Celebrity

‘Harry Potter’: Emma Watson ‘Left Home’ at Age 10

Emma Watson explains how 'Harry Potter' changed the course of her life and how she learned to be responsible for herself very early on in life.

by Abeni Tinubu

Published on March 5, 2022

2 min read

Emma Watson learned to be responsible for herself at a very young age. She went from being a normal kid to being a working actor almost overnight. Watson was only 9 years old when she was cast in the Harry Potter movies that would change her life. Over the next 10 years, she would spend her time filming the series of hit blockbusters. Furthermore, she would travel all around the world to promote the films.

Because she was a minor for the first several Harry Potter films, many people might assume that Watson had a parent or guardian present while filming. However, that wasn’t the case at all. While The Bling Ring actor had adults on set who were hired to look out for her (and all the child actors) they were of no relation to her. Fortunately, Watson was mature for her age and had the wherewithal to look out for herself.

Harry Potter stars Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint pose for cast announcement — ‘Harry Potter’ cast members Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint | Warner Bros./Newsmakers

Emma Watson ‘left home’ at a very young age because of ‘Harry Potter’

In 2013, Watson was interviewed by GQ UK. During the interview, the actor reflected on her experience taking part in the Harry Potter movie franchise.

“I left home when I was 10 years old,” Watson shared with GQ UK.

She continued, “We went away for two months, we traveled all around England; we went to Newcastle and Durham and Scotland, all over. I was traveling; I was away from home. My parents didn’t chaperone me. I think that was a key difference between me and Dan [Radcliffe] and Rupert [Grint]. I didn’t have my parents with me; I didn’t have a family member.”

The ‘Beauty and the Beast’ actor explains why her parents didn’t accompany her

So why didn’t Watson’s parents accompany her, especially considering her young age? While they supported their daughter’s dreams, they were also pursuing their own.

Accompanying The Perks of Being a Wallflower star throughout her Harry Potter journey would have halted their career paths. Furthermore, they had Watson’s brother, who was two years younger, to consider.

“My parents both worked full time and they didn’t want to do that, which I respect,” the Hary Potter star explained. “They both really are driven in their careers and as [they] are divorced, if my mum had gone traveling with me, she wouldn’t have been there for my brother. It wasn’t really a possibility. This is a long-winded way of saying that I was responsible for myself, and being responsible for myself, I knew I was my own backstop.”

Watson and her ‘Harry Potter’ character, Hermione Granger, are both very responsible

While leaving home at age 10 is certainly unusual, Watson seemed to fare pretty well. Despite having more freedom than most children, her independence actually made her more responsible. It seems like her penchant for following the rules is just as strong as her Harry Potter character, Hermione Granger.

In 2022, Watson appeared in the reunion special Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts on HBO Max.