Aranya Doloi
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It often seems that Daniel Radcliffe’s is synonymous to all things wizardry. And while the Brit through Harry Potter has given fans enough to last a lifetime, it’s amazing to see how the Englishman has grown from ‘The Boy Who Lived’ to the actor he is now. From rom-coms to biographical thrillers, he has proven time and again that he has some serious acting thrills in him. So as Daniel Radcliffe celebrates his 30th birthday today, let’s raise a toast to the actor’s talents that extend way beyond the expansive Potterverse.
1. December Boys
This is the first time the world saw Daniel Radcliffe in a major role, where he wasn’t a wizard- he did not appear in his cloak, did not wear glasses and did not wield the magic wand. December Boys is a coming-of-age drama that explores the timeless themes of life like love, friendship and family. The movie follows the story of four orphaned boys, one of them played by Radcliffe, whose lives change when they are sent to a beach to stay with a couple.
2. Kill Your Darlings
The thriller-drama is Daniel Radcliffe’s first ever biographical film and he didn’t upset his fans; the actor played every bit of the American poet Allen Ginsberg from the Beat Generation. Radcliffe gave a commendable performance in the movie, which followed an unpopular murder case in the life of young Ginsberg that led to a social awakening.
3. Horns
Based on Joe Hill’s novel of the same name, the dark fantasy stars Daniel Radcliffe as Ig Perrish, the main suspect in the rape and murder of his girlfriend. The movie takes an unexpected turn as he wakes up one morning to find horns growing from his head that lead him in a quest to find the real killer and exact his revenge.
4. Swiss Army Man
In this unusual but well-reversed comedy-drama, Radcliffe’s performance as Manny, the corpse is exactly the sort the Academy claims to revere. The actor rejects his cozy niche as a British dream as he blasts gas and farts, and appears partially decayed for the film’s entire run time. Swiss Army Man follows the tale of a corpse who can be manipulated like a Swiss Army knife, and who eventually develops the ability to speak and feel.
5. Imperium
With this crime thriller, Daniel Radcliffe proved his versatility yet again as he stepped in an FBI agent’s shoes who is trying to foil terrorists. The actor’s portrayal of agent Nate Foster who goes undercover as a white supremacist to infiltrate an extremist militia is his most intriguing role yet. Radcliffe even shaved his head for the role that led to talks about the uncanny resemblance between the actor and Voldemort and that he would easily pass for the Dark Lord himself.
6. The Woman in Black
Radcliffe has a thing towards out-of-the-box roles as can be seen in this supernatural horror movie. The Woman in Black follows the story of a lawyer, played by Radcliffe, who is on the lookout for a paranormal lady in black clothes as she poses a threat to the people in his town. The actor gives a clear-eyed, plausibly grown-up performance as lawyer Arthur Kipps in this terrifying adaptation of Susan Hill’s story by the same name
7. What If
After growing up on screen from a wizard boy to a mature teen, Daniel Radcliffe has become a man in this delightful rom-com. The actor had finally shed the wizard’s cloak as he stepped into this chick flicks territory and put on the casual garb of an unpretentious, leading romantic man.
