Portrait · David Shankbone / CC BY 2.0

Emma Watson

Actor and director

Born 1990

Emma Watson is a British actor and director whose early fame as Hermione Granger grew into a career across literary drama, animation, comedy and musical film. She was born in Paris to lawyer parents and moved to England after their separation. Her childhood combined ordinary school life with a public identity that developed exceptionally early. In Oxford she attended the Dragon School and took Stagecoach performing classes. Casting for Harry Potter began when she was nine. In later interviews she described the unusual pressure of growing up under public observation, alongside a continuing interest in education and storytelling. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone introduced her Hermione in 2001, beginning the screen collaboration with Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint. The series continued through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in 2011. Alongside Potter, she portrayed Pauline Fossil in the television adaptation Ballet Shoes. Animation brought the voice of Princess Pea in The Tale of Despereaux. My Week with Marilyn cast her as Lucy. Sam in The Perks of Being a Wallflower gave her a contemporary coming-of-age role. Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring cast her as Nicki. This Is the End used her own name for a comic screen persona. Darren Aronofsky’s Noah introduced her Ila. Regression cast her as Angela Gray. Colonia placed her in the role of Lena. Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast cast her as Belle in 2017. The Circle provided the contrasting role of Mae. Greta Gerwig’s Little Women followed with Meg March in 2019. She pursued university education alongside professional acting and graduated from Brown with an English literature degree in May 2014. UN Women appointed her a Goodwill Ambassador that July, linking her public work to young women’s empowerment and HeForShe. Her appointment followed involvement in girls’ education, including visits to Bangladesh and Zambia. She later moved behind the camera for Prada Paradoxe, directing and starring in its 2022 campaign short. This was commercial brand work, distinct from a verified personal fragrance recommendation. Renais is another commercial undertaking: she and her brother Alex co-founded the gin business, which connects their family’s Burgundy winemaking with production in England. In December 2023 she described creative writing study at Oxford. In September 2025 she discussed a new, unnamed pursuit and her wish to stay connected with the filmmaking community. She missed aspects of acting while finding promotional obligations difficult. Pickleball and Brandi Carlile’s music appear in that same personal account. Vogue’s September 2026 report documents her Lucas Museum appearance, where she collaborated on a handmade floral dress. The checked current coverage establishes this public activity without supplying a new acting credit.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

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Connected people

ConnectionDaniel RadcliffePotter screen collaborator.

ConnectionRupert GrintPotter screen collaborator.

ConnectionSofia CoppolaDirected The Bling Ring.

Emma Watson at Cannes in 2013 — Profile image · Georges Biard / CC BY-SA 3.0

NewNews21 Sept 2026

A floral dress at the Lucas Museum

Vogue reports Watson’s attendance and collaboration on a handmade dress using live flowers.

Latest Index

2026

NewsChecked against a primary source or trusted newsroom.

ScopeOnly attributable updates about Emma Watson's work and public record.

Broadcast
Making space for a different creative life
Watson discusses an unnamed pursuit, acting’s appeal and the pressures of promotion in a direct conversation.
21 Sept 2025Source checked
VerifiedRead more
Broadcast
Study and a creative voice
A direct interview describes Oxford creative writing study and greater creative autonomy.
14 Dec 2023Source checked
VerifiedRead more
Project
Directing Prada Paradoxe
Prada identifies Watson as director and star of its campaign short.
1 Sept 2022Source checked
VerifiedRead more
Award
MTV’s acting honour for Belle
TIME reports her win in the gender-neutral Best Actor category for Beauty and the Beast.
8 May 2017Source checked
VerifiedRead more
News
An appointment at UN Women
The institution appoints Watson to support young women and HeForShe.
8 Jul 2014Source checked
VerifiedRead more

Selected Credits

View all

Year	Title	Role
2017	Beauty and the BeastfilmIMDb	Belle
2019	Little WomenfilmIMDb	Meg March
2022	Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwartstelevision-specialIMDb	Self
2022	Prada Paradoxecampaign-shortIMDb	The Multi-Dimensional Woman
2022	Prada Paradoxecampaign-shortIMDb	Director

Timeline

1990—2026

1990April 15: Born in Paris.
YouthMoves to England after her parents separate.
SchoolDragon School and Stagecoach classes in Oxford.
1999Cast in Harry Potter at nine.
2001Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Hermione Granger.
2002Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Hermione Granger.
2004Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Hermione Granger.
2005Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Hermione Granger.
2007Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Hermione Granger.
2007Ballet Shoes: Pauline Fossil.
2008The Tale of Despereaux: Princess Pea (voice).
2009Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Hermione Granger.
2010Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1: Hermione Granger.
2011Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2: Hermione Granger.
2011My Week with Marilyn: Lucy.
2012The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Sam.
2013The Bling Ring: Nicki.
2013This Is the End: Emma Watson.
2013Receives MTV’s Trailblazer Award.
2014Noah: Ila.
2014May: Graduates from Brown in English literature.
2014July 8: UN Women announces her ambassador appointment.
2014Receives the Britannia British Artist honour.
2014Receives the British Style Award.
2015Regression: Angela Gray.
2015Colonia: Lena.
2017Beauty and the Beast: Belle.
2017The Circle: Mae.
2017Wins MTV’s acting award for Beauty and the Beast.
2019Little Women: Meg March.
2022Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts: Self.
2022Directs and stars in Prada Paradoxe.
2023December 14: Discusses Oxford creative writing study.
2025September 21: Discusses creative autonomy and staying connected with film.
2026September 21: Vogue reports her Lucas Museum appearance.

A floral dress at the Lucas Museum

Latest Index

Making space for a different creative life

Study and a creative voice

Directing Prada Paradoxe

MTV’s acting honour for Belle

An appointment at UN Women