Daniel Radcliffe explains how Harry Potter contributed to his alcoholism

Despite having played one of the most well-known characters in the fantasy genre, Daniel Radcliffe recently made it clear that he’s not eager to return to the role of Harry Potter — and a new interview may reveal why. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Radcliffe opened up about his struggle with alcoholism. And he revealed that his portrayal of The Boy Who Lived in the Harry Potter movies contributed to that problem.

“If I went out and if I got drunk, I’d suddenly be aware of there being interest in that because it’s not just a drunk guy,” Radcliffe explained. “It’s ‘Oh, Harry Potter’s getting drunk in the bar.'”

To be fair, the boy wizard is often the first thing people think of when they hear Radcliffe’s name, and that can’t have been easy while growing up or while building a career in acting. And despite the actor landing new roles on the big screen and in theater, Radcliffe notes that most people view him as the guy who played Harry Potter, and that there’s “a mocking interest” in that.

Having his identity so wrapped up in his Harry Potter role also left Radcliffe uncomfortable in his own skin. Anyone who’s struggled to accept themselves can likely relate to that, and it makes sense that Radcliffe would look for a way to cope.

“A lot of drinking that happened toward the end of Potter, and for a little bit after it finished, it was panic, a little bit not knowing what to do next — not being comfortable enough in who I was to remain sober,” Radcliffe said.

Thankfully, with the help of friends and family, Radcliffe was able to get sober — and he has been since 2010. He’s also continued to hone his acting skills, recently working on the television series Miracle Workers.

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