Daniel: People expect me to be brat - Nov 7 2007
Daniel Radcliffe has revealed he was determined to prove himself on the set of new TV drama My Boy Jack, because people expect him to be "a petulant brat".

The 18-year-old plays Rudyard Kipling's son John 'Jack' Kipling, who despite being almost completely myopic, was determined to fight in World War One - and ended up losing his life.

It's quite a departure from Hogwarts, and Daniel admits he did feel some trepidation as to what his co-stars and colleagues would make of him.

"You sometimes feel you will be coming up against a stereotype, I think they all expect you to be a petulant brat as soon as you walk in," laughs the Harry Potter star.

"So for the first few days you are aware you might have to fight against that and hopefully dispel it.

"Brian Kirk, the director, is great because he always likes to start with a difficult scene within the first two days. If you're doing little bits and pieces then in the back of your head you're thinking, I wonder what they're thinking of me doing this? I wonder if this looks okay? You haven't had a chance to prove yourself properly.

"But if you kick off with a big scene, then it means you get it out of the way and you're thinking, okay they've seen what I can do, I've shown them, and we can just carry on now."

My Boy Jack is on ITV1 on Sunday November 11.


Daniel urges fans to watch tragic role - Nov 6 2007
Daniel Radcliffe has said he wants Harry Potter fans to watch his first TV role, which sees his character get killed in the First World War.

In My Boy Jack, the 18-year-old plays Rudyard Kipling’s short-sighted son John, who went missing on the battlefield six weeks after his father pulled strings to get him a commission in the army.

Daniel told The Times: "I hope people are moved. The thought of forgetting all those people who fought is terrible. We are lucky not to have to endure those conditions now."

The Harry Potter star added that it was difficult to avoid comparisons between the Great War and the current climate of unrest in the Middle East.

"It is hard not to feel the parallels with what is happening now in Iraq and Afghanistan. Parents outliving their children is the greatest tragedy imaginable," added the actor.

The two-hour film will be shown on ITV1 this Sunday (November 11) to coincide with the Armistice Day commemorations.


Harry Potter works his magic at awards - Sept 29 2007
Harry Potter worked his magic by taking three gongs at the inaugural National Movie Awards.

Daniel Radcliffe, 18, collected the title for best male performance for his leading role in Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix.

The star beat heartthrobs Orlando Bloom, Johnny Depp, Daniel Craig, and fellow Potter star Rupert Grint to the award, voted for by the public.

Emma Watson, 17, won the best female performance for her spellbinding role as Hermione Granger in the same movie, which also won the best family film title at the ceremony, which took place at the Royal Festival Hall in central London.

Daniel, who collected the award from Dame Helen Mirren, said it was "amazing" and "totally unexpected" to have beaten James Bond. "Daniel Craig is someone I look up to as an actor not just as James Bond," he said.

"To have beaten James Bond is good and to have beaten (his co-star) Rupert is great."