Spotlight On: Daniel Radcliffe

You already know Daniel Radcliffe for his portrayal of a certain boy wizard. But as his pitch-black new film ‘Horns’ will attest, the 25-year-old actor is racking up many intriguing roles outside the Potterverse. Here’s a look back at his work.

You thought we'd begin with Harry Potter, didn't you? In fact, this British TV adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic was Radcliffe's first screen role. Here, he plays the young David opposite the late Bob Hoskins as Micawber.

At 11, the young thespian had time for one last role before the onset of worldwide fame. In this spy thriller starring Pierce Brosnan, based on the John le Carre book, Radcliffe plays the son of Geoffrey Rush (the titular tailor) and Jamie Lee Curtis.

The pressure of embodying Harry Potter, one of the most beloved characters in children’s literature, must have been enormous for the very young actor. But, then as now, no one could imagine anyone more perfect for the part.

We’re not showcasing all eight Harry Potter movies in this gallery, but the third Potter film marked a turning point in both the franchise’s tone and for the adolescent Radcliffe. The young star and his film series started to mature right before our eyes.  

This Potter sequel deserves a mention not only for being the first truly dark film of the series -- just ask co-star Robert Pattinson -- but for Daniel Radcliffe’s shoulder-length hair, an unexpected look for the typically clean-cut Harry.

At 17, Radcliffe was worldly enough to spoof his own celebrity, as he did in this scathing BBC showbiz satire from ‘The Office’ creators Ricky Gervais (at right) and Stephen Merchant.

Despite his packed shooting schedule at Hogwarts, Radcliffe (far right) also found the time to headline his first non-Potter feature. Surprisingly, he chose this modest Australian film about four orphans over something more high-profile.

The surprises kept coming, as Radcliffe managed to squeeze out a third movie in 2007, which also saw the release of ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.’ This World War I drama was the actor’s first “adult” role, opposite Carey Mulligan.

After ten years, eight movies and fabillions of dollars, Radcliffe said goodbye to Harry Potter with this devastating conclusion to the series. The film was released just days before his 22nd birthday. His future was wide open.

Proudly admitting to having “weird taste” in roles, a post-Potter Radcliffe expanded his range both on the Broadway stage and in film, such as this supernatural thriller set in Edwardian England, in which he plays a widowed lawyer.

One of Radcliffe’s more unusual parts -- in a career loaded with them -- is in this sometimes comic, sometimes tragic British TV series, where he and ‘Mad Men’ star Jon Hamm portray an early 20th century Russian doctor at different ages.

Always seeking out new challenges, Radcliffe next starred in this independent film about the 1944 New York murder that involved the Beat Generation writers. The actor plays gay American poet Allen Ginsberg, later the author of ‘Howl.’

Seemingly no genre is taboo for Daniel Radcliffe -- not even romantic comedies. Once again, however, he would favor the independent film world over Hollywood: ‘What If’ co-stars indie darling Zoe Kazan and takes place in Toronto.