Why Emma Watson ‘Felt Like a Prisoner’ in the ‘Harry Potter’ Films
Before the age of twelve, Emma Watson was shoved into the spotlight. The actor quickly rose to fame following her starring role in the Harry Potter series, and her life completely changed ever since. Suddenly, she couldn’t go to a bookstore or a coffee shop without being recognized.
But as grateful as she is for receiving the once in a lifetime opportunity to play Hermione Granger, fame came with many downfalls as well. And being forced to work such a demanding job during her teenage years made Watson feel as though she was a “prisoner to Hogwarts.”
Emma Watson doesn’t feel comfortable in the spotlight
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Watson confessed to having an identity crisis during a red carpet event. Getting all dressed up while smiling for the cameras felt unnatural to the Beauty and The Beast star, and she couldn’t connect with the person she was portraying for the spotlight.
“I’d walk down the red carpet and go into the bathroom,” she told the magazine. “I had on so much makeup and these big, fluffy, full-on dresses. I’d put my hands on the sink and look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘who is this?’ I didn’t connect with the person who was looking back at me, and that was a very unsettling feeling.”
One might question why Watson continues to accept movie roles if she is so uncomfortable with fame. The reasoning for this is because she loves to act, and she isn’t afraid of a challenge. “Taking on those battles, the smaller ones, and the bigger ones is who I am,” she revealed.
Emma Watson felt bound by her ‘Harry Potter’ contract and nearly quit the series
An uproar of disappointment occurred when fans learned that Watson wanted to quit the Harry Potter series. Dedicated Potter fans couldn’t imagine anyone other than Watson for the role of the brilliant bookworm. But as it turns out, the actor had a good reason for wanting to quit. Working on the Potter films was exhausting for Watson because she had no control over her schedule.
“I have such a structure when I’m working on Potter,” she told The Daily Mail. “I get told what time I get picked up, and I get told what time I can eat and when I have time to go to the bathroom. Every single second of my day is not in my power.”
And according to The Daily Mail, she said, “I felt like a prisoner of Hogwarts during the Harry Potter films. And I nearly quit at 16.”
Emma Watson also wanted to quit ‘Harry Potter’ to pursue her education
Watson nearly quit the Potter series after The Prisoner of Azkaban was finished shooting because she wanted to focus on her schooling. (Hermione would be so proud.) Watson has always placed a high value on her education, just like her character.
And luckily, David Heyman (the producer of the franchise) allowed the actor to focus on her education while still committing to her work schedule. He told Glamour, “Emma [Watson], in particular, was quite academic and was very keen in pursuit of schooling and was wrestling a little bit more than the others. So each time there was a negotiation, it was not about a financial [matter], it was about, ‘Do I want to be a part of this?'”
