Daniel Radcliffe may be one of the world’s most recognizable actors, but at home, he’s just “Dad.”
The “Harry Potter” star recently revealed that his 3-year-old son has no idea he’s famous, and that’s exactly how he wants it for now.
According to People, Radcliffe shared a funny story about watching the Winter Olympics with longtime partner Erin Darke and their son when a commercial for his Broadway play “Every Brilliant Thing” appeared on television just after he left the room.
His son immediately noticed the actor on screen.
“He just goes, ‘Dada?’” Radcliffe recalled, explaining that the toddler seemed genuinely confused and wondered whether his father had somehow appeared on television after leaving the room moments earlier.
The actor admitted that explaining his profession to a young child isn’t exactly easy.
“You know your job is a bulls— job when you can’t describe it to a child,” he joked.
For now, Radcliffe says his son is still far too young to understand what he does for a living.
“He’s truly so far away from having a concept of what I do, and I’m going to keep him in the dark as long as possible,” he told People.
Radcliffe Wants to Keep His Son Out of the Spotlight
The actor and Darke welcomed their son in April 2023 and have kept most details about his life private, including his name.
Radcliffe has previously spoken about wanting his child to have as normal an upbringing as possible despite his global fame.
Earlier this year, he told The New York Times that his son still didn’t recognize him as Harry Potter, even after a DVD from the franchise sat on the family’s kitchen table for several days.
“Does my son know who Harry Potter is? No, not yet,” Radcliffe said at the time.
He even tested whether his son would recognize him on the cover, but the toddler didn’t make the connection.
“For as long as I can just be his dad and he won’t know me as anything else, I will maintain that for as long as I can,” he said.
Radcliffe has also expressed that he doesn’t necessarily want fame for his son. While he would support him pursuing creative work someday, he previously suggested that behind-the-scenes roles in film might offer a healthier lifestyle than growing up in the spotlight.
The actor has described fatherhood as “the best thing that ever has happened to me” and admitted that becoming a parent has made him more emotional.
“I cry a lot more, in like a nice way,” he previously joked.
Erin Darke and Their Son Are a ‘Huge Part’ of His Happiness
Along with opening up about parenting, Radcliffe recently reflected on the life he has built with Darke after more than a decade together.
Per People, the actor called Darke “a huge part of my happiness” while discussing his Broadway run in “Every Brilliant Thing” during an appearance at New York City’s 92nd Street Y.
Reflecting on the show’s themes, Radcliffe said one of its most meaningful ideas centers on being truly understood by another person.
“There is something about being truly known and understood and seen by another human being,” he said. “That is why love exists.”
He added that Darke has “obviously been a huge part of my happiness.”
The couple first met in 2012 while playing love interests in the film “Kill Your Darlings” and welcomed their son in 2023.
Looking back on his younger years, Radcliffe admitted there were times when he felt uncertain about the future. Now, he says he never could have imagined the happiness he has found with Darke, their son and his career.
“I would never have believed then that I would be experiencing the happiness that I am now with my partner, with my son and with my life in general,” he said.
