Radcliffe prefers son explore life beyond show business

Daniel Radcliffe opened up about his hopes for his young son, revealing that he doesn’t want the toddler to pursue acting, despite the former child star’s own early success as Harry Potter.

Speaking on The View while promoting his NBC comedy The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, Radcliffe explained that he and partner Erin Darke want their child to develop a sense of identity and self-worth outside of show business.

“I would rather he isn’t,” Radcliffe said. “Me and Erin are both actors, so he'll see us being passionate and loving our jobs. I feel like a lot of actors, so much of how we feel about ourselves is tied into our work. I'd love for him to get a job where his sense of identity and self-worth is not as tied to that.”

During the interview, the talk show also played footage from Radcliffe’s original audition for Harry Potter at age 11. 

Embarrassed, he shook his head and muttered, “It’s bad,” as the audience applauded. Co-host Sunny Hostin said, “That is so good!” while Whoopi Goldberg praised his growth: “You evolved it. You went from that, which, in spite of what you think, it's really good, which is why you got the gig. But you've evolved, and that's the beautiful thing.”

Radcliffe’s comments reflect a conscious desire to give his son a childhood and future outside the pressures of fame, even as he acknowledges the joy and passion he personally found in acting.