Harry Potter smokes and strips

London (Reuters): Teenage film star Daniel Radcliffe threw off Harry Potter's invisibility cloak to appear naked on a London stage in the psychological thriller Equus. Radcliffe, who found fame as the young wizard in the Potter films, plays a troubled stable boy who ritualistically blinds horses in a production that has caused a flurry of excitement among his hordes of teenage fans. Radcliffe confessed afterwards to first night nerves but said he had no qualms about baring all after two weeks of doing the play in previews. ''After the first couple of previews, I didn't really care anymore,'' he told Reuters Television. Asked about all the publicity over his nude scenes, he said ''It all seemed to imply the nudity was gratuitous which it isn't at all.'' He won a standing ovation on opening night at London's Gielgud Theatre and fellow actors who came to watch were full of praise for his courage in taking on such a gruelling role.I am so impressed with his choice of play and the career Daniel Radcliffe is having,''

Hollywood star Christian Slater told Reuters, "You could hear a pin drop in the auditorium when 17-year-old Radcliffe performed his naked scene with actress Joanna Christie, who plays his girlfriend. ''It is an incredible part for a young actor. He is taking a big risk,'' British actor Richard E. Grant said. Not since Nicole Kidman bared all in ''The Blue Room'' in 1998 and was hailed as ''pure theatrical Viagra'' has so much hype greeted stage nudity in London with publicity photos of Radcliffe helping to ensure two million pounds in advance sales. Pottermania struck at the stage door with fans clamouring for autographs at performances of Peter Shaffer's play, first produced in 1973.

Henry Radcliffe & Joanna Christiein The Equus The Harry Potter star, Radcliffe, 17, puffs on a cigarette during a special performance of his new show, Equus, the Daily Mail newspaper reports. Amanda Sandford from anti-smoking organisation ASH, said: "It is regrettable that he is smoking, whatever the circumstances. He is a role model for young people and if he decided to take up smoking in real life that would be of great concern," the paper reported. Radcliffe could be putting his health at risk, she claimed. "Even though it is an act, nicotine is highly addictive and he could find himself hooked," Mrs Sandford said.

But did fans of the clean-cut boy wizard object to their hero smoking, swearing and appearing naked on stage? Radcliffe said: ''We have had some pretty hardcore fans at the stage door and they have all been very supportive and lovely about it.'' But Radcliffe, who has had voice coaching and worked out in the gym in preparation, at least has one familiar face on stage. The role of the psychiatrist who treats the tortured boy is performed by Richard Griffiths, the portly British actor who plays Potter's vile Uncle Vernon in the Potter films.

Griffiths said of Radcliffe's performance ''You keep forgetting he is only 17. He handles himself with such aplomb.'' However one famous face was missing on opening night -- JK Rowling, author of the Potter books that became a global publishing phenomenon before being turned into box office hits. But Radcliffe said ''She is is coming to see it at some point. I don't think she objected in any way. She was very happy to see me going off and doing something else." With the play due to open on Tuesday, the other talking point to emerge from the show's previews has been the first signs of facial hair on the baby-faced actor. He was photographed leaving the theatre, sporting the first signs of a beard.