This interview of Daniel Radcliffe is wonderful. It reminded me of this line that’s been rattling in my head: “We’re all stumbling and suffering through life on how to live life.”

You’ve described Every Brilliant Thing, where your character makes a list of reasons to live, as “a very funny play about depression.” What would be on your list? Most of mine at the moment would probably be about my son — all the bizarre pronunciations he has for things. I took him to [the live monster-truck show] Monster Jam, and there’s a truck that’s a unicorn, and it shoots confetti out of its horn. The truck is called Sparkle Smash, if you’re interested. I heard him telling that story later, and he referred to the confetti as “spaghetti.” Also, his godfather gave him a little toy-car model of a Lamborghini, which he has remembered as “zucchini.” So there’s any number of just incredibly sweet things that he says.

I’d also say the music of Joanna Newsom or Tom Lehrer. I could do a list of a thousand brilliant things that were just records. And there’s one in the show that I love, which is “Waking up late with someone you love.” That is a brilliant thing in life.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten? Something my dad said has always stuck with me. “When you’re meeting people, just get your hand out first.” I’ll go into a room full of a lot of people and will feel a deep need to shake everybody’s hand. As a kid, I was so aware of the stereotype around child stars. I was like, “Man, everyone thinks I’m going to be a dick everywhere I go. I just have to try and prove as quickly as possible to somebody that I’m not.” It’s a way to show that you’re not an asshole.