Daniel Radcliffe: Harry Potter – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)
Has there, in the past century, been a literary character that is as universally known and as adored as Harry Potter? Probably not. Has there, then, been a movie role that would be as significant or as substantial? Unlikely. These were the things of which Harry Potter producer David Heyman was painfully aware in June 2000, when shooting on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was due to start – and he was yet to actually cast Harry Potter.
J.K. Rowling had specified that she wanted an unknown British actor for the part, and preferably one who was willing to stay with Harry for at least the first few years. It is easy to see why Rowling was so insistent on this. Children and adults (yes, adults, we can still see you behind your alternate ‘grown-up’ version book covers) the world over would be following Harry for many years. On top of being able to convey Harry’s complexity, whoever played him would also need a face that was going to do a good job of growing up.
One night at the theatre (ironically taking a break from the stress of casting Harry), Heyman ran into old friend Alan Radcliffe, and his wife and ten year old son. Or, as Heyman prefers to artistically recall, ran into Alan Radcliffe, his wife – and Harry Potter. Heyman claims to have immediately seen in Radcliffe’s eyes the potential to portray both the naiive charm and the haunted past that were so crucial for the young Harry.
Radcliffe had appeared in the BBC’s 1999 adaptation of David Copperfield, and 2001’s The Tailor of Panama (during which co-star Jamie Lee Curtis remarked to Radcliffe’s mother how like Harry Potter Daniel looked.) Having watched David Copperfield, Philosopher’s Stone director Chris Columbus agreed with Heyman, and they approached Radcliffe’s parents about him auditioning.
Here is when life accidentally imitated art, however, with Radcliffe’s parents reacting badly to the six-movies-shot-in-California contract and deciding not to tell Daniel about the interest (one of the few things that for this generation could possibly compete with being made to live in a cupboard under the stairs.) A few months later, however, Warner Bros. changed the contract to include just two films, both of which would be shot in the UK. Radcliffe’s parents relented, and a few auditions later, Daniel officially secured the part.
The list of awards for which Radcliffe was nominated for his first appearance as Harry Potter is phenomenal. What is interesting though is that if the critics had been truly honest (and a few of them were), they would have been forced to admit that Radcliffe was not exactly a complete natural in front of the camera. Whereas he was certainly endearing as Harry, much of the positive criticism was a response to the magic of seeing Harry, and the wizarding world, come alive in front of them.
But, rather like Orlando Bloom’s accidental advantage, Radcliffe’s inexperience actually worked in his favour. His awkwardness and overly earnest efforts to play the heart out of Harry actually married well with Harry’s awe at the discovery of his situation, and his desperation to fit in while labouring under ridiculously huge expectations.
In any case, this is all long forgotten. Daniel grew up as The Chosen One, right alongside Harry, just as it was intended, and there is hardly a person now who would change it. In the end, all was well.
