After the unprecedented success of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, one would think that star Daniel Radcliffe would take a bit of a breather, but the adorable young Brit is still running amuck like an Energizer bunny. After a decade of being in the spotlight, he’s surprisingly well-adjusted and has a rather healthy outlook on fame, and Radcliffe recently sat down with Access Hollywood to unwittingly demonstrate this fact. In addition, he also talks about Robert Pattinson, who appeared alongside Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (my daughter still cries when Cedric bites it). In particular, Radcliffe feels that Sparkles has a much more difficult type of fame with which to cope:
On The Final Harry Potter Movie’s Success: Radcliffe says that he’s glad it ended the way it did: On top. “We did the source material and we’re not going to create anything else just for the films and we did it very, very well. And particularly, this last film. I’m so proud of the way we’ve gone out, because I think it’s so much better than any of other films we’ve made. For me, it ended on a better note than I could have ever have expected or hoped for. I was very, very happy.”
On His Adorably Manic Japanese Fans: Radcliffe says the most extreme fans of the franchise had to be the Japanese ones. He says they would show up by the hundreds when his plane landed in their country, as well as follow him down the street in groups. He also tells a story of how he accidentally bumped into a school girl during a promotional event and she fainted as he was apologizing. “I’ve already been [to Japan] twice and it’s an amazing country. And they are the most unbelievable fans of Potter, because when they embrace something, they embrace it as a nation, like they love it.”
On The Ephemeral Nature Of Fame: “I’m not going to have this fame forever. I have it now and it’s going to go. There’s going to be some other new franchise and some other young new guy. So, you’ve got to enjoy this stuff while it happens.”
On The Sparkler: “He’s a very, very nice guy.” And as far as fame goes, Radcliffe says that he believes his former colleague has had it harder with the Twilight franchise. “I think he’s had to do with kind of a lot more,” Radcliffe explains. “I had a very gradual easing in to the idea of fame, because I was doing the first two films back to back almost. So, while the whole Potter film franchise was exploding, I was in studios filming and kind of unaware that this thing was going massive outside. Where as Rob, [he] was suddenly the most famous guy in the world. I think that’s a lot harder to deal with.”
[From Access Hollywood via the Hollywood Reporter]
It’s impossible not to adore Radcliffe, isn’t it? Obviously, he couldn’t have anticipated being asked about Sparkles, but he handles the surprise well. Both boys men are soon appearing in period pieces (the better to separate oneself from an enduring franchise). We’ve already discussed the trailers for both Radcliffe’s scary turn in The Woman in Black and Pattinson’s fist-chomping fury in the upcoming Bel Ami. The collective response appears to be that Radcliffe will likely win this round in the acting department, but Sparkles isn’t terrible — he just isn’t a good actor. However, both blokes come across quite well during interviews and also share a self-depreciating humor. Here, Radcliffe’s words are both diplomatic and sincere, and Sparkles would probably share in the conversational wealth if only he were given the opportunity. Unfortunately however, most interview questions posed to Sparkles revolve around his hair.
Ultimately, my opinion is that Radcliffe will perservere much longer than Sparkles as far as their post-franchise acting careers are concerned. Part of this has to do with talent, but another aspect has to do with being taken seriously. Obviously, Harry Potter is much more of a well-respected entity from both the literary and cinematic standpoints.
Meanwhile, Sparkles nailed himself into several years of playing a weepy, vegetarian, high-school vampire. It’s okay though — he’s made more than enough money to survive without ever having to lift a finger again.
For the curious among you, here’s a video clip from Radcliffe’s above-excerpted interview, courtesy of Access Hollywood. I love how he admits that New Yorkers are not impressed by him.
Photos courtesy of Fame and AllMoviePhoto
I think DanRad is more talented by a long shot. I actually think non-HP things suit him better. He was great on his Tony performace and he looks pretty good in the trailer for his new film.
As for sparkles, I just think he’ll fade away. Like Devon Sawa.
Don’t forget that Twilight fans are psychotic and worship Pattinson like he’s the second coming of Jesus. There are people who love Harry Potter (including my grandmother), but Twilight fans live and breathe Twilight and have the Sparkler’s name stitched onto their soul with voodoo ‘love me’ thread.
