Daniel Radcliffe’s Blunt Advice for Stranger Things Stars: Do Whatever You Want

Daniel Radcliffe doesn’t usually dish out industry secrets, but when he does, it’s blunt and kind of refreshing. Case in point: he recently shared the advice he gave the younger cast of Stranger Things, and honestly, it’s pretty much what you’d hope to hear from the guy who survived a decade of wizarding insanity.

Radcliffe's Message for the Stranger Things Crew

So here's what happened: Radcliffe sat down with Josh Horowitz, and the conversation drifted to the now-very-famous Stranger Things cast. Turns out, he met a few of the show’s young stars and, in classic Daniel fashion, told them:

'Do whatever the f**k you want. You have done the thing. You now have the most amazing jumping-off platform.'

Not exactly Hogwarts-approved language, but you get the point. Once you’ve landed a hit like Stranger Things (or, let's get real, Harry Potter), you’ve got a level of freedom most actors can only dream about.

What Gaten Matarazzo Is Actually Doing

Radcliffe mentioned Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin on Stranger Things) as a perfect example. You might think these decisions are all ultra-strategic—some big five-year career plan—but nope, Gaten’s out there doing Sondheim musicals and quirky movies like that 'Pizza' flick with Nick and Bryant. Why? Because he wants to. And, as Radcliffe puts it, that’s the whole point if you kick off your career with a hit series.

The Freedom (and Limits) of Being a Franchise Star

Let’s be honest: most actors don’t ever get this much control. Radcliffe knows this. According to him (and again, he’s not sugarcoating it), having money in the bank and a fanbase from something like Harry Potter means you can say yes to weird projects or bucket-list plays instead of chasing every job just to pay the rent.

• He argues this kind of autonomy is rare—it just doesn’t last forever, even for the most iconic former child stars.
• His advice? Use that window while it’s open—try the things you care about, take a few risks, and, as he puts it, 'make hay while the sun shines.'

If you’re wondering whether Josh Horowitz thought this was too idealistic, he didn’t. He agreed: once you aren’t scrambling for rent money, you might as well chase the creative stuff that actually matters to you.

Bottom Line

Radcliffe’s message was straightforward, and, considering how many former franchise kids get stuck doing the same roles forever, probably worth repeating: get your big break, then use it to have fun. You’re not always going to be in the spotlight, but for a little while, you get to steer the ship. Might as well enjoy it.