Boy wizard Daniel Radcliffe turns 24 today

Daniel Radcliffe who turns 24 today has come ahead of his boy wizard days.

The Harry Potter star now claims to be modelling his acting career on Dustin Hoffman and wants to play a James Bond baddie.

He is currently winning laurels from theatre critics for the Martin McDonagh play The Cripple of Inishmaan that has him sporting a super skinny look.

Currently playing at the Noel Coward theatre in London, in the play, Radcliffe takes on the role of a 17-year-old orphan who tries to escape his unhappy life when a Hollywood film crew arrives in town.

Daniel also won critical plaudits for his screen appearance this year. He played controversial gay poet Allen Ginsberg in the indie film Kill Your Darlings.

He will next be seen in supernatural thriller Horns which has been directed by The Hills Have Eyes director Alexandre Aja. The film will see the actor in a darker role as his character wakes up one day to find himself accused of his girlfriend's rape and murder.

The actor has also signed his first romantic comedy titled The F Word which is slated to come out next year. The movie is based on the play Toothpaste And Cigars by TJ Dawe and Michael Rinaldi and Daniel plays the lead role.

He also has his hands full with other projects such as Tokyo Vice and a yet untitled Frankenstein film.

Daniel Radcliffe is reportedly single after he split with girlfriend Rosie Coker in October 2012 after a two year relationship.

He was then rumoured to be dating his Kill Your Darlings co-star Erin Darke. And in the middle of those speculations, he was also snapped with a mystery brunette on a night out early this year.

Daniel Jacob Radcliffe was born on July 23, 1989 in West London, England to Alan Radcliffe, a literary agent and casting agent Marcia Gresham. Young Daniel began performing at the age of five in small school productions. At the age of 10, the actor bagged the lead role as young David Copperfield in BBC's televised two-part adaptation of the Charles Dicken's novel. Later he earned a small role in the film The Tailor Of Panama starring Pierce Brosnan.

In 2000, producer David Heyman asked Daniel to audition for the main role of Harry Potter for the film adaptation of JK Rowling's bestselling novel. Initially his parents were reluctant to send their little boy for auditions but later agreed. Chris Columbus, the director of the first instalment of the blockbuster series, Harry Potter And the Philosopher's Stone, had also seen him in David Copperfield. After several auditions, Daniel finally earned the role which paved his way to stardom.

There was no looking back for this boy of 11 as the first Potter film hit theatres. Daniel not only received instant fame but also had a huge fan following across the globe. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone was an instant box office hit, earning approximately $1 billion worldwide. Daniel Radcliffe received positive reviews from both the audience and the critics.

Each Harry Potter movie drew in record-breaking crowd at theatres around the world. By the end of the fourth film, Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azakaban in 2004, Daniel became the second richest teenager, with 6 million pounds in Britain, after Prince Harry.

Apart from the Harry Potter films, Daniel also starred in the 2007 film December Boys. He also acted in two critically acclaimed plays, Equus and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He appeared in the horror film The Woman in Black in 2011, after hanging up his wand and cloak.

The actor studied in Sussex House School in Chelsea, London followed by City of London School. When it became difficult for him to attend school as well as show up for shooting, he continued his education through tutors. After competing his A-levels, the actor took a break from studies and did not attend college or university.

Daniel Radcliffe has received several awards for his Harry Potter role. The actor has also bagged awards for his plays.

The actor is actively involved in social activities and has significantly contributed in charities like Demelza House Children's Hospice and The Trevor Project, which gave him the 'Hero Award' in 2011.

In January 2012, the actor announced that he was in a relationship with production assistant Rosie Coker whom he met on the sets of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The two called it splits in October 2012.

We wish Daniel Radcliffe a very happy birthday