**sigh** I love Harry Potter. I’m still sad it’s over…..
I’m a twi fan, but i do think that radcliffe has way more talent and can play a wider range of characters than Edward…oops i mean robert. and Radcliffe is so adorable, i love his humility!
Love DanRad and everything about him–his humble demeanor, his intelligence, his desire to speak up for social justice/progressive issues, his sense of humor… He is not only a fantastic actor, but seems (as much as one can tell from interviews) to be a good human being as well.
And while I think Sparkles tends to be self-deprecating and funny in interviews–I like that he doesn’t take himself too seriously–I hate all things Twihard, totally agree that there is not even a comparison between the two franchises and their books (and authors), and am kind of bummed that I had to scroll through Sparkles pics on a DanRad post! I never have gotten the hotness factor there, I must admit.
I think RP will fade, mostly out of choice. I get the feeling music is his first love not acting, it seems he might be better at it. I’ve never watched a Twilight movie in my life but he starred in my friend’s tv drama and wasn’t exactly knocking them dead with his acting skills.
Again I’ve never watched a Harry Potter movie but I absolutely loved Daniel in December Boys, what a wonderful movie.
Love HP and DR as a young and upcoming actor and as a person. DR seems originally refreshing and down to earth – a rare commodity in the industry.
Radcliff also has the advantage that his character was a plucky underdog everywizard. Sparkles’ role of mooning love-object pigeonholes him more.
I frigging love Dan! Him, along with Rupert and Emma, come across as down to earth, humble, easy going people who know how extremely lucky they are and don’t let it go to their head. I LOVE Harry Potter and have been obsessed with it for years but I feel like I could just sit down with all 3 of them, have a beer and shoot the shit. Contrast that with RPatz and Kristen Rolltheeyes. I feel like they’d be sitting in the back of a pub, sniggering and making fun of everyone that wasn’t like them.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. Sparkles isn’t bad in his British flicks. In fact, he’s sometimes good. How to Be was genuinely good in my opinion. He’s a awkward guy in real life, so he plays that type quite well on screen. He naturally contorts his face a lot, which is kind of where his ‘acting’ lies. However, in American movies he’s always cast a hot leading-man type, so he kind of freezes his face in order to showcase the pretty. He also does better when he isn’t working an American accent which just doesn’t flow naturally for him.
He just needs to be uglied up a bit and taken out of dramatic heartthrob roles. He should try a comedy (not a rom-com). Maybe then we can all collectively forget his woeful Edward (doubt it though).
When has acting ability ever really factored in that much for someone’s staying power? Brad Pitt sucked ass for years, didn’t hurt him.
Sparkles could find his niche, I see him doing well in romantic comedies. He’s not a serious actor, but he’s gorgeous onscreen and funny. Don’t know why he keeps trying to do darker, heavier roles.
Danny Boy is adorable and earnest, and that makes up for the fact he’s not that strong of an actor either. I think he could really be a great character eventually, since he’s not traditional leading man material. Cute as a button though.
I always forget that Sparkles was in a HP movie. I’m not sure I agree that Daniel has a better chance of success/longevity. I think they are about even. The difference is that Daniel is more respected because of he quality of his work.
Pattinson’s teen idol type fame is much harder to move on from. While its true that his fans may go see him in other things, they are always looking for Edward, which is inherently problematic. Even more problematic is when the screaming teens grow up a little and want to distance themselves from their old preferences. Soon enough, former rabid fans will roll their eyes at the mention of his name. Dan Rad is just so much more talented in every way, and has not had to deal with the same type of fame.
radcliffe just makes me go ‘awwwwwww’ he’s so cute!
I think Rob’s transition from his franchise isn’t as hard as a regular teen idol’s, simply because he was a full-fledged adult since the start of it, he’s always had a horny adult female following.He just needs to pick smarter projects that highlight his natural likeability and charm. In other words, stay away from the broody, pouty crap.
