Daniel Radcliffe Talks Losing His Virginity, Sober Sex and Ongoing Engagement Rumors in Elle Magazine

25-year-old actor is preparing to make his rom-com debut in the film What If

By Alyssa Toomey Jul 24, 2014 6:46 PMTags
Daniel Radcliffe, 2013 OscarsJason Merritt/Getty Images

Daniel Radcliffe's days as Harry Potter are officially in the past. 

After catapulting to superstardom as the beloved boy wizard on the big screen, the 25-year-old actor has successfully shed his Hogwarts image, having acted in films such as Kill Your Darlings, stripped down onstage for the Broadway play Equusand, most recently, preparing to make his rom-com debut in the film What If, co-starringZoe Kazan

In a candid new interview with Elle magazine, the talented thesp, who was only 11 years old when he began filming the first Harry Potter flick, opens up about losing his virginity, staying sober and getting naked onscreen (safe to say he's all grown up). 

"I'm one of the few people who seem to have had a really good first time," the British stud confessed when asked if there was anything he would do differently about losing his virginity. 

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

"It was with somebody I'd gotten to know well," he recalled. "I'm happy to say I've had a lot better sex since then, but it wasn't as horrendously embarrassing as a lot of other people's were—like my friend who got drunk and did it with a stranger under a bridge." 

As a follow-up question, Radcliffe, who has been open about his previous struggles with alcohol abuse and began living a sober life in 2010, was asked if sex is better sans booze, and once again, he provided an honest response. 

"For some people sex might be better drunk, but for me—and the person I'm doing it with—it's much better sober," he said. 

The Woman in Black star—who is currently dating Erin Darke, his co-star in Kill Your Darlings—shot down the rumor that the two are engaged but did open up about his thoughts on marriage. 

NEWS: Daniel Radcliffe talks about past alcohol abuse

"I sort of go back and forth on it," he admitted when asked if he believes in saying "I do." "It seems like the most romantic thing you can do is stand up in front of all your friends and say that you love this person." 

While Radcliffe may be taking a few relationship hints from his upcoming flick, he will also shed his clothes to skinny-dip in the film, and, as evidenced by Equus, the actor is no stranging to stripping down. 

So has he always been comfortable with nudity? 

"No," he confessed before adding, "I mean, I'm fairly comfortable with it. There's something to be said for getting naked onstage when you're 17. I was f--king terrified then."