Daniel Radcliffe Opens Up About Alcohol Abuse! ‘Harry Potter’ Actor Says ‘It Was Not Making Me Happy As I Wanted It To!’

Though playing Harry Potter in the blockbuster franchise had its perks, actor Daniel Radcliffe witnessed firsthand the drawbacks to having immediate and overwhelming success. Radcliffe opens up about the pressures of stardom and how he managed to keep himself sober after a heavy bout of alcoholism.

Bringing the character, Harry Potter, to life took a mental toll on the David Copperfield star. His portrayal of the boy wizard skyrocketed the unknown actor into worldwide fame and riches. Imagine being at the tender age of 11 and being thrust into the Hollywood spotlight. Radcliffe was on the path of becoming another washed-out actor when he turned to alcohol.

In an interview with Sky Arts, as transcribed by Hello, Radcliffe remembers what his troubled youth was like as he drowned himself in liquor. Luckily, the Horns actor has been able to keep himself clean and abstain from alcohol since 2010.

With his mind clear and sober, the former child actor realizes his mistake when turning to the bottle for help, "I would have benefited from not drinking as it was not making me as happy as I wanted to," 

Since the hit franchise ended, The Woman in Black actor is grateful for being recognized outside his former persona, "People don't shout 'Harry Potter' at me now. They tend to know my name, which is lovely." The maturing thespian continues. "But I will always credit the opportunities I get from Harry Potter. I would not be a happy person if I was bitter about those ten years of my life."

As actor Daniel Radcliffe continues to grow older and mature his acting craft, let's hope the blockbuster movies of Harry Potter were just the beginning of a long and successful career. Readers, what do you think of Radcliffe opening up about his past history with alcohol?