Emma Watson, born April 15, 1990, is a British actress and activist. Most people first got to know her as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films—she pretty much grew up on screen alongside the character. These days, she’s just as known for her work on women’s rights. In 2014, the United Nations made her a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women. She helped launch the HeForShe campaign, which aims to pull men and boys into the fight for gender equality.
Emma studied at Brown University in the US and also spent time at Worcester College, Oxford. She wrapped up her English literature degree in 2014.
Emma Watson Biography
Early on, Emma was born in Paris, but her parents are British. She moved to Oxfordshire and London when she was five. She went to the Dragon School and then Headington School in Oxford, along with classes at Stagecoach Theatre Arts. Even as a kid, she loved acting and took part in school plays whenever she could.
Back in 1999, when she was only nine, Emma got invited to audition for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. She went through eight auditions before landing the role. Apparently, producer David Heyman was impressed by her confidence, and J.K. Rowling liked her right off the bat. Emma became Hermione Granger—clever, a bit bossy, unafraid to speak up—the perfect fit for her real-life personality. As the films went on, Emma’s assertiveness seemed to grow right alongside her character’s.
Harry Potter
The first Harry Potter movie hit theaters in 2001 and was a smash—critics liked it, the audience loved it, and it became the highest-grossing movie that year. Emma played Hermione in all eight films, running right up to 2011, and the world watched her transform from precocious kid to sharp, sophisticated star. Her portrayal brought real spark and balance to the trio, playing off Daniel Radcliffe (Harry) and Rupert Grint (Ron). She racked up awards and, by 2010, was one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses, earning around £19 million in 2009 alone. The final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, came out in 2011 and wrapped up what’s still one of the biggest film franchises ever. By the end, Emma was firmly established as a leading actress.
When Harry Potter was over, Emma kept up with her studies, picking up eight A* and two A grades at GCSE, even with all the time spent filming. She wanted to show she could do more than Hermione, so she took on new roles in films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), The Bling Ring (2013), and the comedy This Is the End (2013). She’s stayed busy with acting ever since.
Emma also jumped into modeling around 2005. She appeared on Teen Vogue, and modeled for brands like Burberry and Lancome. She even advised People Tree, a fair-trade fashion brand, and has thrown her weight behind vegan, sustainable fashion.
Feminism
When it comes to feminism, Emma’s become one of its most recognizable faces. As a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, she spoke at the United Nations in 2014, launching HeForShe to get more men involved with gender equality. She wanted to break down the old idea that feminism is about “man-hating” and instead make it something everyone can get behind. As she put it: “We want to end gender inequality—and to do this we need everyone to be involved.” Her speeches have been widely shared and praised, but they’ve also drawn backlash, even threats, which only seemed to strengthen her resolve.
Emma’s commitment to women’s rights is personal. She’s talked about how the media tried to sexualize her at a very young age—just 14. Since then, she’s kept speaking out, encouraging women’s political participation and challenging how society treats gender. Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, credited one of Emma’s speeches with helping her embrace the word ‘feminism’ without all its negative baggage.
Emma started a feminist book club in 2016 and has kept acting. Some of her recent films include Noah (2014), Regression (2015), Colonia (2015), and The Circle (2017).
On the spiritual side, Emma calls herself a spiritual universalist. She doesn’t subscribe to any particular religion but prefers to see the common threads connecting all spiritual paths.