Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Who's Amazing Life early and ad-free right now.
Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.
From Wondery, I'm Andrew Mayer, and this is Who's Amazing Life?
You've heard of people who changed the course of history, but before they made their mark on the world, they were people like you and me still figuring out what they wanted to do with their lives.
On this episode, you will be that person everyone knows.
You might be a musician or an athlete, a scientist or a painter.
You may know what the person accomplished later in life, but now you can experience everything they faced along the way, from challenges and heartbreak to triumphs and excitement.
All the moments that built this person into someone who could change the world.
There will be clues, so pay attention, but only at the end will you find out who you are.
So sit back and imagine your amazing life as the wizard.
Imagine you're eight years old.
You're sitting at your desk at school.
School has never been your favorite place, and right now you're in your least favorite class English.
At least it's the last class of the day.
You look around the room.
Everyone else is focused on writing their book reports.
You're supposed to be writing too, but you're having trouble concentrating, so you stare out the window instead.
It would be way more fun to run around and play outside with your friends.
Your teacher notices you daydreaming and snaps you back to attention.
What are you doing?
You should be writing.
The other students laugh, and you look down at your desk as your cheeks turn red.
That was embarrassing.
You're used to getting scolded by your teachers, but it still hurts every time.
You pick up your sheet of paper and try to focus.
You're not a big reader, so you didn't exactly finish the assignment.
What are you supposed to write about again?
You wish you'd just done the reading like you were supposed to.
But you have to turn in something.
So, with only a few minutes left of class, you grit your teeth and write as fast as you can.
You look back at your work.
Your handwriting is so jagged you can barely read the letters.
You set your pencil down in frustration.
When the class ends, everyone gets up, hands in their writing assignments, and runs out.
You race up to the teacher's desk to do the same.
Finally, the school day is over.
But before you can make it to the door... What is this?
You freeze.
Oh no, did you not write enough?
Did the teacher already figure out you didn't do your homework?
Look at this paper.
I can't even read it.
A five-year-old could have done better.
You wince and hang your head.
It feels like he's calling you stupid, and that stings.
But what hurts even more is you wonder if he's right.
School seems to come so easily to your classmates. but not to you.
You don't like most of your classes.
You get in trouble a lot for being restless.
You're tired of feeling like a failure at school.
Your mood lifts a little as you head home, because whenever you have a bad day, your parents always make you feel better.
They know there's more to you than your grades at school.
They encourage you to keep trying new things, even if you're not good at them right away.
Your teachers don't see how capable you are, but maybe that's because the things you're good at are outside of school.
Now, you just need to figure out what those things are.
Part of why school is so challenging for you is that you have a mild form of a neurological disorder called dyspraxia.
It makes movement and coordination harder for you, which is why your handwriting is messy.
Even tasks like tying your shoelaces can be tricky.
You know how to do it, but your hands often let you down.
This makes school all the more frustrating, and things don't get much better over the next year.
But when you're nine years old, your mom sits you down.
She's seen how sad you're feeling and wants to help.
She works in the film industry, and she heard about an upcoming audition for a TV series.
They're looking for a boy your age.
She can't influence if you get cast or not, but she can help you get an audition.
You were in a play at school, but you've never really acted before.
You're pretty sure you won't get the part, but you decide to go for it anyway.
It might be fun to audition.
To your surprise, you're cast in the role.
And when you get to set, everyone seems happy to have you there.
It's the total opposite of how you feel at school.
The other actors on the show have years of acting experience, so you know you're not the best.
But it doesn't matter, because you feel like you actually belong here.
You booked the role because of who you are and it feels really good to be valued for your skills instead of written off for what you can't do.
You'll take this over school any day.
You have such a good time filming that you decide to keep auditioning.
And when you're 10 years old, you get a really big audition.
It's for a lead role in a huge movie based on a super popular book series.
You're pretty sure you'd be a good fit for the part, but thousands of kids are auditioning.
You've finally found a place where you feel capable.
But what if it was a fluke?
What if others don't see it?
You're 11 years old, and it's a warm summer day.
Normally, you'd be playing outside, enjoying the weather.
But right now, you're stuck indoors in a stuffy hotel where you've been for the last three days.
That big movie audition you had?
You were cast in the lead role.
And ever since the news broke a few days ago, reporters and photographers have been camped outside of your home to try and get a glimpse of you.
So you've been hiding away in a hotel with your two other co-stars, who are both kids around your age.
Today is your first press conference.
You're not really sure what a press conference is, but from all the adults buzzing around you you can tell this is a really big deal.
Someone from the movie gathers you and your co-stars and leads you over to a door.
Showtime.
This is it, kids.
The world has been waiting to meet you three.
There's going to be a ton of reporters and photographers out there asking you lots of questions.
So, uh, try not to mess up.
You gulp.
What could they possibly ask?
What happens if you don't know the answers?
You're not sure if you can do this.
But then the door opens, and it's time for the press conference to begin.
There's no turning back now.
You're shuttled out into a large room.
Before you is a sea of reporters and harsh, bright lights.
It's hard to see from all the flashes of the cameras.
You walk onto a small stage and sit behind a table.
You fidget in your chair, unsure of where to look or what to do.
Then, reporters start asking the three of you questions.
