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Dirty Harry
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In an exclusive interview, The Daily Beast’s Kevin Sessums talks to Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe about being adored by gay men, the “stupidity” of Prince Harry, and why he wants to give Sasha and Malia Obama a personal tour of Hogwarts.
In two weeks, Daniel Radcliffe will end his critically acclaimed (and full-frontal) role in Broadway’s Equus and start filming his final installment as the boy wizard, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This June, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince comes to theaters, and if the new trailer (below) is any indication, it will be Radcliffe’s darkest and most violent turn as young Harry yet. The Daily Beast’s Kevin Sessums caught up with Radcliffe last week for afternoon tea at the Algonquin Hotel in New York before the actor heads to the latest Hogwarts set.
Happy Martin Luther King Day.
Thank you. You too.
On Tuesday Barack Obama becomes our new president. We happen to be seeing each other in a very American week. Does it make you feel overly British to be here right now, or less so?
I feel privileged to be here for Obama’s inauguration. But I do tend to go doubly British when I am away from home. I have picked up certain phrases while here in America that I plan to eradicate as soon as I get back home.
Examples?
“I know—right?” That phrase and its little rhythm there is very American and not really used in England. I’ve started saying that and people are picking up on it when they come over. But getting back to Mr. Obama. I am so proud and happy for this country. He is everything the rest of the world liked about America and now likes again. He is both Martin Luther King and JFK. He is a pioneer. He is a symbol of progress which is what we dig about this country. What you love about England is all the old buildings and such. The traditions. I love that, too. But this is what we want from you.
And may I? I’d like to take this opportunity to issue a public invitation to the Obamas that if their daughters would like a private tour of the Harry Potter set, I would be honored to be their personal tour guide.
That’s one thing Harry Potter has done if nothing else. It has restored the reputation of the English boarding school. It has made it something other than a hotbed of homosexuality.
Britain beat us at having a female leader. But could such a thing happen in England—a black man being elected as prime minister. Or how about a Pakistani?
I think that will be the next thing to happen. It will happen with an Asian guy before it happens with a black guy. I don’t know why that is, but English politics is just so overly white. It’s very much about the class structure. And particularly with the Labour Party being like it is. New Labour now. It’s so upper class, really.I mean you can’t criticize people for being born upper class, but that does seem to be the trend, and you just really feel you need somebody to go in and really shake things up. The thing is this is what my generation in England misses in politics and what America has just gained through this fantastic man, Barack Obama. We don’t have a figure we can all get behind. The parties in England are now so close together that people my age feel it doesn’t matter who they vote for because it’s going to be the same group of people basically in government.I mean, look at the last London mayorial election: The reason Boris Johnson got in is simply because he hosted Have I Got News for You a few times, which is an English satirical show. It was a vote for celebrity. But during that election, I was the only person I knew my age who voted.Not one of my friends even registered.
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Kevin Sessums is the author of the New York Times bestseller Mississippi Sissy, a memoir of his childhood. He was executive editor of Andy Warhol's Interview magazine and a contributing editor of Vanity Fair and Allure. He is a contributing editor of Parade. His new memoir, I Left It on Mountain will be published by St. Martins Press.
Daniel Radcliffe: Dirty Harry
Kevin Sessums is the author of the New York Times bestseller Mississippi Sissy, a memoir of his childhood. He was executive editor of Andy Warhol's Interview magazine and a contributing editor of Vanity Fair and Allure. He is a contributing editor of Parade. His new memoir, I Left It on Mountain will be published by St. Martins Press.
Daniel Radcliffe, Dark Prince
Kevin Sessums is the author of the New York Times bestseller Mississippi Sissy, a memoir of his childhood. He was executive editor of Andy Warhol's Interview magazine and a contributing editor of Vanity Fair and Allure. He is a contributing editor of Parade. His new memoir, I Left It on Mountain will be published by St. Martins Press.
What a great interview! He sounds like a charming, intelligent, and articulate young man. And I must say that I share his desire to shag Dame Diana Rigg, although Dame Judi Dench is equally at the top of that list. :)
Good luck on a great career, Mr. Radcliffe.
