Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3614: Daniel Radcliffe, Imperium and a Subtle Body Language Tell (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In the upcoming film, Imperium, Daniel Radcliffe plays the part of undercover FBI agent trying to prevent a Neo-Nazi terrorist group from deploying a bomb.

Many actors get subtle expressions wrong. They very often put on a more extreme expression where more moderate or subtle examples would be more contextual and proportionate to many scenes. What follows however are several specific examples where Radcliffe triumphs at these more mild expressions.

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Radcliffe's character (Nate Foster) is pictured here sitting in a vehicle.  His mouth is slightly opened in a variation of a "slack jawed" configuration (indicating emotional shock).

Note that his head/neck is tilted down. Radcliffe is staring forward and down - and more specifically focused on the middle distance. This is focusing past or looking through near objects also indicates emotional shock and emotional processing. The actor is showing us that his character's mind knows has just gleaned some shocking information, but his emotional brain has yet to fully grasp the ramifications.

This nonverbal cluster/facial expression is under-utilized by many actors and directors.

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In the image above we see exemplified a subtle Elevated Central Forehead Contraction (elevated CFC). Very few actors are able to display this crucial nonverbal signal - although in the real world this slight facial dynamic (often short lived as well) speaks volumes about the presence of physical or emotional pain (either felt directly or experienced secondarily via empathy).

Slicing this expression even thinner, what specific emotional pain emotion is Radcliffe acting in this moment?

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Three seconds later, Radcliffe's elevated CFC is more pronounced - perhaps a 6 or 7 (on a zero to 10 scale). Although more developed than the image at 1:00, this example is still somewhat less developed than many actors express (It's as if they only have a "full on" or "full off" forehead contraction).

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In this last photo, Daniel Radcliffe's elevated CFC is even more subtle that the first example. Also look at the actor's eyes. His head is looking forward/slight to his left and yet his eyes are moving to his right. When we don't look directly at person, but only tract with our eyes - it's a signal that we don't like, don't respect or don't believe/don't trust the person at whom were looking.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3612: Sam Querrey defeats Novak Djokovic at Wimbeldon

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3248: Daniel Radcliffe Temps as a Receptionist at Nylon

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3387: Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, The Graham Norton Show and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2996: Daniel Radcliffe Raps Blackalicious' "Alphabet Aerobics" on Tonight Show/Jimmy Fallon

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2993: Fight in Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport - Passengers Break Up Homophobic Attack

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2980: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Thinks Women Should Not Ask for Raises and should Trust in Karma

Nonverbal Communication No. 3201: Nazi War Criminal Oskar Gröning - Dissecting Body Language in Court

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2750: Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp and Lies


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3387: Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, The Graham Norton Show and Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy were guests recently on The Graham Norton Show. Talk shows (particularly ones like Norton's, where the questions tend to be more embarrassing) are fantastic forums in which to study body language - for although actors are paid to, in effect, lie to us (when they are acting) - when they are not "in character", they are equal to us non-actors when it comes to "leaking" their true thought-emotions - if you're knowledgeable of nonverbal nuance. 

Radcliffe is particularly mortal when it comes to telling us what he's really thinking-feeling. Below are discussed two very telling, yet often overlooked nonverbal signals.

Norton (beginning at 0:01): "We know, Daniel Radcliffe, you have a reputation for being lovely with fans, very sweet, you give your time, very, freely, to them. But, I read with interest, that you are starting to toughen up now - you're being a little more discerning, with your fans."

Radcliffe: "Ummm..."

[audience laughter as Radcliffe scratches his lower leg and slightly falsely adjusts his sock]

Norton: "Daniel?"

Radcliffe: "What do you mean? Wha -, what do you mean?"

Scratching at one's sock/lower leg is a general anxiety indicator. Despite being on camera and stage very often, Daniel Radcliffe's anxiety is significant.

Although he appears to pull up his sock at the very end of his scratch, this is not a true "false sock adjust" signal. When a man or boy (although occasionally a woman or girl) bends over and pulls-up one or both socks - it also indicates some level of anxiety - but more importantly the false sock adjust demonstrates an up-regulation of alpha qualities. The psyche is dialing down the beta while dialing-up the alpha characteristics. It's crucial to note that the false sock adjust (typically a pulling-up of the sock) has very little, if any scratching associated with it.


