Daniel Radcliffe on what he looks for in roles now

Daniel Radcliffe says he is now actively looking for roles that push him out of his comfort zone and make him feel challenged.

The 36-year-old actor opened up about his preference in a recent interview, saying he now tries to take on work that “scares” him so he does not become too comfortable in his career.

“Every few years, I want to do something that really scares the s*** out of me," the Harry Potter alum told People. 

He made the comments while discussing his recent role in the Broadway production Every Brilliant Thing, a one-person play that involves strong audience interaction.

Radcliffe said he is most interested in roles where part of the character feels natural to him, but another part feels unfamiliar and difficult. He described that balance as the “sweet spot” that motivates him as an actor.

“You can get to phases in your career where you feel like you're a little too comfortable, and doing something you're afraid of jolts you out of your complacency. And this definitely is that for me.

He continued, “Whenever I find something where a part of sits very, very naturally for me and it feels like my voice and the character's voice are pretty close together, but there's also one element to it that is completely alien and completely outside my comfort zone, that's a real sweet spot for me."

He added that uncomfortable roles help him stay focused and avoid becoming complacent in his work.

"That's when I get excited as an actor and know I'm up for a challenge," he added.

Radcliffe also said he was initially unsure about doing a one-person show, but changed his mind because of the strong connection it creates with the audience.

 "I have not done something like this before. And to be honest, I had very little interest in doing something that would just be me on my own telling lines in front of an audience. It's the connection that this show makes you have with the audience is what made me want to do it.

Before each show, he would spend time speaking with audience members and involving them in the performance, which he said made the experience more open and engaging.