Daniel Radcliffe rose to fame with his iconic role as Harry Potter in the eight-film franchise, but he’s also so much more than just the boy who played Harry. Throughout his storied career, Radcliffe has tackled Broadway, rapped on Jimmy Fallon, and more.
Today Daniel Radcliffe turns 32 and in honor of his birthday we’re breaking down some lesser-known facts about Radcliffe’s bookish side:
Radcliffe is a Published Poet
Believe it or not, when Radcliffe was 17, he published four poems in Rubbish magazine under the pseudonym of Jacob Gershon. In an interview with the Guardian he explained the appeal saying:
“As an actor, there is room for a certain amount of creativity, but you’re always ultimately going to be saying somebody else’s words. “
If you’re curious about his work here’s a short snippet from his poem titled Away Days.
Beside these verdurous and wind-blown fronds
I lie with two long-legged, glistening blondes.
The wisps of comb-over that I call hair
Are slowly bleaching in the sunlit air
You can judge the poem for yourself but Radcliffe himself has declared that it’s “not his best work.”
Radcliffe Has Book Recommendations For You
In an interview for O Magazine, Radcliffe revealed a few of his favorite books. Among the chart-toppers were Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by famed gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. It’s a diverse list to the least, featuring a mixture of books for all types of readers.
For new readers, Radcliffe recommends Ernest Hemingway’s, The Old Man and the Sea saying:
“I have friends who never read books, and so when they ask me what they should pick up first, I always give them this one. I tell them there are some books that are like drugs, and will give you a quick hit, but if you want something that will stay with you and resonate for a long while afterward, then try this.”
Radcliffe Didn’t Enjoy The Harry Potter Books At First
Even though Radcliffe enjoys reading now, he didn’t as a kid, and he found it particularly hard to get into the Harry Potter series. He put down the series after the second book and didn’t pick it back up until he landed his role as Harry Potter. However, through the process he became enamored with the series, reading passages from the book and acting out certain parts. Interestingly enough Radcliffe said he was only on the fourth book, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire during the making of the first movie. By this logic, he hadn’t yet finished reading the series by the time he started his role!
You can Listen to Radcliffe read the Sorcerer’s Stone
If you love the soothing British voice of Daniel Radcliffe, well you’re partially in luck. During peak quarantine, a series was released called Harry Potter at Home, where different celebrities each read a chapter from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Radcliffe voiced the first chapter, “The Boy Who Lived.” Unfortunately, it appears the project is no longer available but you can watch this short clip of it on Youtube. You can also watch a short behind-the-scenes video on the making of the project here.
A Book May Be On The Way?
Maybe this is a bit of an exaggeration but Radcliffe has expressed interest in writing. In an interview with The Guardian, he said, ”I don’t think I’d have the stamina, skill or ability to write a novel, but I’d love to write short stories and poetry, because those are my two passions.” Given his background in poetry and his willingness to try out new roles and mediums such as his stint on Broadway, the idea doesn’t sound that far-fetched. Of course, this would probably be way down the road, but one can hope.
Featured Image Via USA Today