Beginning at 1:37, Norton continues: "But, but apparently, Rupert Grint is even worse than you."

Radcliffe: "Rupert - I don't know the details of this at all - but Rupert ended up at somebody's house one night - just from like, continuing to say, 'Yes' to things."

McAvoy's facial expression response is a classic one of incredulity. Note this is what occurred immediately after Radcliffe's statement regarding Rupert Grint. McAvoy's central forehead is contracted (CFC) along with his inner eyebrows being elevated. Of profound importance here is his mouth is displaying a partial (false) smile. This facial cluster is one of the classic expressions of disbelief (Do you know the others?). Depending on the additional nonverbals with which it is clustered, this expression can also indicate what other emotions?


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3386: Lady Steals from KID! Black Friday 2015 - Body Language of Assault

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3328: PewDiePie on Stephen Colbert's Late Show - a Common Body Language Alpha Up-Regulator 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2914: François Hollande, Anxiety and Dialing up his Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3285: Donald Trump Dialing Up His Alpha - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3256: Katie Holmes on Jimmy Fallon - Body Language Tells 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3046: Chris Pine Dials Up His Alpha - "Into the Woods"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3294: Ana Ivanovic, Lip Biting, the U.S. Open and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3282: Zac Efron Swam with a Wild Tiger Shark and Avoided an Attack by using Body Language

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3248: Daniel Radcliffe Temps as a Receptionist at Nylon - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Daniel Radcliffe (forever Harry Potter for many) "sat in" as the receptionist at a Nylon (the Magazine) office recently. Reportedly, all but a couple of the staff was unaware. What ensued was hilarious - and also provides for us a fantastic set of body language teaching examples. Below is a partial nonverbal analysis.

A beautiful display of an "Eyebrow Flash" is seen at 0:24 during a suppressed smile. After the eyebrow flash - his smile becomes less suppressed (more expressed) and then he says "hi".

Eyebrow flashes typically occur during  the initial microseconds of a "greeting smile" and commonly before a verbal salutation is used. When this nonverbal is displayed it facilitates rapport and projection of sincerity. Those who use eyebrow flashes are felt to be friendlier - while those who don't are viewed as less friendly, more distant, sometimes aloof and less sincere.

The first in this video to recognize Radcliffe, this woman says, "Pleased to meet you" followed by,
"You have great hair" - as she positions her elbow on the counter and her closed hand on her chin.

This woman did not rest her head on her hand because she was tired or bored (although it can indeed indicate these emotional states when clustered with other signals). She was simultaneously projecting a sincere smile and paid Mr. Radcliffe an enthusiastic compliment.

This is a version of a "Facial Platter". She was smitten (do you see her blushing as well?) and was outright flirting with the boy from 4 Privet Drive.

After realizing the identity of the receptionist, this gentleman suddenly turned away his head/neck along with a partial turn of his torso.

This was an example of a signal of emotional processing.  His body language is saying, "My intellect knows this is Daniel Radcliffe, but emotionally I can't quite believe he's sitting here.

Another and much more common body language example of emotional processing is seen a few seconds later at 1:05 - with a display of mouth-nose covering (variations may occur such as only mouth covering, whole face covering, bilateral eye covering, etc.). There is considerable blushing on this woman's face. Without a doubt her sincerity and empathy are higher compared with most people. Moreover we can state with a high degree of confidence she cries more than most others during sad movies, she is NOT an only child and she loves animals (very probably she's a dog-lover).

This is a second and more typical example of a "facial platter". She too is flirting - but this is happening after this woman has had a bit longer to acclimate to the presence of a celebrity. She is more relaxed than the similar body language of the woman shown above - yet of course not completely so.

This woman (Serena) did not recognize Daniel. In trying to fulfill his receptionist duties, he stands up and calls for Lauren's assistance. When Mr. Radcliffe then asks Serena her name - he displays a "Pseudoprayer" gesture. This illustrator is a form of pointing and should almost never be used. More specifically for it projects a patronizing emotional tone (Although here Radcliffe uses it very briefly so its effect is minimized [typically it is displayed for longer durations]. In addition, his other nonverbal signs and his vocal qualities are not as harsh). Collectively this cluster of behavior signals to us that Daniel was either in somewhat of a panic - and while not yet losing his cool - or for a second, he was slipping into an emotional tone consistent with, "I'm an alpha and you're a beta".

