Potter Star's Stage Debut Praised

Source: BBC News, 28th February 2007

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe received a standing ovation at the end of his West End stage debut in Equus. Actor Christian Slater, Bob Geldof and TV presenter Graham Norton were among those who watched the 17-year-old actor at the Gielgud Theatre.

Radcliffe plays troubled stableboy Alan Strang, who has an erotic relationship with his horses.

Slater said: "The work that Daniel did on stage was incredible, extraordinary. I take my hat off to him completely."

He added: "He became Alan Strang. I never thought for one second I was looking at Daniel Radcliffe - I was watching Alan Strang. I'm remarkably impressed. I think he was brave, adventurous and courageous, he's a phenomenon and I would certainly love to work with him."

Newspaper reviews of the play have also been positive. Michael Billington wrote in The Guardian: "The revelation of this revival is that Daniel Radcliffe really can act, proving that his screen appearances as JK Rowling's boy-hero are no flash in the magic pan."

A nude scene in the play has dominated headlines about the play since Radcliffe announced he was taking on the role. But TV presenter Norton said: "Why do people keep asking about him being naked? I'm a gay man and I'm not mentioning it. It's a play - get over it, ladies."

After the performance, Radcliffe admitted the scene, with co-star Joanna Christie, was the talking point of the production.
"I sort of expected it really," he said. "If I went into it thinking nobody was going to talk about it, I would have been very stupid. But it's not a big part of the play, it's four minutes at most."

Meanwhile Warner Bros, the studio behind the Harry Potter films, issued a statement denying reports it was unhappy with Radcliffe's appearance in the play. The studio said it "fully supports him in the artistic choices he makes as an actor."