Daniel Radcliffe conquers alcoholism, is named Entertainer of the Year

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who recently kicked an alcohol addiction, has been named the 2011 Entertainer of the Year.

In the cover preview unveiled Dec. 7, 2011, Entertainment Weekly wrote:

Having captivated moviegoers around the world with the last installment of the Harry Potter series, Daniel Radcliffe earned the number one spot on our list of the most talented and original performers who entertained us this year.

To date, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 has grossed a stunning $1.3 billion worldwide since its July 2011 release.

Combined, the eight Harry Potter films have earned over $7.1 billion at the worldwide box office.

Two Years of Dance Training For Broadway

The versatile Radcliffe, 22, has also been earning raves for his singing and dancing talents.

In 2008, Daniel made his Broadway debut in the play Equus. He returned to Broadway in March 2011, in the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

For How to Succeed In Business, Radcliffe underwent two years of intense vocal and dance training in London and NYC.

While Radcliffe has pushed boundaries before, like when he did a full-frontal nude scene for Equus on stage every night, the grueling dance training was physically and mentally exhausting.

"With the dance, particularly, there were some days when I was just so tired halfway through," Daniel recounted.

"There was one time when I was in my dance class and we were like two-and-a-quarter hours in and I just have 45 minutes left, and I was like, 'How am I going to get through the last 45 minutes of this lesson.' "

Became Dependent on Alcohol to Be Happy

Radcliffe, who became a global sensation after being cast as Harry Potter at age 11, says he began binge-drinking whiskey and partying until all hours shortly after he turned 18.

Daniel quickly realized that drinking around the clock made him feel worse, so he stopped cold turkey in August 2010, and is enjoying his newfound clarity.

While co-star Emma Watson says she never suspected Radcliffe had a drinking problem, Daniel says his increasingly self-destructive behaviors led him to stop.

"I stopped drinking in August last year, right after I turned 21," Daniel recounts. "I suppose it (alcohol) was something to make myself interesting and make myself enjoy my life, I did become very reliant on it.

"And I think there's a moment when you realize that something that's actually ultimately very destructive has crept into being a routine, so that was the moment I decided that the amount I was drinking had led me to become unhappy. So I stopped with the help of friends and family."