In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Daniel Radcliffe – best known for playing the world’s most famous wizard in the Harry Potter franchise – was quizzed on everything from fitness to fatherhood, and Fantasy Football to The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, his latest film with SNL alum Tracy Morgan.
Within the article, headlined ‘Daniel Radcliffe Is a Fitness Freak’, the 36-year-old British actor opened up about his morning routine, adjusting to life as a father and, perhaps most interestingly, offered a rare insight into his exercise habits.
Speaking to the WSJ, Radcliffe framed his continued passion for training – he got so ripped in 2023 that he was rumoured to be playing Wolverine, though the physique was actually for his role as Weird Al Yankovich – against his past struggles with alcohol, a familiar redirection for those who have battled addiction and depressive episodes.
‘I do weights, circuit training [and] cardio,’ he said. ‘I don’t look like a person who would be a fitness freak, but I’m pretty intense about it.’ As Radcliffe explained, channelling his ‘addictive personality’ into health and fitness, rather than harmful habits, had a profound impact on his wellbeing.
‘I feel like I’m a cliché of a former alcoholic,’ he continued, ‘or anyone who had any kind of addictive personality and then switched that addiction to being about the gym.’
In the same interview, Radcliffe also explained how he gave up smoking. ‘I used to run on coffee and cigarettes all day,’ he said. ‘Then, I gave up smoking. Now I just run on coffee all day.’
His all-or-nothing approach to fitness is nothing new. Speaking to Vanity Fair about the Wolverine rumours, Radcliffe said: ‘I got buff because I am obsessive, and I want to.’ He added, ‘You've seen my parents, they’re like insane fitness people. So that’s just been passed on.’
Ed Cooper is the former Deputy Digital Editor at Men’s Health UK, writing and editing about anything you want to know about — from tech to fitness, mental health to style, food and so much more. Ed has run the MH gauntlet, including transformations, marathons and er website re-designs. He’s awful at pub sports, though. Follow him: @EA_Cooper
