not too much

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has upset some parents of Potter fans by taking part in a stage performance of Peter Shaffer's play Equus at London's Gielgud Theatre. Publicity photos for the play show Radcliffe, 17, topless and buffed. He plays Strang, a troubled stablehand who one night blinds six horses with a hoofpick. The publicity shots were taken between filming of the fifth and sixth Harry Potter movies.

Equus, by Peter Shaffer, is the story of Dysart, a psychiatrist, who attempts to help a young man, Strang, who has an odd fascination with horses. As Dysart exposes the truths behind the boy's demons, he finds himself face-to-face with his own.

Shaffer wrote Equus after hearing of a crime in which a teenage boy mutilated some horses. He play portrays what might have caused the crime. Randy Harrison, who starred in the play in 2005, described Equus as "one of the most significant English-language plays of the past 30 years. Anybody who hasn't seen it or read it needs to, if they care at all about theater or literature."

Equus first opened at the National Theatre in 1973, before transferring to the West End and Broadway for record-breaking runs. It won the 1975 Tony Award for Best Play, and in 1977 was made into a film starring Richard Burton as Dysart and Peter Firth (then 24) as Strang. Firth had played Strang on Broadway and in London, winning a 1975 Theatre World Award. The male nudity in the film was notable and controversial, but the film is far more important for its powerful performances and Schaffer's challenging drama. It received a number nominations and awards, but some argue that the play was not well transferred to film.

Here Firth is rehearsing the Strang role for the theatre production of Equus.


Daniel Radcliffe could easily have chosen some post-Potter pap for the next step in his career. Instead, he is to be applauded for taking on such a challenging role for his West End stage debut.

And as he said to The Independent "I couldn't do it with my pants on. That would be rubbish." Err . . . quite.

To tell you the truth I don’t know what the fuss is about, when parents who do like child is the same age or earlier. The son or daughter will want to feel about their own sexuality. So daniel is doing it on stage; it could be you up there son or daughter and you will be saying well it is only a job. So I think people should be getting a grip on life. They are losing the plot a bit. Little people, grow up.
Greg () (URL) - 03 02 07 - 08:37

Bravo to Daniel for taking such a huge professional risk! If it works out, his acting career could be in clover for years to come. If it doesn’t, I think the next time we’ll see him is in 15 years on “Where Are They Now?”

(Compare photos of, e.g., Corey Haim today and 20 years ago and you’ll see what I mean.)
Pisco Sours () (URL) - 05 02 07 - 21:40

I think Daniel should have taken a risk like this to show the world he’s not afraid of what others say about him. He has grown up to understand what it is to be an actor who is in it for the art not just for the fame. I have read the play and understand it and really glad that he could do so well in it.
My bravo goes out to Daniel for a job well done.
Thanks Renee
Renee F. () - 26 01 08 - 19:27

Hi.. I’ve been a huge fan of Daniel’s since the first time i watched Harry Potter and the…...

I saw a ‘lil Harry, ‘til the 5th.. He grew up fast, got a spectacular body (than he used to be).. Everything’s changing so quick..

Well I didn’t know what His up to in this theatre, but as a brother (It’d be great if..), i felt a deep shock.. Gosh, what’s happening with a boy?? He was naked for a theatre.. Deeply shock!! But, what can I say..?? Maybe He felt like He wanted to be a real man, with showing up his entire body.. You got look Daniel, but it seems like I didn’t like it you to be naked like this.. I believe that you’d look better if you put on your undies, rather than to be naked.. (if you want to be look hot.. hahaha.. =)}

But I’m proud of ypu brother, maybe next you can be a pornstar… Can’t wait to see if that’s happen..
Will. i .am - 14 03 08 - 12:48