Although his parents are closely related to entertainment field due to their occupations, Daniel Jacob Radcliffe actually had been kept from the show business since he was still at such a young age. Being a literary agent of ICM and a casting agent, Alan and Marcia Gresham Radcliffe probably just wanted their only child to spend his life normally like other children did. Nevertheless, little Daniel's love to acting was unstoppable despite the discouragement as he was eagerly involved in the stage productions of his school. Looking upon his enthusiasm, the couple eventually softened and allowed him to enter the film industry. Marcia even helped her son to send his picture to BBC television for the audition of "David Copperfield" in which Daniel later earned the role of young Copperfield in 1999.

Born on July 23, 1989 in Fulham, London, Daniel was merely ten years old in 1999, yet his talent was clearly visible to everyone, including Kate Harwood, the producer of "David Copperfield." "He has a particular quality of naturalness and innocence," she complimented. "The camera really loves him, and other children don't feel threatened by him. One normally dreads working with child actors, but in his case he was wonderful. We cast him for his special qualities of gentleness and watchfulness. He has those in spades. He has a great deal of charm and simplicity." Perhaps it was this quality within him that led this adorable young actor to be in the cast of his big screen debut, "The Tailor of Panama" (2001), starring alongside Hollywood notable actors, such as Pierce Brosnan and Geoffrey Rush.

The year of 2000 was indeed a turning point in Daniel's life as he entered an audition which looked for the suitable boy to portray Harry Potter. Previously suggested to join the competition by his father's friend, he made director Chris Columbus startled. "Dan walked into the room and we all knew we had found Harry," Columbus recalled. Furthermore, the writer of the phenomenal book series, J.K Rowling, had also given her approval to him to play Harry Potter as she commented: "Having seen Daniel's screen test, I don't think Chris Columbus could have found a better Harry." Without further consideration, Daniel was officially included in the cast of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001), along with other fresh young actors, like Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.

Since "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was the film in which Daniel gained his first leading role, he experienced various kinds of emotions upon seeing the movie. "It's really good - it's quite scary, it's quite emotional. Even I cried and I don't cry easily! I cried at the end credits when my name came up, and I was, like, Oh my God! I can't believe that's my name! I've met so many people since we started filming and it's been wonderful. I've progressed so far and changed so much since the beginning. It's been like a real journey." The film itself turned out to be a glorious success, striving to be one of the top box-office films of the year. With the large income of 317.6 million U.S. dollars, the film entered the top 20 of all-time U.S. blockbusters. This attainment undoubtedly made Daniel became extremely popular as well as gained huge fans around the world.

Daniel afterwards continued filming the sequel, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" in the following year. By this time, he had risen as one of the most promising young actors of the era. His pictures were found on the covers of numerous magazines while he also appeared in the famous television shows, namely: "The Oprah Winfrey Show", "The Rosie O'Donnell Show", and "The Today Show." Obtaining achievement in the big screen, Daniel ventured to stage production in the same year. During November and December, he made several performances as the surprise guest in "The Play What I Wrote" (2002) directed by Kenneth Branagh at Wyndhams Theatre in London's West End.

In 2003, he was reported by London tabloid, The Daily Mail, to have intention to quit the Harry Potter series. It was because he was afraid that his activity in acting might distract his study at the famed private all-boys school City of London School. Concerning the report, there were many denials issued by the insiders at the studio, but Dainel simply answered by making fabulous performance in the second sequel, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004). He went on filming the next series "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and finished the process in March 2005. "My enthusiasm has absolutely not gone down," he confirmed, proving that he would still stay in the cast. Starring in a drama flick entitled "December Boys" (2006), he gave an assurance that he would show up in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (2007).

Nevertheless, it appeared that there were still doubts on Daniel's return as the young wizard in the final two installments of the franchise, particularly after he delivered an against-type performance in a revival of Peter Shaffer's play "Equus" opening February 27, 2007 at London's West End on February. Many rumored that Warner Bros. Pictures, the studio holding the film rights to Harry Potter series, had been upset due to his decision to appear nude in one scene of the play and opted to not have him back for the movies. All in the end were proven untrue as the striking teen eventually inked deals to continue playing Potter in both "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (2008) and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" (2010).

Beyond his acting career, Daniel has been noticed for his concern over the world matters. Actively involved in doing charity to Demelza House Children's Hospice in Sittingbourne, Kent, he participated in a video entitled "Mind Reading: the Interactive Guide to Emotion" (2002) to help autistic children develop a facial and vocal expression dealing with emotions. He also took part in raising funds for the Tsumani victims and contributed his autograph to support the establishment of Kamp Kiwanis, a facility for the disabled and underprivileged children. Despite his young age, Daniel indeed possesses a big warm heart, and this certainly makes him one of the unusual and exceptional young actors that is worthy to be looked at.