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NEW YORK – As Daniel Radcliffe continues to break new ground as an actor, he hasn't forgotten who got him his start: Harry Potter.
The 21-year-old actor says that if it weren't for the bespectacled hero of the book franchise, he may never have gotten the chance to make his Broadway debut a few years ago in the play "Equus," or portray J. Pierrepont Finch in the Broadway revival of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
"All the opportunities that it's opened for me are something that would not have happened had it not been for Harry Potter," Radcliffe says.
In 2000, the relatively unknown Radcliffe was cast as the hero in the film adaptations of the J.K. Rowling book series. The last movie, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," was produced in two parts, with the finale to premiere in July.
While playing an iconic boy wizard is a challenge, singing and dancing for eight shows a week is a daunting undertaking. Radcliffe prepared by taking 18 months of dancing lessons.
He also studied singing, and the young star acknowledges having trouble with the simplest of tunes before he took classes.
"When I was doing 'Equus,' I couldn't sing the Milky Bar tune correctly without making up a few of the notes, which is a long way from that to doing a Broadway musical," Radcliffe joked, referring to the candy bar.
It took some serious persuasion by producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron before he signed on for his first musical. Once committed, he immersed himself in the role. And while he didn't attempt to contact the original Finch, played by Robert Morse, he did get advice from the last one to play the role on Broadway.
The 21-year-old actor says that if it weren't for the bespectacled hero of the book franchise, he may never have gotten the chance to make his Broadway debut a few years ago in the play "Equus," or portray J. Pierrepont Finch in the Broadway revival of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
"All the opportunities that it's opened for me are something that would not have happened had it not been for Harry Potter," Radcliffe says.
In 2000, the relatively unknown Radcliffe was cast as the hero in the film adaptations of the J.K. Rowling book series. The last movie, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," was produced in two parts, with the finale to premiere in July.
While playing an iconic boy wizard is a challenge, singing and dancing for eight shows a week is a daunting undertaking. Radcliffe prepared by taking 18 months of dancing lessons.
He also studied singing, and the young star acknowledges having trouble with the simplest of tunes before he took classes.
"When I was doing 'Equus,' I couldn't sing the Milky Bar tune correctly without making up a few of the notes, which is a long way from that to doing a Broadway musical," Radcliffe joked, referring to the candy bar.
It took some serious persuasion by producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron before he signed on for his first musical. Once committed, he immersed himself in the role. And while he didn't attempt to contact the original Finch, played by Robert Morse, he did get advice from the last one to play the role on Broadway.