Sounds like a proper British gentleman, with a little imp peeking out from time to time. If you are homesick, Mr. Radcliffe, may I recommend reading Dorothy Dunnett's books?
Break a leg, sir. Looking forward to more of your work!
..lots of common sense, gratitute, kindness, etc..he is a bright man with his feet on the ground. Wonderful!!!
Nice kid... reminds me of my own sons.
Wow! What a bright kid! Are our kids as bright? I'm looking forward to seeing more from this wonderful actor as a grown man. I hope he will pick out brilliant intelligent roles so the kids who grew up with him will find some enlightenment by being his fan. Happy I am that they have discovered magic through Harry.
Excuse me, Kevin -- Did you just diss Mr. Radcliffe for reading the incomparable P.G. Wodehouse? That man could pack more wit into the period at the end of a sentence than you could in library of books. I would have followed-up asking him if he was also a fan of Douglas Adams, who idolized Wodehouse and had a skeptical view of religion, class, and British governance.
Between that and your horrid "sperm washing" piece, you're really starting to grate.
Well, that, and I'm just jealous you got to chat with one of the most charming straight theatrical actors I've ever read about (or is that only straight theatrical actor?).
Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson's character) was dead in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. He only appeared in Goblet of Fire. Otherwise, great interview. I always learn a little something new from interviews with Dan.
As someone who is the same age as Dan, I can assure you that their are plenty of American kids who are just as bright. We didn't all sleep through election day, and we are not a bunch of lazy alcoholics. I'm sure you meant your question in the most polite way possible, but I just had to stand up for my generation.
Impressive. Smart, articulate and able to speak in long complex sentences. Would that American celebs could master those traits...
This is one of the best interviews I've ever read. Impressive stuff.
Smart dude
I just watched the interview with Daniel Radcliffe, IMO, one of the best and brightest of today's actors. My daughter, who is a couple of years older than Daniel, brought home the "Harry Potter" books and together, we read and saw the films, and got hooked! My daughter, naturally, developed a crush on Harry though not at first; she crushed on Draco Malfoy first! From my POV, as a mother, I wanted to gather Harry up and adopt him! Take him away from those nasty Dursley's!
And as an author, I have two historical novels published, I'd love to see Daniel become the lead from my second novel..."Journey of Courage." JOC deals with a young husband who stutters, and the story takes both him and his bride to hell and back again, both physically and mentally. So, if anyone would like to get this message to Daniel: I'll send you a copy of the book, and I've also adapted a screenplay which is titled "Shattered Mind" - the original title of my book. When it came time to print, my publisher, PublishAmerica, had another author's novel coming out with the word "Shattered" in it; henceforth, my new title. I know Daniel has signed on to play Dan Eldon in the "Journey" film; I just wanted to make him aware that my film, when sold, will have my original title.
I know I'm wordy...guess that's why I'm a writer!!!
I never got a chance to see Equus although I would have liked to. Finances and our economy here, you know. My daughter, Amanda, auditioned for the play here in CA; a small theater in Fullerton put on a production. Amanda was brilliant, according to the director and producer; however, she is very petite and though she was 19 at the time, she looks younger. And given that the theater was small and intimate, the director felt Amanda's youthful appearance would be a distraction. But it was nice to know how much they appreciated her talent and her exuberance, and willingness to be adventurous. She will be attending California State University of Fullerton this semester, majoring in theater arts. She's been doing community theater since she was six; something she picked out. It's been a great thing for her; her Dad passed away when she was nine and the acting, and other facets of theater life, proved to be an excellent outlet for her.
At any rate, I thoroughly enjoyed the interview and hope all the best for Daniel in the coming years. I am a literary agent as well and am about to contact the Coen Brothers for one of my clients. Who knows? Perhaps they will buy the project and cast Daniel! Hint: it is a dark comedy with the twists the Coen Brothers are famous for!
Thank you again for posting this interview. All the best for you as well!
Charlotte "Charlie" Fox
Hmmm, this interview was interesting and unexpected. I'll hate to see the Potter films come to an end though.
Thank you.
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