(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Daniel Radcliffe says he would have gone mad if he had appeared in the theatre production of Equus for too long.

The British star is best known for playing the title role in the Harry Potter film franchise, but is also carving out a career in the theatre. In 2008 he starred in a Broadway staging of Equus, playing a boy who has a pathological fascination with horses. While Daniel loved the role, he admits the drama did take its toll on him.

The 21-year-old has now returned to the New York stage, having landed the lead role of corporate climber J. Pierrepont Finch in a remake of 1961 Tony Award-winning musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. He is thrilled to be involved in the comedy, which opens this weekend.

This show is not as emotionally draining as Equus is, he told the BBC. I dont think I could have signed up for a show for such a length as this if it was like Equus, I think I would have gone mad.

Daniel is relishing the challenge of perfecting his singing and dancing skills. He is also enjoying playing a character so different from his other roles. The part was previously played by Matthew Broderick when a revival show was staged in 1995 and Daniel thinks he offers a new perspective on Finch because he is much younger.

The challenges for this are what you would think about first and foremost with a musical; the singing and dancing, he explained. Finch has generally been played by people in their 30s so for me one of the interesting things about this musical was playing the part because there is no reason why he shouldnt be 21. I think it makes him slightly more sympathetic for someone whose behaviour is so manipulative and so out of hand most of the time. You are willing to forgive him more and you dont see him as such an unpleasant person, you just say, Yes, but he is just young. (C) Cover Media