Date: 5th July 2011

Harry Potter Star Admits Alcohol Addiction


Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has revealed he became addicted to alcohol as he came to terms with his fame.

The actor said: "I became so reliant on alcohol to enjoy stuff."

"There were a few years there when I was just so enamoured with the idea of living some sort of famous person's lifestyle that really isn't suited to me."

The actor said his drinking became an issue while working on the 2009 film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

He claims he has not touched alcohol since August 2010.

Speaking to GQ magazine, he said: "As much as I would love to be a person that goes to parties and has a couple of drinks and has a nice time - that doesn't work for me."

"I do that very unsuccessfully."

The star was just nine years old when he got his break to play the schoolboy wizard in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Eight films on and the series is now the biggest film franchise of all time.

Radcliffe is worth an estimated £48m and he and his co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are household names.

Watson, who plays Hermione, told Sky News she has mixed emotions as her Potter days draw to a close.

"It's really strange. I go from moment being like 'oh I'm so excited it's over and can't wait to have a fresh start' and then ten minutes later I'll be crying and feeling wobbly and sad and feeling quite devastated that it's all over."

Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley, says he has found it hard to come to terms with the fact that it is over.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet. We finished a year ago now but it was a really sad day."

"We all cried and I wasn't expecting that. I have felt a little lost really without it because it's been such a continuous part of my daily routine for ten years."

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 broke five box office records when it was released last November.

It took £17.5m over three days in the UK, making it the most successful opening weekend in history.

The final instalment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, will premiere in Trafalgar Square on Thursday, and sees Harry facing a climatic showdown with Lord Voldermort.

Source: Press Release