Another man (singer Joe Jonas) walks in and says he's got a meeting with Marissa. During 3:27 - 3:29 he says, "... I'm runnin' late anyway, so I guess it's technically my fault." 

What key nonverbal is seen just after he says, "fault"?

In this instant (3:37) Radcliffe the receptionist walks away from his desk as he attempts to find Marissa.

Although this view is a magnified and of low resolution view, we can clearly see tension in his mustache area as well as flaring of his nostrils (nostril) and a jaw jut. Daniel is angry in this moment.

Just after this Joe Jonas says, "This new guy sucks" - we see him display a classic "Tongue in Cheek" nonverbal (3:40). The tongue in cheek can have several meanings depending on the other signals with which it is clustered - deception, alpha dominance, sexual provocativeness, anger, sadness, grief, or I got you/I just won.

Which of these emotional contexts apply here? What other nonverbal signals help differentiate the meaning of this tongue in cheek display? Was Joe Jonas participating in a prank or was his appointment with Marissa a true one? Did Daniel Radcliffe know this was Joe Jonas?


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3247: Barack Obama's Response to Question regarding Revoking Bill Cosby's Presidential Medal of Freedom - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2929: Jessica Alba, Sin City 2, Action Figures and the Jaw Confessional 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2996: Daniel Radcliffe Raps Blackalicious' "Alphabet Aerobics" on Tonight Show/Jimmy Fallon

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2450:  Daniel Radcliffe on The Graham Norton Show -  Deception, Mirroring and Anxiety 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2434:  Brad Pitt's Tongue-in-Cheek regarding  Reasons for Choosing to Work on "World War Z"

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1181:  Helle Thorning-Schmidt & her False Praying Gesture

Romance, Flirting & Dating Body Language Secret No. 1893:  Nonverbal Communication of the Facial Platter  


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2996: Daniel Radcliffe Raps Blackalicious' "Alphabet Aerobics" on Tonight Show/Jimmy Fallon (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Tuesday Daniel Radcliffe was a guest on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". The Harry Potter star is of course an accomplished actor of both stage and screen (and, as you learn here if you haven't yet seen the video, he's also an excellent rapper). Yet before he got himself "in character" - when he was just being Daniel - he was quite nervous.

Below is a partial analysis of Daniel Radcliffe's nonverbals leading up to his rendition of Blackalicious' "Alphabet Aerobics"

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Radcliffe pulls up sock - this is a general and reliable anxiety indicator.

To thin-slice this specific body language even further, in sub-context, a man adjusting his socks also very often indicates anticipated action (often physical, but not always) which is eliciting the anxiety. Another way of thinking of the sock adjust, is that it signals the need for being more assertive, or up-regulating one's alpha qualities. Can you name any other nonverbal up-regulators?

Note also Mr. Radcliffe closes both of his eyes in an extended blink - a reliable indicator here of emotional processing (his emotions are trying to catch up to what his intellect already knows - he's about to perform a very difficult rap song on a major television show). 

0:16 Finger to mouth

At 0:13 Radcliffe says, "Every kid in my cl<stutter>, I, I think I was the first kid in my class to learn all the words to 'Real Slim Shady' ". At 0:16 as he says, "... learn ...." his (index) finger goes very briefly to his mouth. In the context of a declarative and definitive statement, this is a reliable indicator of deception.

0:38 - 0:52

Daniel displays a common general anxiety indicator - one of many varieties of self-touching MAPs (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) - squeezing and pinching his thumb




 

0:46

Another general anxiety indicator - a "Hard Swallow"

0:48

A subtle "Mouth of Fear" can be seen at the 0:48 mark

Voice, also betraying nervousness, cracks as he says, " ... well yeah ..."

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A very subtle and rapid "Neck of Fear" with a tightening of Radcliffe's neck muscles is seen at 0:49. This must be viewed in the dynamic context of the above video to appreciate its subtlety.

