“The first day or two [of rehearsals], it was very strange, just ’cause you’ve watched this kid grow up. But he was instantly charming right from the get-go, knew everyone’s name by the end of the first day, ate lunch with us in the greenroom. So now he’s not Harry Potter anymore. And certainly when you see him do the material in the show, your perspective changes.”
It's been great. Daniel Radcliffe has an enormous fan base. The thing I notice the most is how young much of the audience is because of that, and how nice that is. We need to get younger people into the audiences so those people realize that the theaters are worth keeping alive. A lot of the theaters I've worked in have an old subscription base. I look up there and I think "Who's going to replace you guys in 20 or 30 years?" If this show ignites 10 new future theater goers every night, that would be great. I think that's the best thing, and that's Dan bringing those people in. But they come in to see a movie star and they leave having seen an actor.
The actor, 19, is currently starring in Broadway stage show Equus - and although he wasn't eligible to vote, he made sure he could soak up the atmosphere by tagging along with one of his American co-stars.
Millions of U.S. citizens, including celebrities like Tim Robbins, LL Cool J, Lindsay Lohan and Pharrell Williams, queued for hours to log their votes at the ballot box - with Democrat Barack Obama eventually being announced as the new president.
And Radcliffe was delighted to have witnessed the monumental scenes at the polls near New York University.
He tells the New York Post, "Barack Obama's treated like the Messiah in England.
"We don't have particularly inspirational politicians, certainly no one who can draw crowds in the thousands."
"We haven't had any wrap parties, which I think is sinful. We haven't got around to organising. We'll probably go out on holiday and do all the stuff the insurance hasn't covered like rock-climbing and hand gliding."
The actor admitted he had no qualms in signing up to play the world's most famous child wizard for the remaining Potter movies.
"I'm 19 now, and I still have the energy of a four-year-old," he said
"I don't have fatigue. For me, it would be very hard to see someone else do it - especially if he was cute. Also, I'd come this far."
Despite Daniel's enthusiasm for more Potter, 18-year-old Emma Watson, who plays Hermione, was apparently more hesitant to continue in her role.
"I completed my education and she was going into A-Levels," said Daniel.
"It's a hard decision to further your education. I totally understood. She really thought about it. She wanted to weigh her options. It would be two or three more years. It's not something to rush into lightly."
