Harry Potter naked! and smoking!
Categories: Celeb kids, That's entertainment
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is currently appearing in a London revival of Peter Shaffer's Tony award-winning play "Equus." The play tells the story of 17 year old Alan Strang, who has been referred for psychiatric care after blinding six horses with a metal pick. When the play was first produced in 1973, its content and its staging made it incredibly controversial.
And it is again, but this time the controversy is less about the play itself and more about Radcliffe, who appears completely nude and smokes a cigarette. According to the Daily Mail, Harry Potter websites have been receiving e-mails from concerned parents. "One said: 'We as parents feel Daniel should not appear nude. Our nine-year-old son looks up to him as a role model. We are very disappointed and will avoid the future movies he makes.'" The Boston Herald reports that "The anti-smoking group ASH said Radcliffe's onstage cigarette was 'regrettable.' The group said it feared Radcliffe's status as a role model might encourage young people to start smoking."
I find it hard to take these concerns seriously. Parents who are worried about their children seeing Radcliffe in the nude or smoking shouldn't take their kids to see "Equus." This is not a play for very young kids, for so many (obvious) reasons. A high school student is most likely old enough to understand the play; he or she is also probably mature enough to understand the difference between Radcliffe the actor and the character of Alan Strang.
Finally, good for Daniel Radcliffe; it must be hard to be Harry Potter all the time, and I respect him for challenging himself in a role like this. If he's hoping to have an acting career after Harry Potter, he will need to show that he has the ability to play other kinds of roles, including some which may not be quite so squeaky clean. It's unreasonable for anyone to expect him to play only one character in his entire career.
And it is again, but this time the controversy is less about the play itself and more about Radcliffe, who appears completely nude and smokes a cigarette. According to the Daily Mail, Harry Potter websites have been receiving e-mails from concerned parents. "One said: 'We as parents feel Daniel should not appear nude. Our nine-year-old son looks up to him as a role model. We are very disappointed and will avoid the future movies he makes.'" The Boston Herald reports that "The anti-smoking group ASH said Radcliffe's onstage cigarette was 'regrettable.' The group said it feared Radcliffe's status as a role model might encourage young people to start smoking."
I find it hard to take these concerns seriously. Parents who are worried about their children seeing Radcliffe in the nude or smoking shouldn't take their kids to see "Equus." This is not a play for very young kids, for so many (obvious) reasons. A high school student is most likely old enough to understand the play; he or she is also probably mature enough to understand the difference between Radcliffe the actor and the character of Alan Strang.
Finally, good for Daniel Radcliffe; it must be hard to be Harry Potter all the time, and I respect him for challenging himself in a role like this. If he's hoping to have an acting career after Harry Potter, he will need to show that he has the ability to play other kinds of roles, including some which may not be quite so squeaky clean. It's unreasonable for anyone to expect him to play only one character in his entire career.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LS 2-28-2007 @ 11:58AM
These parents who are complaining, are they the same ones who watch the tabloid TV shows with their families so they can keep up with the latest on Britney, Linsey, Paris, and the Anna Nicole thing?
Unbelievable.
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nsweetgyrl 2-28-2007 @ 12:09PM
I am a mom of a toddler...
and..
I say...Way to Go Harry Potter!
This is his life, and he is choosing to express his artistic capabilities in his own way, the way he desires. Parents don't have to take their kids to that play. I am sure he did this play for himself, not others. Families should be confidant that they can still take their kids to Harry Potter movies, and Daniel will still be HARRY POTTER in the movie. That is what makes a good artist/actor, good...the fact that they can choose different projects to grow in themselves, and have us believe each role to its fullest. So come on people, get over it. He is talented, and fully able to be wise in his choices. Lets not create another Britney and Lindsey, by bombarding him with tons of negative press that we push him off the deep end. If we let truly talented child actors grow into themselves while doing what they love, they may not end up....BALD AND IN A REHABILITATION CENTER!
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Nancy Toby 2-28-2007 @ 12:28PM
Oh, good grief, people. He's not a role model, he's an ACTOR. His JOB is to pretend to be something other than what he actually is.
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Amy 2-28-2007 @ 12:29PM
People are concerned that he is nude (as probably most of us are at some point in our lives), and that he smokes, but not that he is blinding 6 horses? I would rather they (kids) see him as a naked smoker than a horse torturer.
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Maureen 2-28-2007 @ 5:49PM
I'm amazed that the people who are complaining actually let their children read Harry Potter books. As the author of this post noted, this isn't a play for young children. It's not as if he is running around the streets of London in his birthday suit with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth -- and even if he were behaving in a less than respectable manner, I think parents need to give their kids more credit for being smart enough to appreciate a talent but not imitate bad behavior. Good for Harry Potter breaking out of the mold!
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LS 2-28-2007 @ 6:57PM
Nancy, I respectfully disagree with you on one teeny point, and say that Mr. Radcliffe IS a role model, and I think he's doing just fine at it. He chose well with the Harry Potter roles. They "made" him. And now, he is being responsible with his career, and choosing a role that will challenge him, and force him to hone his talent. So the fans don't like the character he plays... People LOVE Anthony Hopkins, but I doubt they'd want to hang out with that Hannibal guy.
I commend him for doing it.
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Amy 2-28-2007 @ 8:18PM
At last, people that are making some sense out of this supposed scandal! I think the general public is making too much out of this role that Daniel Radcliffe is playing. I agree on the point that "Equus" is not a play for children (I read the condensed version a couple of years ago); but then, nobody said it was in the first place. I also agree with the first poster; these parents threatening to stop taking their kids to see "Harry Potter" movies are such hypocrites! It's okay for the kids to see sex and violence on TV, but a popular actor goes naked (in a play intended for adults, no less) and they're outraged! I'm relieved to see that some bloggers still have common sense and see that this is just a part of Mr. Radcliffe's progression as a professional actor. I commend him, and hope he and the show have continued success.
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Belinda 2-28-2007 @ 9:17PM
BIG DEAL! I am still going to watch the movies. I don't CARE what these actors and actresses do in their PERSONAL life. If the movie is good I am going to watch it!!!! I still wish they didn't leave Peeves out of the movie!!!
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Tamyu 2-28-2007 @ 11:23PM
I actually really respect him for this. He has made the choice to diversify his career, instead of staying with the same sort of roles.
If people don`t want their children to see him nude or smoking - Don`t take them to the show. It`s not as if it`s on afternoon television. The only way children are going to be seeing him smoking or nude is if their parents *show* them. I highly doubt any young children are just going to wander into the theatre.
I really think people need to learn to make a distinction between actors and their roles. Harry Potter is just a role, and Radcliffe - the actor - is free to do what he wishes.
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SM 3-01-2007 @ 7:39AM
Oh for cryin' out loud. He is an ACTOR. He is NOT Harry Potter. Are these parents having troublel comprehending that? I say, good for him. He seems like a talented fellow, and I hope this role will help him create a career beyond Harry Potter.
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Anna V. 3-01-2007 @ 9:45AM
I fully agree that there's nothing wrong with him in this role, and personally I'm glad that he's taken on a very challenging role. It can be hard for an actor to break out of a serial role, and it seems Radcliffe has all the potential in the world.
That being said, I feel such the perv for thinking what a nice body he has! I'd love to see him on the stage... but mostly because I think he's matured as an actor since the first Harry Potter.
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