0:52

At the 0:52 mark a "Thumb Shrug" is displayed. A thumb shrug is usually a truncated form of a standard shrug.

Shrugs most commonly indicate, "I don't know", "I don't care" or "What does it matter?" - and some may make the argument that the last of these three is exemplified here. Yet, this is another meaning of a shrug when accompanied by blushing (seen in this body language cluster context as well) along the other anxiety indicators mentioned above. This displays the emotion of a type of self-resignation or acquiescence in the context of pre-embarrassment - as if very much to say, "Here I go - but cut me some slack."


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2995: 10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman - Catcalls, Street Harassment, Body Language, Personal Safety & Threat Assessment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2450:  Daniel Radcliffe on The Graham Norton Show -  Deception, Mirroring and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2947: Governor Rick Perry - Beta Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2641: John McCain with Protesters in Kiev, Ukraine - You Feel Safe There?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2914: François Hollande, Anxiety and Dialing up his Alpha   

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2344:  Jillian Michaels Body Language  Neck of Fear & Mouth of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2328:  Senator Rand Paul's Body Language -  Pens, Lies and Filibusters -  Finger to Mouth Surrogates

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2450: Daniel Radcliffe on The Graham Norton Show - Deception, Mirroring and Anxiety (Video, Photos)

Daniel Radcliffe recently appeared on The Graham Norton Show. During his interview Radcliffe described a scenario wherein a woman had propositioned him via a letter in advance of a particular performance of Equus - and even gave her seat and row number to him. When Graham Norton asked, "But did you see her? You must have checked her out." - the actor denied it. However the man formerly known as Harry Potter told a lie. Norton even called him out on this deception. This video provides some excellent nonverbal examples of lying (and many other emotions) - can you spot them all?

Daniel Radcliffe immediately covers his mouth as he says, "I didn't know, you know what, I really, I, I, I did honestly, I, I didn't look. I didn't see her, I don't know what, I don't know what, I didn't, I didn't see her ...."

"The gentleman doth protests too much methinks."





Covering the mouth with even just a finger, let alone several fingers in the context of a verbal denial is highly indicative of deception.

A slight smile (duping delight) can also be visualized through his fingers - although this is better seen in the dynamics of the video as well as an image captured a few seconds later and shown below.

Here Graham Norton exhibits mirroring of Radcliffe's mouth covering - by covering his own mouth as well (the cards act as a hand surrogate) - as he says, "Daniel's Lying!"

The "Hand Chop" hand gesture (Illustrator) in the midst of verbal denial (at the very end of the video) - is yet another strong indicator of deception. Radcliffe does this multiple times.

This image captured at 2:29 shows another example of "Duping Delight" smile suppression. To fully appreciate this, the video must be viewed.

Duping delight in the the midst of verbal denial is also highly consistent with lying.

This nonverbal is not directly correlative with deception - but it is very telling. This is just at the moment when Radcliffe tells everyone he was living with his parents. As he does this he reaches with his left hand beneath his right thigh (1:53). This is indicative of anxiety and specifically it's a beta/low confidence behavior. Daniel is somewhat embarrassed by living with Mum and Dad. This momentary yet demure emotional mindset is further exemplified by the slight turning-inward of Radcliffe's knees.

Here Daniel displays a shirt cuff adjustment (2:15). This is an indicator of anxiety- and specifically it signals a "dialing up of alpha emotional mindset". Radcliffe's psyche is trying to be more assertive and confident after the more beta display seen above (1:53).








Such interviews are full of body language displays. What other ones did you see? How many will go unnoticed in your next meeting?

What other signals of deception are present here?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2400:  One Way Deception be Minimized in the Court Room - O.J. Simpson in Court

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2421:  Gov. Phil Bryant, Working Moms and  Body Language - Deception and Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2033:  Lie Detection, Sergey Lavrov and Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1907:  Governor Rick Scott tells a Lie

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1861:  Bashar al-Assad's Denial and Deception

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2175:  Mayor Bloomberg, Body Language,  Hurricane Sandy and the NYC Marathon

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2176:  James Carville's Body Language - Pennsylvania & Swing States

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