simply wants to be known as dad rather than a cinematic icon. While Radcliffe and Darke have been notoriously private since welcoming their son in 2023, the actor has occasionally opened up about how much fatherhood has transformed him.
He previously told E! News that becoming a parent was the best thing that had ever happened to him, though he admitted it is also terrifying to care about another human being so deeply. Regarding the future, Radcliffe has stated he wouldn’t discourage his son from acting, but he would prefer him to find a passion outside the spotlight unless it is something he truly loves.
As of February, Radcliffe is balancing his role as a father with a busy professional schedule that sees him leaning back into comedy. He is currently starring in the new NBC sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, which premiered on February 23.
In the series, Radcliffe plays a struggling documentary filmmaker who attempts to salvage the reputation of a disgraced football player, played by Tracy Morgan. The project marks a significant return to network television for the actor, following his successful run on the anthology series Miracle Workers.
Additionally, he has been vocal about his support for the new HBO Harry Potter series, which is currently in production. While he has confirmed he will not be appearing in the reboot, he recently urged fans to let the new young cast get on with it without being haunted by the “spectral phantoms” of the original actors.
Radcliffe’s career has seen a massive evolution since his days at Hogwarts, culminating in his first Tony Award win in 2024 for his role in the Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along. He remains one of the most respected actors of his generation, known for choosing bold, offbeat roles that distance him from his childhood stardom.
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