Daniel Radcliffe’s son has started to recognize his dad on television, but he still does not understand why millions of other people recognize him too.
The actor shared the funny parenting moment in a new PEOPLE interview while discussing his Broadway run in Every Brilliant Thing. Radcliffe said his 3-year-old son recently saw him appear in a commercial for the play after Radcliffe had just walked out of the room.
The child recognized him as “Dada,” but the moment did not mean he understood acting, celebrity, or the career that made Radcliffe famous.
His Son Recognized Him, But Not the Fame
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Radcliffe said his son looked at the screen and seemed briefly confused because his father had just left the room.
The actor said his son has not watched his work and is still far from understanding what Radcliffe does for a living. For now, Radcliffe is not trying to explain the full scope of Harry Potter, Broadway, or global fame to a preschooler.
The story is funny because Radcliffe became famous as a child himself. He spent years playing Harry Potter in one of the most recognizable film franchises in the world, but at home, his son still mostly knows him as dad.
Radcliffe Wants to Delay the Fame Conversation
Radcliffe and his longtime partner, actress Erin Darke, welcomed their son in April 2023 and have kept his name private.
In the PEOPLE interview, Radcliffe said he wants to keep his son away from the idea of fame for as long as possible.
That does not mean Radcliffe is against his son being around creative work. He has previously said he would be happy for his child to grow up around film sets and discover behind-the-scenes jobs, but he does not want fame itself to become part of the child’s life too early.
Fatherhood Has Changed His Daily Life
Radcliffe has spoken warmly about becoming a parent. In a 2023 Entertainment Tonight interview, he described fatherhood as intense and wonderful, and said he felt lucky to have time at home with his son after taking a break from work.
His latest comments suggest that the line between public actor and private parent is still important to him.
Radcliffe knows what it means to become famous young. His son is growing up near show business, but Radcliffe is trying to keep the fame part out of the room for now.
Every Brilliant Thing Put Him Back in Front of Broadway Audiences
The family story came as Radcliffe was discussing Every Brilliant Thing, the interactive solo play that brought him back to Broadway.
The production’s official website lists the show as Tony-nominated for Best Revival of a Play and Best Leading Actor in a Play for Radcliffe. He finished his run on May 24.
Mariska Hargitay stepped into the role on May 26, and Tracee Ellis Ross is scheduled to take over from July 7 for 40 performances.