In contrast, we’ve watched daniel since he was a boy, and he makes us all go “awww, sweet boy!” and stuff, which is a problem. But he’s very likeable, I think he’ll make it out okay too if he chooses wisely.
On The Ephemeral Nature Of Fame: “I’m not going to have this fame forever. I have it now and it’s going to go. There’s going to be some other new franchise and some other young new guy. So, you’ve got to enjoy this stuff while it happens.”
love him, the end -odette [seriously, what is there to hate about him?]
true facts: they both suck acting wise outside their respective franchises. They both share a similar weakness too-they don’t know how to calibrate vulnerability and sensitivity well when they aren’t wizards and vampires. December Boys was Daniel’s Remember Me to be honest.
BUT, they are both likeable and charming British boys, and there’s always a place for likeable and charming and cute boys onscreen. I think they are hard working and gracious, which makes up for a lot.
His interview clip made me laugh and smile so much! I could’t adore this man more. I can NOT believe he is living in the states at the present- if I ever see him I would just explode into a million bits. 😀
They have about the same chance of making it.
Daniel is slightly better at acting. But Robert’s tall and handsome, and Daniel’s a wee little lad. Both need to work on their craft more, but they both seem like hard workers and willing to try different roles. So, I think they are pretty even. Both are mainly screwed for playing such iconic characters though, no matter how talented or handsome they are.
I like them both. I think Radcliffe is a better actor and is more serious about his craft. Pattinson acts like the whole thing is a crock and the sooner he can junk acting and turn to music full time, the better he will like it. I like it that Pattinson doesn’t take himself too seriously and doesn’t have an attitude. He’s not a bad actor, but he’s not a particularly good one, and I think he realizes his limitations.
I think Rob is more talented than Dan Rad. I’ve spent some time analyzing Dan’s talent against Rupert’s so this isn’t a new opinion. I think both will have longevity based on their career choices. It’s really all about choices and luck.
Dan is an excellent stage/Broadway performer. In this sense I suspect Dan is far more talented but I just don’t see it in films. He was made for the stage.
@sarahb – ITA Both are highly likeable but both need to keep stretching and growing their acting ability.
I saw Radcliff in How to Success in Business and while he puts on a good effort, you could really see how green he still is compared to some of the more seasoned actors on stage with him. He was adorable though, and I look forward to seeing him continue his career.
@daria “Brad Pitt sucked ass for years, didn’t hurt him” It’s funny you say this because I’ve always thought Pattinson should follow Pitt’s career path. Pitt had his big breakout and then spent time proving he could act/improving in smaller interesting fare, while also doing heartthrob roles (remember the long flowing hair!). I really think Pattinson could pull this off.
Love Daniel! Hope he has a long career.
I think Sparkles is a much better actor when he doesn’t have to use an accent. His American accent kills the performance factor. Should work on that Sparkles. It’s part of the SKILL in being an actor.
They are both likeable like someone said, and Daniel just happens to be in the likeable franchise, so he’s even more liked as a result.
But both have shown their weaknesses as actors. So they both need to work on that if they want to have a career.
i like them both, but, D.R. seems the better actor, might have more staying power, but you never know, brad was a teen idol, but his acting skills progressively got better as years went by, and his film choices were interesting, you have to have more then a pretty face to make it in this business or be connected to someone who is in the biz. wink, wink.
In five years you won’t be able to remember either of their names. Like whatshisname from Lord of the Rings.
sparkles is similar to brad pitt’s situation-they both “broke out” big time with thelma and louise and twilight. But Brad’s role was supporting, and he had more time to grow as an actor. Sparkles is expected to carry a film in contrast right out the gates. He’s mentioned that he would prefer more supporting roles to gain more experience, but that he is not offered those at this time. that sucks for him, cause johnny depp and brad were not always johnny depp and brad pitt. Johnny was horrible with his TV work and first film. Brad was horrible with his tv work and early film work too.
I think that Radcliffe will have the better career because he has the better personal life. You think if it was known that him and Watson hooked up and continue to play coy or allow the studio to talk up that crap. What turn me off to Paterson is that he is doing that and/or allowing it. Kristen Stewart as to quote the great Michael Bluth, ‘Her?’.
