Daniel Radcliffe's Reign as The Lesser Known King of Rom-Coms

Daniel Radcliffe stated in a red-carpet interview that he would like to work on romantic comedies in the future. This innocent comment started an unexpected online discussion, with some criticizing Radcliffe's ability as a romantic lead actor and pointing out that his smaller stature might be a problem.

It is reasonable for those who disagree with this view to claim that it is shallow and wrong to limit Radcliffe's romantic role potential to his stature. Drawing comparisons to Billy Crystal, who rose to prominence with iconic parts in romantic comedies such as ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ Radcliffe's charisma and acting ability ought to take centre stage rather than his build.

Radcliffe already showed his abilities in rom-coms, so the discussion about whether or not he is appropriate for these kinds of roles is a little outdated.

An actor gets pigeonholed after playing a legendary character for ten years, but Daniel Radcliffe has made a conscious effort to broaden his career. His versatility was on display when he stepped into Broadway with roles in shows like ‘Merrily We Roll Along’, ‘Equus’ and ‘How to Succeed in Business (Without Really Trying).' 

In addition, Radcliffe returned to the big screen, starring in horror movies including ‘Victor Frankenstein’, ‘Horns’ and ‘The Woman in Black’. In well-known studio films such as ‘Now You See Me 2’ and ‘The Lost City’, he accepted villainous supporting roles. Most famously, he performed as a farting corpse in the outlandish ‘Swiss Army Man’, which ultimately preserved Paul Dano's character.

Radcliffe has shown a broad range of interests and performance skills since Potter. But it was his genuine, modern portrayal of Wallace in ‘What If?’ that won over viewers' hearts. Wallace presents a difficult opening for the main character by adopting a pessimistic outlook on love and its possibilities early in the film. 

Despite this, Radcliffe can make Wallace pleasant by using his British heritage to give the part a sense of comfort. This choice supports the character and makes him more relatable. It also fits in with Radcliffe's background and the dry sense of humour that many Brits are known for.

– Farheen Ali