INTERVIEW: Emma Watson

Can you name the spellbindingly talented and fashionable ‘Harry Potter’ actress whose plans include attending an Ivy League university stateside this fall? If you said Emma Watson, you are correct! Emma has worked her magic on audiences around the world since age 9 and has handled fame with grace and class. Get to know the British beauty behind Hermione!

Emma Watson

Full Name: Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson
Birthday: April 15th, 1990
Birthplace: Paris, France
Height: 5’6
Favorite Animal: Cat (She has a pet cat named Bubbles)
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite TV Show: ‘Friends’
Favorite Sport: Field Hockey
Favorite Fashion Designer: Chanel
Favorite Actor and Actress: Johnny Depp and Julia Roberts

'Emma: The Young Years'
Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson was born on April 15th 1990 in Paris France. Her lawyer parents divorced when Emma was 5 and she moved at that time to Oxford, England with her mom and younger brother Alex.

When she was 6, she began taking acting, dancing and singing lessons at the Oxford branch of the Stagecoach Theatre Arts School. “I’ve always loved acting, singing, performing, debating;” says Emma. During that time, she landed roles and practiced her craft in various plays including ‘Arthur: The Young Years’ and ‘The Happy Prince’.

A Spell Is Cast
Emma caught the world’s attention at age 9 when she landed the coveted role of Hermione Granger in ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerers’ Stone’. Brought to the producers’ attention through her theatre teacher in Oxford, Emma impressed all with her talent and confidence. After eight auditions, Emma got the fabulous news that she had been chosen to play Hermione. Author J.K. Rowling herself was thrilled with the casting and had supported Emma from her first screen test.

‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerers’ Stone’ made a whopping $90.3 million dollars in the U.S. its opening weekend and Emma earned much praise for her portrayal of the bright and bossy Hermione. “Ms. Watson has the sass and smarts to suggest she might cast a spell of her own on Harry in the coming years and, one supposes, sequels.” said Elvis Mitchell of NYTimes.com. We so agree!

Emma continued her perfect portrayal of Hermione through six more ‘Harry Potter’ films and is set to reprise her role in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows’ parts 1 and 2, due out November 2010 and summer 2011. She said in an interview, “If anyone else played Hermione, it would actually kill me.” Don’t worry Emma; the fans would never let that happen!

University Bound
Emma is a straight A student as well as a talented actress. It has always been her dream to attend college in America and it’s finally happening. “I want to finish my education. I’m going to take my levels.” says Emma “I want to go to university. In between that on my holidays and stuff I would definitely like to try something else. I wouldn’t want ‘Harry Potter’ to be the last thing I do.” After delaying her education for a year to film ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows’, Emma is set to attend the prestigious Brown University in Rhode Island this Fall and major in liberal arts!

Don’t expect Emma to demand any special treatment from her professors or peers. She wants to have a normal college education and be treated just like any other student. “I really want anonymity. I want to do it properly, like everyone else. As long as I don’t walk in and see ‘Harry Potter’ posters everywhere, I’ll be fine.”

Emma Watson’s beauty and brains are a rare commodity among young actresses in the world today. Financially set for life from the success of the ‘Harry Potter’ movies, Emma has the freedom to take her future in whatever direction she wants. The world will be watching to see what she chooses and no matter what, Emma will always have her fans there to support her every step of the way!