10 Amazing Performances That Turned Teen Idols Into Legitimate Actors

8. Daniel Radcliffe - Equus

OK, so this one isn't a film performance like the rest of the others on the list, so it was difficult to include considering the fact that the vast majority of people couldn't even see it. But in terms of impact on career, Equus is probably the second most important role Daniel Radcliffe's ever done. Back then, he was just Harry Potter, and at the time everyone was wondering if he would emerge from the shadow of that legendary fictional character, or be crushed under its weight. His first non-Harry Potter role had to be chosen carefully, to prove to the world that he was more than just a boy wizard. On that front, Equus succeeded completely. It's pretty hard to find a role less like Harry Potter than a mentally unstable teenager with a predilection for blinding horses. This is Daniel Radcliffe making a statement, saying that he is interested in pursuing acting as an adult and not afraid of taking roles that will challenge him. Fast forward a few years, and his risky choice that could have alienated fans has instead paid off in spades. Now in his mid 20s, there's no question of his ability to cast off Harry Potter and find his own place in the Hollywood world.