Harry Potter ditches the glasses and his clothes
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2007 11:07
Potter will be ditching the glasses
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is set to wow his legion of adolescent fans with his new look for the stage.
Radcliffe is appearing in Equus in the West End and, with the opening at the Gielgud Theatre set for next month, pre-publicity shots of the young star without his top on have sparked both admiration and concern.
Equus' producer David Pugh revealed director Thea Sharrock had been among the first to comment on the film star's physique.
He explained: "We had never seen him with clothes off before. We all went, 'wow'. Thea went, 'Oh my God.'"
And Pugh added the confidence in his appearance extended to a belief in his acting ability, as Radcliffe looks to escape the typecast of a bespectacled wizard.
"With the performances that I've witnessed, when that boy takes his shirt off, Harry Potter has flown out of Hogwarts for good," he said.
Radcliffe has already begun branching out from the phenomenally successful British film series, appearing in Ricky Gervais' comedy series Extras.
However, some parents have expressed their displeasure at the sight of Harry Potter disrobing, claiming it set a bad example for young children who see him as a role model.
Nevertheless, with the fifth film out this year and only seven books scheduled, Radcliffe will be keen to ensure he has a future after the films come to a close.