Profiles Of Addiction Recovery | Daniel Radcliffe

From 2001 to 2011, audiences worldwide watched the Harry Potter films and saw actor Daniel Radcliffe grow from a fresh-faced 12-year-old child star to a seasoned 22-year-old acting veteran in his own right.

Unfortunately, the pressures of fame and the Hollywood lifestyle took its toll on the young Harry Potter star, leading Radcliffe to struggle with a seldom mentioned but serious underage alcohol problem.

Playing Harry Potter

Daniel Radcliffe was born on July 23, 1989, to a pair of former child actors now working as a casting and literary agent. 

Radcliffe and his parents were eventually approached by David Heyman, a Warner Bros. producer convinced that Radcliffe was the right face to portray the titular boy wizard in the Harry Potter series.

Following an offer, Radcliffe would grow up in the spotlight as the initial 2001 release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone propelled he and his co-stars, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Tom Felton, into instant stardom.

Secretive Substance Abuse

Despite being in the public eye for his entire adolescence, Radcliffe was surprisingly successful in keeping his image clean. Off camera, however, he was doing a lot of drinking in his underage years.

In fact, Radcliffe can point to many Harry Potter movie scenes, particularly those in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, where he is “dead behind the eyes” from being hung-over from drinking or still drunk from partying the night before. 

Heavy Drinking & Mental Health

Radcliffe has shared reasons for his worrying alcohol abuse in these years, during which he would often drink to the point of blacking out. 

These include an eagerness to recreate the drinking stories shared by some of his adult co-stars, as well as mental health issues stemming from a feeling of always being watched while growing up.

Relapse & Recovery

At age 22, in 2010, Radcliffe would give up drinking and, with the support of his close friends and loved ones, stay sober for around two years. However, he was reportedly kicked out of a bar in New York for drunkenness and fighting in 2012.

In 2013, following this period of relapse, Radcliffe would again give up alcohol as his “own decision” and, as of 2023, has been sober ever since.

Radcliffe hasn’t openly shared how he managed to achieve recovery, whether with the help of professional rehabilitation programs, 12-step groups, or other resources. 

However, he has openly shared how sobriety has given him the freedom to become more comfortable with himself, to go to the gym, and to read.

Recovery Is Possible

If alcohol or drug addiction is a challenge in your life, don’t struggle alone. Recovery is possible, and we can help make that a reality. To learn how we help individuals and families break free from addiction, please contact us today.