Daniel Radcliffe has a theory on how to make the acting industry healthier and safer for child actors.
Daniel, who most famously appeared as Harry Potter in the film franchise of the same name, has been acting since the age of 10. With a TV reboot of the series in the works, he’s appealed to the public to be kinder to its young stars. Now, at 36, he has some perspective on making the process better in the long run.
The original Harry Potter actor wants mandatory therapy for the youngest stars
Speaking on Bustle’s One Nightstand” series, the actor explained why fame can play on a child’s mind negatively. He said that the illusion of living the dream can be crushing behind the scenes, which child actors may conceal from others.
His solution? Mandatory therapy built into the system for working child actors.
“There’s been some really tragic stories in the last few years,” Daniel said of fallen child stars. He went on to explain that the outsider’s perspective may be off. Using an example of an unnamed child actor who died, he said that people assumed because they have money and fame, everything is fine.
Daniel also said that starting mandated therapy at the earliest age possible would help with mental health in a preventative way.
“Normalize it, start therapy before you need it,” Daniel suggested.
Reflecting on his own experience, the actor said these resources didn’t exist when he was a child. “In the 2000s in England, no one was thinking that way,” he said. “But I had so many good people around. I had so many people on set that were looking out for us, that it was totally fine,” he said.
Daniel went on to explain that it was “more luck than anything else” in his experience. Other child actors, he said, didn’t experience the same treatment. “I got very lucky with the people.”
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH DANIEL?