Tiffany-so Rob will have a worse career cause you don’t approve of Kristen Stewart? Meh, that’s not really a factor for longevity me thinks.
Love them both!
@ninab. ITA!
@miagirl. Interesting.
Love them both btw!
Daniel is right in that his kind of “fame” is different than Robert. It’s difficult to think sexy thoughts about Harry Potter as in the movies Daniel isn’t going around half naked and sparkling in the sunshine like Robert does in Twilight. So Robert gets the “I wanna shag you silly” fans while Daniel gets the “Save me from Voldemort” fans. 😛
Nibab. Has either of them had any successful film that is not in the franchise. The success is wrapped up in those films and them. Kaiser wrote something about Patterson that is accurate, while she will not see him in films, she will watch and read him in interviews. If he goes away for awhile when the final film is released, then it will show if he or any of the other cast will have staying power.
Dan sure gives a great interview. Gotta love that energy.
@Sarahb: In the talent department, I think Radcliffe is a more versatile actor and has a bigger range. Pattinson is almost too gorgeous for people to take him seriously as an actor. Radcliffe seems to be able to work around his height limitation, which is no mean feat. He looks like an elf dangling from a charm bracelet.
cheyenne: I think Daniel has a slight edge acting wise, but he’s been acting longer/consistently since he was a kid, whereas Robert seemed to fall into because he’s pretty. lol Like it seems he’s only been taking it more seriously in the last couple years. I tend to find Daniel a tad too overeager, while I find Rob a tad too self conscious in terms of how they come across with their acting.They are both not the most natural actors out there.
I think rob’s and Dan’s looks will direct how they could be successful. I think rob’s matinee idol looks direct him in leading man territory, although his quirky ways make him more character-actor material to me. And Daniel will be more character actor territory with his looks, and how you would measure his success as a result would be different from rob’s success, since rob would be expected to carry a movie as a lead.
lol are New Yorkers ever impressed by anything?
@sarahb: You’re correct, it’s apples and oranges. You can’t compare the two of them. But I’m thinking Radcliffe is more serious about his acting career than Pattinson is. I could be mistaken about that though.
What I like and respect about both of them is they both seem to be remarkably level-headed in dealing with all that fame and adulation, especially considering how young they both are, 25 and 22.
Neither one are particularly good actors. But Hollywood is shallow, and Pattison is the taller and better looking of the two — therefore, he has a better shot at a lasting career. Sad, but that’s Hollywood.
I absolutely adore Dan-Rad. I’m an immense Harry Potter fan so I suppose it’s only natural. I also loved him in “My Boy Jack “. He was just marvellous in that, I was really impressed by his acying skills. And he has such a cute face. I’ve had a crush on him for ages, since I was about 9 ! He is so charming in his interviews it’s hard to fall in love with him. As for Robert Pattison, I think he’s a somewhat wooden actor. I ought to give him a chance though. Alot of my friends think he’s handsome but I think he looks really peculiar. Especially in “Twighlight ” But I guess he’s meant too in that ! I think he needs time to grow and develop as an actor. There was this one photo I saw of some smoking a cigerette, he looked rather handsome and sexy but he was trying to be James Dean too much. And there’s only one Jimmy !
I adore Dan, he is so witty and fun. I believe that he will have the longer lasting career of the two. He has already made some genuinely good choices with his career. The theatre work in Equus and How to Succeed in Business have opened him up to much more criticism than most young actors have to deal with because theatre shows need to rely on good reviews. In Dan’s case he received fantastic reviews and is becoming quite a respected actor in theatre. How many other young actors can you say that about? With his film choices too, he is showing range – Woman in Black looks terrific and this rumoured ALlen Ginsberg film sounds intriguing.
I think the big difference is that Dan’s choices to date and upcoming, are going to garner him more attention and respect than choices that Pattinson takes on. If Pattinson wants to be a rspected and successful actor he will need to consider carefully what he does next. And like others have said, he cannot let himself be typecast as the pretty boy either. But the choice is up to him, he may even decide to give up on acting.