More Wizard Hazards For Harry

It's year four at the Hogwarts School and Harry Potter is facing the problems that any teenage wizard might face. Not only is Harry looking for a date for the big school dance, but someone has mysteriously put his name in the competition for the dangerous Triwizard Tournament.

"Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" departs from the previous films Radcliffe tells The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.

"The first two are sort of about the strength of everything: the strength of relationships, the strength of how Harry sees everything, and the strength of his relationship with Dumbledore, his protector. And the fourth film is about all of that weakening," Radcliffe says. "Harry's relationship with Ron is very shaken, and Harry realizes Dumbledore won't be able to protect him. And he views 'Mad-Eye' Moody (Brendan Gleeson) as a friend, and it sort of turns. And girls, too, which doesn't help any guy's life, and he doesn't know what to say."

Not only does Harry have to contend with the return of his immortal enemy, face death in the Triwizard Tournament and contend with a meddling reporter and a backlash from his peers, he's got to find a date for the Yule Ball dance.

"That's what I love about Harry. He's completely and utterly pathetic with girls," Radcliffe says. "He doesn't know what to say or do and, through that, I am standing up for any guy who has ever had an awkward moment with a girl, which is any man ever."

In real life, one would think Radcliffe does not have those kinds of problems but he does.

"I never know what to say. I'm better now," he says, "but when I was 14, I was slightly better than Harry, but not much, because I kept thinking, 'I just have to say things, and the more you try to be clever, the more you look stupid.' Everyone goes through it. For some, it lasts forever and for some lucky people it lasts a month."

If you think Harry and Hermione (Emma Watson) will end up together, think again says Radcliffe. "I think it's probably going to be Hermione and Ron (Rupert Grint)."

As for the Triwizard Tournament, one champion is selected from each of the three largest and most prestigious wizarding schools to compete in a series of life-threatening tasks dealing with dragons, merpeople and grindylows, in pursuit of winning the coveted Triwizard Cup. And at 14, Harry is three years too young to enter. But mysteriously his name is put in the Goblet and he is the one chosen. The Goblet's decision is binding, and he must compete.

And though this film is darker, Radcliffe says: "It's not particularly gory, there's not any bloodiness in it, really, but it's very intense. It's very, very dark and we sort of say every year the films get darker, but they absolutely do. We have gone even further toward the darkness in this film. But in a way, I think the fans of the books would have been disappointed if we hadn't gone that way. You have to be true to the books."
Several years into filming "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in 2001, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" in 2002, and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" in 2004, Radcliffe says he thrives on portraying the character.

"I sort of have taken it more seriously," he says. "It's become more interesting and exciting. The first time I was having a great time, and it was fun, and it was good laugh, great time. But now, as I start to take it more seriously, it's actually become more exciting to do. As Harry's character gets more complex, it's more interesting as well."

Fast Facts About Daniel Radcliffe:

• In December 1999 Radcliffe first appeared on British television when he played the young David Copperfield in BBC television's highly acclaimed production of "David Copperfield." The drama, directed by Simon Curtis, also starred Dame Maggie Smith who appears alongside him now as Professor McGonagall.
• In 2001, prior to filming the first Harry Potter feature, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," he made his feature film debut as Jamie Lee Curtis' and Geoffrey Rush's screen son in John Boorman's "The Tailor of Panama."
• In February of 2002 he received worldwide acclaim and the Variety Club of Great Britain's Best Newcomer Award.
• In April 2002 he was honored with the prestigious David Di Donatello Award, presented by Italy's Ente David Di Donatello for his superb portrayal of Harry and for his contribution to the future of cinema.
• In November and December of 2002 he was also the "Surprise Guest" at several performances of the Olivier Award-winning comedy "The Play What I Wrote," directed by Kenneth Branagh at Wyndhams Theatre in London's West End.
• In his spare time, Radcliffe's main interests continue to be movies and music, particularly rock and indie British bands.