Daniel Radcliffe REJECTED Harry Potter initially as parents thought it would be 'too disruptive'
Last updated at 4:52 PM on 22nd November 2011
Daniel Radcliffe has revealed how his parents rejected the Harry Potter role because it would have meant him living for long periods in Hollywood.
The 22-year-old star said his parents Alan and Marcia initially turned down the offer to audition for the role of the boy wizard from JK Rowling's book.
They were told if Radcliffe won the part he would have to make six films and they would all be shot in Los Angeles.
Global name: Daniel Radcliffe, pictured here at a charity event in New York earlier this month, very nearly didn't accept the role of Harry Potter
It was only after producers agreed to reduce the number of films and shoot them in England that his parents relented.
Radcliffe has become a multi-millionaire and one of the best known faces in the world following phenomenal success of the seven Potter films.
Revealing how he almost lost out on the part, the actor said the director of the first film approached his parents after seeing him perform in a BBC series David Copperfield.
Growing up in the spotlight: Rupert Grint and Emma Watson pose with Radcliffe at the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in London on July 7
He said: 'Chris Columbus had seen David Copperfield and said, "I want to audition this boy."
'They went to my parents, and, at the time, the deal was to sign on for, I think, six films, all to be done in LA, and my mum and dad simply said, "That's too much disruption to his life. That's not gonna happen."
'I didn't know any of that had gone on. And then, maybe three, four months down the line, the deal had changed, and it was going be to shoot two films, and they'd both be done in England, and so they said, "Okay, we'll let him audition." And then it all went from there, really.'
Iconic: It would be hard to imagine another actor playing the role of Harry Potter
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter Radcliffe, who has been appearing in Broadway musical, said he hasn't enjoyed becoming a celebrity describing it as 'vile' and 'ghastly'.
'There are, obviously, upsides to it, but I'd say that the upsides, for me, are the upsides that come from my job rather than from the celebrity aspect.
'I mean, celebrity is horrible - that's the truth, is that it's a ghastly, vile thing.'
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