To your surprise, it's nowhere near as scary as you imagined it would be.
You even manage to make the room laugh with some of your answers.
You feel yourself start to relax a little.
Okay, so maybe you can do this.
But then a reporter stands up and asks, So, do you know the bad guy's secret real name?
You freeze.
Your dad read these books to you, but it was a few years ago.
You don't remember much.
I don't know.
You should know this.
Your stomach twists into knots, and you search your mind for the answer.
Out of the corner of your eye, you notice your co-stars trying to slip you a piece of paper.
Clearly they've read the books.
Your mind goes numb.
What are you going to do?
It feels like you're at school again, and you didn't do the assignment.
Only this time.
If you mess it up, everyone in the world will know.
Your heart pounds as you stumble over your reply.
I read the first two books a long time ago and since then I have completely forgotten everything about it.
The reporters laugh and move on to their next question.
You give an awkward smile and make a mental plan to read the books later.
But the uneasy feeling in your chest lingers.
You listen to your co-stars answer questions like they've been doing this for years.
They seem so relaxed, so confident.
How are they doing it?
All you've ever wanted is to show that you are capable of doing something really well.
You thought you did it by booking this amazing role, but it turns out there's more to it than that.
It's not enough to prove that you're good enough to the casting directors or some reporters in a hotel.
Now you're going to have to prove it to the world.
A few weeks later, you start filming the movie.
Being back on set puts you at ease, and soon your worries melt away.
It feels so natural to play your character.
Like you, he was whisked away from an unhappy reality to a world where he belongs.
Plus, there are lots of other kids on set with you, so you make tons of new friends.
When the movie releases, it's a hit.
You're brought back for several more films in the series.
In each one, you get the opportunity to try new things you've never done before.
You have stunt doubles for things that are dangerous.
But you do get to tackle all sorts of new physical challenges, like scaling down buildings, riding a giant bus and flying on a broomstick.
You're really proud of how far you've come.
Your dyspraxia is still a part of your life, but you're no longer the little kid who struggles to tie his shoes or write a paper.
But as you prepare to film the fourth movie in the series, you learn about a new physical challenge, one that makes you really nervous.
You're going to have to act underwater.
You're 15 years old, standing in front of a giant water tank on set.
You try not to shiver, but all you're wearing is shorts and a t-shirt.
It's your costume for the day.
You stare down at the water, willing yourself to jump in.
You won't be alone, of course.
Around you is a whole team of scuba divers who will make sure you stay safe.
One of them comes up to you and helps you put on your diving equipment.
How are you feeling?
I'm nervous, but I think I'm ready.
I know you're ready.
You've been training for months to do this.
You nod anxiously.
Even though you're prepared, this feels intimidating.
This is a complicated scene to shoot, and it's going to take over 40 hours. underwater.
The director gives you the signal, and you plunge into the tank.
You take a moment to try and catch your breath.
When the cameras roll, you'll have to take off your scuba gear and perform without goggles and without air.
Maybe this was a mistake.
You're not sure you can do this.
Through the water, you hear the director.
You catch a glimpse of the director's face, and he gives you an encouraging thumbs up.
Then, it hits you.
You faced a lot of tough situations before this, and in each one you had moments where you doubted if you could do it.
But every single time, you've mastered the challenge.
And that's what you're going to do today.
Whip off your mask and air supply.
The icy water hits your face, and for a moment you have to fight the urge to swim to the surface.
But you quickly get into character and begin the scene.
As the cameras roll, you swim through the tank.
At first, it's easy to hold your breath.
But as the seconds pass, you can feel your air running out.
You think about signaling to one of the rescue divers nearby, but you keep going.
Your arms and legs ache.
Almost.
There!
You reattach your air supply and goggles and take in a deep breath.
Through the tank, you can see the director's wide grin and the crew applauding.
You did it!
One take down, dozens more to go.
It won't be easy, but now you know for sure that you can do it.
In some ways, it feels like you can do anything.
Over the course of 10 years you act in all eight Harry Potter movies, playing the beloved title character.
You continue to act in movies, and you perform on Broadway and London's West End.
Your work earns you nominations for a BAFTA Award, a Tony Award, an Emmy Award, and a Grammy Award.
When you're not acting, you're looking for opportunities to advocate for others.
In 2011, you get involved with the Trevor Project, which supports LGBTQ plus youth.
You are awarded a Trevor Hero Award and you continue to be an advocate for the LGBTQ plus community to this day by speaking out against discrimination.
You are Daniel Radcliffe.
If you like Who's Amazing Life, you can binge all episodes early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Prime members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music.
Before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey at wondery.com.
From Wondery, this is Who's Amazing Life.
This episode contains reenactments and dramatized details.
While we can't know exactly what was said, we use many sources when researching our stories.
Some that were particularly helpful include Entertainment Weekly, ABC News, and Screen Rant.
I'm your host, Andrew Mayer.
This episode was written by Julie Magruder, sound design by Lucas Siegel.
Additional audio assistance is by Sergio Enriquez.
Desi Blaylock and Matt Gant are our managing producers.
Our senior producers are Megan Begala, Ginny Bloom, and Jennifer Klein Walker.
Executive producers are Lauren Dee, Marshall Louis, and Aaron O'Flaherty for Wondery.
