Daniel Radcliffe asks for mandatory therapy for children on film sets

Daniel Radcliffe said therapy should be mandatory for child actors on film sets. Hinted that the upcoming Harry Potter series may introduce stronger mental health support.

Daniel Radcliffe, best known for playing the young wizard in the Harry Potter film franchise, has said therapy should be mandatory for child actors working on film and television sets. The British star argued that structured mental health support could help young performers cope with the pressures of fame and demanding work environments.

Speaking in a recent interview with Bustle, Radcliffe said therapy for child actors should be normalised and introduced early. “Some sort of mandated therapy would probably be a really, really great thing. Normalise it. Start therapy before you need it,” he said, emphasising that many young performers struggle to speak openly about mental health despite their success.

Radcliffe began filming Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone at the age of 11 and rose to global fame alongside co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

During the interview, Radcliffe reflected on the unpredictable nature of growing up in the entertainment industry. He said a child actor’s long-term well-being often depends on circumstance and support systems.

“Being a child actor is a thing like whether you make it out with a good frame of mind is so much luck,” he said, adding that he was fortunate to have supportive parents and colleagues on set.

Radcliffe also pointed to several tragic stories involving young performers in recent years, suggesting that structured mental health support could help prevent similar situations in the future.