Emma Watson Admits She ‘Terrified’ Her Parents at a Young Age
Despite finding immense fame and success at a very young age, Emma Watson has fared pretty well. Unlike many other child stars, Watson hasn’t had many negative scandals. Despite being exposed to the industry in her youth, she didn’t have issues with drugs or alcohol. Instead, she has managed to have a successful acting career, attended an Ivy League college, and championed activism. But despite Watson always being on the straight and narrow, she still managed to terrify her parents.
Emma Watson fell in love with the ‘Harry Potter’ books at a young age
Growing up, Watson didn’t have much access to movies. However, her parents (who are both lawyers) were avid readers. This is how the Noah star first became exposed to the wizarding world of Harry Potter. On long car rides, Watson’s father would read excerpts of the book to the actor and her brother. So, when Watson learned that they’d be making film adaptations of the popular novels, she jumped at the chance to audition for Hermione Granger.
The ‘Little Women’ actor felt she was destined to play Hermione Granger
“I loved the books—I was a massive fan,” Watson shared while speaking with Interview Magazine. “I just felt like that part belonged to me. I know that sounds crazy, but from that first audition, I always knew. At the beginning, they were casting the other characters as well—but I always knew I was going out for Hermione. She came so naturally to me. Maybe so much of myself at the time was similar to her.”
The activist’s certainty made her parents nervous
Even at age 9, Watson was sure that she was destined to play Hermione. However, this determination and certainty unnerved her parents. The lawyers knew that the odds of their daughter getting such a coveted role weren’t good. “Of course, all this terrified my parents—there were literally thousands and thousands of girls going out for the audition, and my parents were anxious about what I would do if I didn’t get it,” the Little Women alum shared.
Watson admits that her parents weren’t able to sway her
According to Watson, her parents tried their level best to manage her expectations about getting a role in Harry Potter. But they weren’t able to convince the 9-year-old that the part wasn’t hers for the taking. Watson invested countless hours into her auditions. She even waited by the phone for weeks in order to receive news that she made it to the next round.
“They were trying to make me stay realistic—but I wasn’t having any of it,” Watson shared about her parents. “I was going to get that part. This is a sweet thing: My dad did a roast on a Sunday, and he gave me the wishbone, and I obviously made the wish that I would get this role. I still have that wishbone upstairs in my jewelry box.”
Clearly, Watson knew that Hermione Granger was hers for the taking. That self-assuredness likely helped her land the part of the brightest witch of the age.
