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Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Premiere Alice Tully Center- NYC November 15th 2010. Photo By Joella Marano – Wikimedia Commons
Top 10 Facts about Actress Emma Watson
Emma Watson is a British actress popularly known for starring in the hit series Harry Potter (2001- 2011). The award-winning performer was born in Paris (1990) to a family of lawyers. At age 5, she moved to England after her parent’s divorce.
Watson enjoyed acting from a tender age. By six years, she began her acting classes at Stagecoach Theatre Arts, Oxford. She also practiced singing and dancing at the part-time school. She proceeded to star in her first professional film while schooling simultaneously but eventually took a gap year to focus on her acting entirely.
Although acting is Watson’s money-making machine, she has collaborated with brands and individuals to build her name in other industries. She is a model, activist, and fashion advocate. She graduated in 2014 with a degree in English Literature and was simultaneously appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations (UN).
Emma was named among the most influential people in the 2015 edition of Time Magazine. In an interview with Vogue Magazine, she expressed that her role as the UN Ambassador and her involvement in social organizations, such as Time’s Up and Group of Seven (G7), gave her a sense of peace and purpose.
Aside from movie films, Watson has appeared in the famous music video Say You Don’t Want It by the British rock band, One Night Only. Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of working with celebrities such as Seth Rogen and James Edward Franco.
Read more celebrities born in Paris here.
1. Emma Earned A 60 Million USD Paycheck For Playing A Fan-Favourite Role
After acting in a couple of school plays, Watson’s first professional role was in the film series Harry Potter. The producers were in awe at Emma’s confidence during the casting auditions. She then landed the role of Hermione Granger, one of Harry’s two friends.
Granger became a famous role and, soon after, a fan favorite. The series was a huge success and brought Emma into the limelight. It sold 500 million copies of books and made 7.73 billion USD in films. In 2016, The Hollywood Reporter magazine placed Granger as the best female character of all time.
Find out 12 Fun Facts about Harry Potter here.
2. She Is One Of The Highest Paid Actress
Illustration for Beauty and the Beast drawn by Walter Crane. Photo By Walter Crane – Wikimedia Commons
Having been featured in over 15 blockbusters and television films, it is safe to say that Emma is amongst the big names in the Hollywood film industry. Her exemplary acting skills also earned her lucrative deals, with her most well-paying films being Harry Potter (60 Million USD) and Beauty and The Beast (15 Million USD).
According to Vanity Fair and Forbes Magazine, Watson, Sandra Bullock, and Scarlett Johnson are the world’s highest-paid actresses.
3. Watson Has Her Imprints In Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Foot, hand and wand imprints of Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint outside Grauman’s Chineese Theatre. Photo By Megan – Wikimedia Commons
In 2007, Emma, and her 2 Harry Potter co-stars, left their hands and footprints in the ancient Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (California). The theatre’s forecourt has a designated concrete block with nearly 200 celebrity imprints and autographs, the first from 1927.
The movie palace is an iconic theatre that was built in 1926. It has hosted premiers of countless films, including the popular Star Wars, and was renovated in 2013 into a custom-designed theatre.
4. Emma Was The Voice Artist Behind Princess Pea In The Tale of Despereaux
The Tale of Despereaux (2008) was a film adaptation of its book written by Kate DiCamillo. Emma featured in the film as a voice actor alongside Matthew Broderick and her fellow Harry Potter co-star, Anthony McMillan. She played Princess Pea, a princess who formed a close friendship with the film’s main character, Despereaux.
5. She Was Nominated For Five Awards Under One Film Role
From her first on-screen test, there was no doubt that Watson was a natural on camera. She captivated many with her effortless acting. Her role in the first Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s stone earned her five award nominations!
Read on the Top British actresses here.
6. Watson Turned Down A Disney Role Due To Lack of Connectivity With The Film’s Character
Cinderella: a perfect match, an 1818 painting by Jean-Antoine Laurent. Photo By Jean-Antoine Laurent – Wikimedia Commons
In 2013, Kenneth Branagh began creating a live action of the famous Disney film Cinderella. Watson, who had already made her name in the film industry, was eyed for the main character, Cinderella. However, she did not feel suited for the role since she lacked any connectivity to the character itself. Lily James took on the part, and the film was aired in 2015.
7. Her Speech On The UN Gender Equality Movement Launch Went Viral
In September 2014, the United Nations launched the HeForShe solidarity movement. It was the first of its kind to abolish gender stereotypes through the combined effort of men worldwide.
The event took place in New York City, the UN Headquarters. At 24, Emma was appointed the UN Global Goodwill Ambassador 6 months before the campaign and was invited to give a speech on the motivation behind the movement.
In her speech, Watson gave her experiences with gender biasness and feminism. She received a standing ovation for her ability to resonate with both women and the male gender. Her coherent speech went viral and currently has 5.4 million views on YouTube.
8. Watson Is Part of The Founding Members of Time’s Up UK
A woman holding a sign labeled “#MeToo”. Photo By surdumihail – Wikimedia Commons
After a rampant increase in cases of sexual misconduct by celebrities, movements such as MeToo and Time’s Up were formed. The provenance of these movements was the Weinstein effect when numerous allegations of sexual harassment against Harvey Weinstein, an American film producer, took place in October 2017.
Time’s Up, a non-profit organization, was founded in 2018 as a financial support system for victims of sexual abuse. In the UK, a legal advice line was launched in 2018 by the outspoken Emma Watson, who also donated money to the organization’s legal fund.
9. She Is An Advocate For Sustainable Fashion
As much as Emma has been vocal about gender equality and human rights, she is also an advocate for environmental causes in the fashion industry. Watson, part of the luxury brand group Kering, has modeled for fashion houses such as Burberry and Lancome.
In Kering, Emma advocates for eco-friendly, carbon-neutral, and cruelty-free textile products. Emma also lent her name to People Tree, a fashion brand that implemented the first supply chain for organic cotton.
10. Emma Was Appointed Member of An International Advisory Council
Emma Watson at the Cannes Film Festival. Photo By Georges Biard – Wikimedia Commons
In 2019, Watson sat among Michael Kaufman, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and 33 others in the Gender Equality Advisory Council of the G7. She created and consulted the foreign policy of the 7 member states, namely the UK, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Germany, and the USA.
Emma is listed as one of the article’s authors; Every G7 country should have a feminist foreign policy on The Guardian News website. The article was in preparation for the laws to be recommended later that same year.
At the age of 32, Watson has proven that it is not how old you are or what gender you identify with; all that matters is the desire for what you want to achieve. Emma continues to influence the lives of young aspiring performers and activists globally.
