Despite having millions of fans around the world and Hogwarts hysteria gaining momentum, Daniel Radcliffe, 19, still feels he is nothing special. As Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, the sixth film in the highly successful franchise, releases in the UAE on Thursday, Radcliffe reveals some secrets...
What is at the heart of the Half-Blood Prince story?
Paranoia. There's a very strong scene in the film that's all about Harry's increasing paranoia about Draco Malfoy becoming a member of the Death Eaters. Death seems a big part of all the films but we're even closer to it in this one because Dumbledore is dying and knows he has to die. And the image of this old man knowing all that is a very sad one. But he doesn't give up. He absolutely fights until the last minute.
Some of the previous films have come under fire for being too scary for young children...
This film strikes more of a balance between comedy and darkness. There are romantic elements too. As an actor I have always leaned towards the dark side. I'd rather read a dark, intense book than something light and fluffy. I'd rather watch There Will be Blood than 27 Dresses. In Harry Potter, we are as hard-hitting as kids' films go, but we also get them laughing. I hate all this c**p that we are scaring kids. Kids love being scared. As a kid I saw Jumanji with Robin Williams in it. I had nightmares about spiders for a week, but I loved it. There is this culture where we think that kids are going to be damaged by it, but they're not. Ultimately, the stories are about good triumphing over evil, which is a formula that's been going on for centuries.
Do you prefer the action sequences or the intimate quieter scenes in this film?
The quieter ones. That's not to say that there aren't emotionally intense action sequences. But when there are two people talking, the stakes are very much higher emotionally. My favourite scene in the film is the one that I'm not in. It's with Rupert (Ron) in Quidditch practice. It's genuinely a laugh-out-loud funny scene.
Now going into the sixth movie, it is Ron who gets all the hot make-out sessions...
No, no, I get a kiss in this one. I kiss his sister!
There are plenty of hook-ups going on in this movie...
It's just hormone-fuelled may-hem in this one.
In Harry Potter you've had kissing scenes and you've had a few love scenes to do in other movies. You've also stripped off on stage. Is it hard to do them in front of strangers?
It's weird because whenever you watch those scenes in films you always think ‘God, that must be so sexy to do – how are those actors controlling themselves?' But actually it's not in the least bit exciting, because however beautiful the girl is when you've got people watching you, there is nothing sexy about it.
You're young, handsome, loaded – you must be a popular date?
Well, not as popular as people might think. People are often terribly, bitterly disappointed when they meet me because then they find out that I'm not cool like Harry and I'm just an actor, terribly dull, with no wizard powers... although I can do card tricks. But you don't want to get that out on a first date. It's a bit cheesy.
Is growing up on-screen odd?
It's one of those things that just happens to you and then someone shows you a photograph of yourself when you were 10 and you recoil in horror. We don't think of ourselves as having grown up on screen… although in some of the earlier movies I do sound like I'm on helium.
Are you tired of playing Harry?
I'm 19 now and I still have the energy of a four-year-old. So I don't have any fatigue going on. But not only that – it would be very hard for me to see someone else playing it. I might be seething, especially if he was good – that would kill me.
What do you intend to do after you finish with Harry?
I'll just keep on acting. I'm now in a very fortunate position. Obviously these films have been very good to me financially. And the joy that comes with that is an incredible freedom to be selective in terms of what you do.
Who would win in a fight between Gandalf from Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter?
That's an unfair question, because if I was going to pick Gandalf against someone, it would be Dumbledore and I would pit myself against Frodo. Between Harry versus Frodo – I'd ‘ave ‘im. But I've met Elijah Wood – he is a lovely man. So I am not going to fight with him.
If you really were a wizard, what magical power would you want?
Maybe reading people's minds.
Is it hard to remind yourself that you're just a regular guy?
No, due to the people around me. They're great, normal and down to earth. They never let me get above myself.
What is the craziest thing a Harry Potter fan has ever done?
Harry Potter fans are very committed. When I did Equus in London and had to take all my clothes off – I left them at the side of the stage – a girl leapt on to the stage and grabbed my boxer shorts that I wore in the play. Someone had to chase her and stop her.
Do you get bothered by the paparazzi?
I worked out a clever trick while doing Equus in London. I wore the same hat and the same coat every day. So the pictures looked like they were taken on the same day and so they were not able to sell them. Then they had to leave me alone.
The most ridiculous thing you have ever read about yourself...
I heard a story that someone said I was a girl. I'm not – for the record. Also the Sun newspaper published an article about me being into punk. The Evening Standard said I had grown eight inches in two months, which is totally untrue.
STORYLINE
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince once again pits Harry and his faithful sidekicks Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) against dark forces.
With the evil Voldemort on the rise, the students at Hogwarts have to be ever more vigilant about who is among them.
Returning teacher Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) provides Harry with valuable knowledge about his former pupil Tom Riddle, a boy who would grow up to become a threat to the wizarding world.
