Exercise helped Daniel Radcliffe stay off booze

"Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe turned into a gym fanatic in a bid to stay off booze. He says he has not had an alcoholic beverage in three years.

The 26-year-old actor used to go on "epic five-hour walks" whenever he was tempted to have a drink, reports telegraph.co.uk.

He is now on a strict daily fitness regime which sees him working out in the gym and going running.

"Like the cliche of anybody who is quitting something, I really got into exercise," he said.

Radcliffe spent most of his childhood in the public eye, becoming the face of one of the most successful film franchises of all time after a decade making the "Harry Potter" films. He became one of Britain's richest actors in the process and is worth an estimated 74 million pounds.

"I change when I'm drunk. I'm one of those people who changes. There is something in any person who drinks in a way that's clearly not good for them, something that is attracted to that chaos," he said.

The actor added: "I can't tell you what kind of drunk I am because I don't remember what kind of drunk I am. I think I'm probably great - while I'm conscious. But then I have to be looked after and ultimately I don't want to wake up to 20 text messages along the lines of 'Where are you? Dude, are you Okay?''"

He first decided to give up drinking six years ago, but ended up suffering a relapse.

However, the actor claims not to have touched a drop in three years and that he is in a better place now.

"I feel a lot more settled mentally, and am more comfortable with what makes me happy."

--IANS

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