Actor Daniel Radcliffe solemnly swears that he’s been up to no good … in the weight room. The Harry Potter superstar made rounds on social media, accompanying promotional material for the TBS comedy-drama Miracle Workers series finale.
Miracle Workers wrapped its fourth season on TBS on Aug. 28, 2023. and Radcliffe has clearly been working his magic in the gym to make the final episode memorable. Sporting chiseled abs, capped delts, and a pristine pair of tighty-whities, Radcliffe can be seen howling on camera. His role of Sid is described as a “post-apocalyptic wasteland warrior,” according to reporting by People.
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Fitness Wizardry
Radcliffe is far from the first actor to embark on a physique transformation for a pivotal role in one of their productions. Sporting a visible six-pack and chiseled pecs, Radcliffe joins the likes of Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, Mark Wahlberg, and Zac Efron — celebrities known for showing up and showing off on the big screen.
Speaking to E! Online in 2016, Radcliffe credits his initial commitment to fitness to his longtime girlfriend, Erin Darke:
“It’s not that we work out a lot, but when we do, we always get photographed … I have put on a little more muscle,” Radcliffe says. His assertion isn’t a magic trick, either. There’s tangible science behind committing to a fitness routine alongside your significant other.
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One study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships argued that “when people exercised with their romantic partner, they experienced higher positive affect … and were more satisfied.” (1)
Committing to an exercise routine with a partner who shares similar goals may improve adherence and results. It’s easier to hit the gym to gain muscle, burn fat, or make better nutritional choices when someone is in your corner.
Radcliffe in Character
Radcliffe may have initially achieved worldwide superstardom for his iconic portrayal of the titular Harry Potter in the 2000s, but his post-Hogwarts career has been anything but childish. At 34, Radcliffe has committed to a wide array of performances in theater and on the silver screen.
On the awards circuit, his most recent accolade includes strong acclaim for his portrayal of satirical musician “Weird Al” Yankovic in the biographical feature Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2023). Radcliffe bagged a win in the Best Actor / Limited Series or Television Movie category at the 2023 Critics’ Choice Television Awards for Weird.
In the years prior, Radcliffe has also pushed himself across a variety of esoteric roles in indie darling features like Guns Akimbo (2019), Swiss Army Man (2016), Imperium (2016), and Horns (2013). He may be comfortable taking his persona to the brink for roles, but his underwear-only performance in Miracle Workers is Radcliffe’s first real foray into physical transformations.
The closing episode of Miracle Workers showed Radcliffe has the physical and performative chops for any role. Where Radcliffe will take his charmingly disarming physique next following the eventual resolution of the ongoing strike of SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America (WGA) is anyone’s guess.
References
- Sackett-Fox, K., Gere, J., & Updegraff, J. A. (2021). Better together: The impact of exercising with a romantic partner. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(11), 3078–3096.
Featured Image: @people on Instagram | photo by Tyler Golden, TBS
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