Daniel Jacob Radcliffe

It was Dan's "charm and simplicity" that caught the eye of Chris Columbus and David Heyman whilst on the search for a young British actor to bring to life the lead character of what is arguably the modern literary world's most successful phenomenon: Harry Potter. This was going to be no mean feat for whoever won the role and superb casting of the part was, of course, vital to the film. Director Columbus had seen a tape of "David Copperfield" and had badgered his casting director into calling its young star in for an audition. However, Dan's understandably protective parents were reluctant to subject their son to any gruelling audition process only to have his hopes dashed and so the life-altering role was at first turned down. But serendipity smiled down on Dan one evening in a theatre: producer David Heyman and screenwriter Steve Kloves spotted him with his parents in the audience while watching the play 'Stones in his Pockets'. Heyman knew Dan's father through business connections and introduced himself to Dan during the interval. He then spent the second half of the play totally distracted by his potential Harry. The next morning, Heyman called Dan's parents to try to persuade them to change their minds about letting him audition and... discovered that they had already had the same idea! They agreed to an informal meeting between Dan and David Heyman and, once they were confident that he would be protected as much as possible from the media glare if offered the role, agreed that Dan should go for an audition. Then one night while taking a bath, Dan heard his father answer the phone:

"My dad came in and told me I'd got the part of Harry Potter. I cried, I was so happy. I woke up in the middle of the night, around half two, and I woke up my dad too, just to check with him that it wasn't all a dream. That I really was going to be Harry Potter."

The casting of Dan, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in the lead roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger was subsequently announced in August 2000. Importantly, Potter author Joanne (JK) Rowling gave Dan her seal of approval - when she saw Dan's screen test, she claimed that she felt that "it was like being reunited with [her] long-lost son":

"Having seen Dan Radcliffe's screen test I don't think Chris Columbus could have found a better Harry... I think Dan nailed it, and I am really pleased."

Production of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone" began in September 2000 and the worldwide interest in the film was unprecedented. It was released on 16th November 2001 and was praised widely for its faithful adaptation of Rowling's book, going on to become the second-highest grossing film of all time, behind "Titanic". Also praised widely was its young star ("... a wonderful Harry... young Radcliffe is perfect as Harry... seems to have been born to play the part...") who found himself on the cover of practically every entertainment magazine of the moment. Numerous TV appearances in the UK and US followed and curious audiences began to discover the boy behind the lightning-bolt scar. Fan sites began to spring up across the Internet. A star was born.

Full Name : Daniel Jacob Radcliffe
Nickname : It's just Dan, man...
Date of Birth: July 23, 1989
Place of Birth: London, England
Star Sign : On the cusp of Cancer and Leo
Chinese Zodiac Sign : Snake
Hair : Brown
Eyes : Gray/Blue
Height : Currently about 5'5 and 1/2"
Pets : Two border terrier dogs - Binka and Nugget
Countries Visited : America, Australia, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Holland, Japan, China, Northern Ireland, Panama, Turkey, Scotland, and South Africa
Dan on Living in London : "London is always busy. It is a place that you can never be bored in as there are always so many things to do."
Dan's Harry Qualities : "Loyal, Curious, and we both always get into trouble"
Musical Instrument : Bass Guitar. Dan quote :: "Gary Oldman (a fellow bass guitarist) taught me some new tunes which was great fun."

Catchphrase : "Cool!" or "Amazing!"

Latest Favorites/Likes/Preferences :
Hobbies : Writing, running, watching movies, music, reading, Playstation, learning magic (he took magic lessons with British illusionist Paul Kieve)
Music Interests : Dan is a HUUUUUGE music fan (mostly guitar rock) and some of his current or recent favorite listening matter includes: Klaxons, The Libertines, Art Brut, Sex Pistols, The Good the Bad and the Queen, The Futureheads, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Fratellis, Be Your Own Pet, The View, Nirvana, Jim Noir, The Cribs, Arcade Fire, British Sea Power, Rolling Stones, Modest Mouse, Tokyo Police Club, The Undertones, David Bowie, ColdPlay, Bloc Party, Blur, Muse, Zwan, The Clash, Sufjan Stevens, Hard-Fi, Editors, and Dogs.
HP Book : Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
HP Script : Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
HP Character : Hagrid and the Weasleys
HP Scene : Shrieking Shack (from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban); The Chess Board, Final Chamber, Devil's Snare scenes (from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)
HP Word : "Voldemort"
Magic Ability : Invisibility
Movies : 12 Angry Men, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Bowling for Columbine, Brief Encounter, Stranger Than Fiction, Rebel Without A Cause, Annie Hall, Little Miss Sunshine, Last King of Scotland, Dr. Strangelove, The Wind that Shakes the Barley
TV Show : The Simpsons
Classic TV Show : Dad's Army, Yes Minister
Author : Iain Banks
Books : Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie, Laughter in the Dark by Nabokov, In Watermelon Sugar by Richard Brautigan, Germinal by Emile Zola, and The War of Don Emmanuels Nether Parts by Louis De Bernieres.
Sport: Cricket
Video Game : Simpsons "Road Rage" and sport games
Gadget : iPOD
Soccer Team : Fulham Football Club
NHL Hockey Team : Phoenix Coyotes
Candy : Mars Bar
Dessert : Vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce
Soda : Diet Coke
Breakfast : Toast with chocolate spread
Food : Fish
Munchies : Honey Nut Cheerios or a glass of milk with Jammy Dodgers Biscuits.
Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor : Phish Food, Caramel Chew Chew
Animal : Wolf
Car : Red Cadillac (like The Great Red Shark in the movie "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas")
Color : Blue and Yellow
Holiday : Christmas
Season : Summer
Number : Nine
Subject in School : English
Country : America
Actresses : Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kate Hudson, Renee Zellweger, Jodie Foster, Kirsten Dunst, Natalie Portman, and Cameron Diaz
Actors : Tom Hanks, Ben Stiller, Jude Law, Ed Harris, Robert DeNiro, Jake Gyllenhaal, Cary Grant and Peter Sellars
Idol : Gary Oldman
Guys' Guy : Sid Vicious
Superhero : Batman
Britney or Christina? : Christina
PS2 or XBOX? : PS2

Source: www.danradcliffe.com