Daniel Radcliffe revealed what made him go sober after years of relying on alcohol to help him cope with his Harry Potter stardom.
The actor, 36, is arguably one of the most recognisable people on the planet thanks to his lead role in the hit film franchise.
And although a lot of people dream of the fame, fortune and army of fans which come with being a celebrity, the reality of it really isn't as glamorous as it may seem.
In fact, for Radcliffe, he often found himself being overwhelmed by the feeling that he was 'being watched'.
Advert
The London-born star admitted that to cope with the scrutiny he found himself under during his teen years, he often turned to alcohol.
During an appearance on The Off Camera Show in 2019, Radcliffe said: "It could have largely been in my head...but you would feel watched when you went into a bar, when you went into a pub.
"In my case, the quickest way of forgetting about the fact that you're being watched was to get very drunk."
However, he realised that this only attracted further attention to him - as clubgoers were even more curious to see if the lad who played Harry Potter could handle his beer - which in turn made him drink more to get over being self-conscious.
Speaking about the impact this had on him at the height of his fame, Radcliffe said: "It can affect your psyche and you sort of have to...there is no blueprint for starting young and working stuff out."
He then went on to defend other young stars who have publicly struggled with their celebrity status.
"That’s like when people have a go at Justin Bieber for drag racing cars," Radcliffe continued. "I’m like, yeah, but stuff could be super crazy for him right now.
"You don't quite know how overwhelmed it's possible to get. Part of the thing is the expectation that you should just be delighted all the time.
"You have a great job, you're wealthy - you don't have a 'right' to ever feel sad or to not be excited about the whole thing."
Radcliffe previously confessed that by the time he was working on the sixth film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, he realised he had become dependent on alcohol.
He told GQ in 2011: "I became reliant on alcohol to enjoy stuff."
Although he never turned up on set drunk, the child star did rock up nursing a raging hangover, as he previously told Heat magazine: "I can point to many scenes where I’m just gone. Dead behind the eyes."
Radcliffe first went sober in 2010 before drinking again a couple of years later, however, he has since continued to steer clear of alcohol.
He told The Off Camera Show it 'took a few years and a couple of attempts' to get himself firmly on the wagon, and credits the people in his life for helping him stay committed.
"I have been just unbelievably lucky with the people I've had around me at certain times in my life," Radcliffe went on.
"I met some really key people - some of them actors, some of them not - who just gave me great advice and really cared for me.
"And, ultimately, [sobriety] was my own decision. I woke up one morning and I was like, 'This is probably not good'."
He explained he 'doesn't miss' his drunken days and can't believe the 'chaos he used to invite into his life' when he drank alcohol, before adding: "I'm really much happier now."
He's not the only star to go sober either - as a ton of celebs have shared their stories about the benefits of ditching drink in recent years.
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Topics: Harry Potter, Film, Daniel Radcliffe, Celebrity, Alcohol
Olivia Burke